Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Book Review: "Hope After Suicide: One Woman's Journey from Darkness to Light" by Wendy Parmley



 Hope after Suicide: One Woman’s Journey from Darkness to Light
Wendy Parmley

We all have a story—hidden secrets buried in dark and rocky earth. Our task is to unearth—to release the pain and discover the good, discover the healing, discover the love. Uncovering the darkness makes space for the light.
After her mother took her own life, Wendy Parmley learned firsthand the heartache, despair, and loneliness that accompanies losing a loved one to suicide. At one point she even contemplated taking her own life as well. In this uplifting true narrative, you too can discover how to:
  • Forgive yourself and others
  • Open your heart
  • Seek help when you need it
  • Draw closer to the divine
Embrace the light and learn how to heal your soul and overcome loss as you read this touching and tender account of a woman opening her heart years after her mother’s suicide.
Purchase Hope After Suicide: One Woman’s Journey from Darkness to Light at:

Review on Goodreads

Wendy Parmley suffered a disabling bike accident in September 2011.  Unable to return to her 20 year nursing career because of the continued effects of her injuries, Wendy began the slow and painful penning of her angel mother’s story and Wendy’s healing journey following her mom’s suicide death.  Wendy’s mom took her own life when just 31 years old, leaving behind her husband of thirteen years and their five young children.

Wendy has long advocated for suicide prevention and has participated on various professional and community based groups dedicated to that end.  She also recognizes the need to unashamedly support those who must continue to live in the painful aftermath of a loved one’s suicide and passionately lends her voice to that cause.

Prior to her bike accident, Wendy worked in nursing leadership for 14 years, earning her MBA degree from Brigham Young University in 2007.  Despite her continued limitations, Wendy is grateful to spend more time with the love of her life, her husband Mark.  She is ever grateful for his support and the support of their three married sons and their wives, their amazing daughter, and their beautiful two grandchildren who fill their life with sunshine.

Image of Wendy Parmley

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My review:
Wendy's compelling memoir may be emotionally challenging for some to read, but it is an essentially brutally honest look at the souls who attempt suicide and those they face leaving behind. We learn her struggles with the death of her mother as a child, coping strategies she employed as a teen, and how she found healing as an adult. This book is an important advancement in our ability to understand the tragedies many face every day. A must-read for those trying to comprehend the incomprehensible.