An Acquaintance with Death - Memoirs of a Paediatrician

A personal account, written by a paediatrician, that reflects what bereaved parents, families and children have said about their bereavement journey. Dr Richard G Wilson is internationally known for his concept 'Whirlpool of Grief and the River of Life'.

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Bereavement is what happens to you; grief is what you feel; mourning is what you do.


Dr Wilson was one of the first clinicians to identify and discuss the trauma of bereavement on children and families. He is internationally known for his concept of ‘Whirlpool of Grief and The River of Life’ and ‘Dream Babies’. This book records his experiences having met hundreds of children and families and what he learned from what they told him.


The book highlights what children know about death and aims to answer many questions such as, why do children die and what are children’s concepts of what happens when you are dead? “Is God a Mole?” says one child having seen the empty grave in the ground. The book explores the differences between how people grieve. What can friends and family say or do which can be helpful and what is considered unhelpful? How do parents and families react and what does the future hold? Is there anything a bystander can do to make it better and what approach should professionals take?


You can’t know what you don’t know – LISTEN.


The book is illustrated with drawings portraying how children perceive death.