The Loss of Lacey

A journey of despair and undying love from hopeless to healing

As a psychotherapist, Nancy Jarrell O'Donnell was trained to help others heal from mental and emotional suffering. Then, in an instant, her own psyche was tragically torn apart. Her beautiful and beloved daughter Lacey died suddenly in a car accident, and this mother experienced firsthand a depth of personal pain she couldn't have imagined. Adding to the agony of losing Lacey was the plaguing questions of how and why the accident occurred.

This book began as a journal to help the author deal with the grief and confusion of such a life-altering event. She used tools in her professional repertoire and tried a variety of new tactics in her efforts to alleviate the trauma of her agonizing grief. As years passed and her resilience increased, she hoped her efforts would help others enduring the torment of losing a child as well as professionals who wish to understand and assist them. She describes her personal integrative approach to healing, reflecting that of her professional practice.

The author chronicles her journey of healing with both visceral emotion and soulful lyricism, including amazing and often prophetic poems by her daughter Lacey. Woven throughout her story of loss and grief are elements of triumph as well as mysterious occurrences that seemed to indicate Lacey's spirit is alive and well.