Living, Loving and Losing a Son
A Mother's Memoir
In my book, Living, Loving, and Losing a Son, I tell the story of my relationship
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See Testimonials |
The first three chapters take us back to the beginning of our story, showing myself as an unwed and pregnant college student. The difficult choices I had to make, setting aside my college career and the carefree college life I’d loved. However, when our perfect baby boy was born, Bob, my husband, and I were filled with joy and wonder. Then it was on to raising the child, living for a year and a half with my Polish mother-in-law on the South side of Chicago, and my struggle to adjust to a very different way of life.
I cover Robb’s life, his growing up, his love for sports, especially baseball and hockey. It was hockey that kept Robb on the straight and narrow from the time he was seven-years-old on through high school. We never had to worry much about what he was up to as he grew to be a teenager; he would be either studying, playing one of his sports, or watching pro teams play theirs. Our many relocations over the years from Chicago to Detroit, Detroit to Hartford, Connecticut and back to Detroit were difficult for Robb, Susan, Elizabeth, and Jeffrey as well.
A Book About Grief, and About Recovery
The chapters alternate between the stories about Robb and the family, to my stories, my running a garbage business for eighteen years while raising four children. The relationship between Bob and myself, our struggles in that department, our adventure and misadventures with scuba diving, my decision at forty-eight to go back to school and get a Bachelor’s degree, and lastly, my need to eventually search for a way to further improve and empower myself, after Robb’s death.
When Robb graduated from high school, he followed his father’s footsteps by also attending Northwestern University. It was at the end of his junior year that he decided to take a six week accredited trip to Kenya with twenty-three other students and two professors. This visit to Africa changed Robb’s life in many ways, eventually leading him to spend his working life in at least fifteen different countries, most of them African countries and often under dangerous conditions.
But the book always goes back to Robb. His death and the aftermath, our ordeal in dealing with the death—the cruel blow of having a child die before us—the wrenching pain that we thought would never end. How we made our way through the long, dark tunnel of grief. How we learned to accept the death without ever forgetting him and his endearing ways. How I went on without him, more and more savoring the memories of Robb, letting go finally of the grief and sadness.
Living, Loving, and Losing a Son, is a mothers memoir about her son that died much to early. By reading how our family went through the death of Robb, it will surely do some good for you and your family. Hope is an important thing…
Lovingly,
Marilyn Rauth
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Only $15. Plus S&H
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Mail check, made out to Marilyn Rauth, for $20 ($15 for book and $5 for S & H)to:
Marilyn Rauth
5575 Shadow Lane
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48009
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PS 209 pages. 100%, 30 day, money back guarantee. Let me know if you have any questions, concerns or comments at marilyn@loss-of-child.com.
Testimonials for Living, Loving and Losing a Son
Sally Flynn
A wonderful book full of warmth, love and loss - a perfect title. The author has had such a full and eventful life with all the ups and downs we all share, but shattered in her 50's by the untimely death of her son. Her recovery from this loss and ultimate success in repairing the damage such a tragedy often inflicts on a marriage were so interesting and uplifting to me. This was a very special book with many tears and many laughs. My husband enjoyed it as much as I did. I highly recommend it.
Jim Highland
“Living, Loving, and Losing a Son" is written in a beautifully clear style that makes reading it an effortless pleasure. The writing falls away so that the story tells itself as if it were a movie. This writing style makes the book easy to read, but more importantly allows the power and emotions of the story to come through in a visceral, real way. The reader feels all the love, joy, shock, and pain of the parents through their experience of raising and then losing their son. The story is captivating and holds the reader's interest throughout. It is clear that the writing of the book was itself an act of love and it is a gift to those who read it.
Myra St John
From the very first page, Marilyn Rauth embraces you into her life. Her memoir is filled with happiness, humor and deep sadness. She writes with honesty and conviction. I cried and laughed through this page turner. A wonderful tribute to her son and family. I highly recommend this book.
Gene Baynham
I just reread this book having originally read the first draft. At that time I didn't know if I could read it as I had such a close involvement with the author and her family. But I did and was overwhelmed not only by her eloquent expression of her anguish and how she found a way eventually to accept it, but also by her humor.
This is really a wonderful tribute to Robb written by a mother who, through all her profound grief, is able to share the ordinary, the funny. The poignant experiences she had not only with Robb but all who surrounded her.
This is a must read book which I highly recommend.
Carolyn Fruechte
This is a masterfully written true story of a mother's tragic loss of her oldest son. The book took me so intimately into Marilyn's life ~ her marriage, her struggles, joys, heartbreak and healing ~ that I felt I was living it all with her. It was a book I couldn't put down, nor could my husband when I finished and gave it over to him. A most sensitive book of tragedy and healing.
Tania Vazquez
A WONDERFUL READ! When I picked up this book I couldn't put it down. Though it was someone else's story I was able to connect immediately to my experience of losing my mother. Beautifully written, this book guides you through a flurry of emotions...I found myself laughing out loud as well as crying throughout the book. A real-life depiction of what a family goes through when losing a loved one.
Elsa Cattano
A poignant, honest, and emotional book -- I could not stop reading even when tears were filling my eyes. This is a sensitive portrayal of life, love, family, loss, and coming thru it. Marilyn writes with clarity and vision.
Patricia Kenny
In Living, Loving and Losing a Son, Marilyn weaves the fabric of her marriage with the sudden death of her oldest son, Robb. It is an intimate reflection on the son who became a man of integrity and lived his truths and a mother's story of loss and grieving; of family and faith, and of personal growth.
Although she wondered how she would ever survive his death and realized that you never "get over" the loss of a loved one, Marilyn gives us what she calls "the gifts of grief" that have helped her move to a place of peace and acceptance. Living, Loving and Losing a Son is an honest and hopeful narrative. I highly recommend it.
Carol Halstead
This is truly an inspiring book - well written and full of humor, warmth and tragedy. The author's deep love for her son and the warmth felt within the entire family are threads that bind together an outstanding tale of love and loss. This is not just a memoir, it is a poignant story told with passion. I couldn't put it down and neither will you. A must read!!!!
Elizabeth Goldman
This memoir was incredibly honest and written with an unusually beautiful sensitivity. I found myself crying, laughing, enjoying her sharing of experiences and came away filled with a deep admiration for the author. I could not put the book down. Having raised a family from the 60's to the 80's, I could relate to the many experiences the author shared. I will recommend this book to all my friends.