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Life Without Lisa is a “must read” for anyone who has lost someone dear through death. Author Richard Ballo bares his soul in this brutally honest account of being cast adrift in an ocean of emptiness, anger, and guilt. Lisa was the love of his life, an inventor and successful entrepreneur, a beacon of light to all. During her battle with cancer, everyone was in denial about the seriousness of her disease. When Lisa died, Rich was 39 and their young sons were only five and six. He wrote in his journal that night:
“All hope has died. the hope that she would survive another stay in the hospital is dead. the hope that we would have more time together is dead. the belief in her invincibility is dead. the hope of a married life lived until old age is dead. I feel like I’m drowning in an ocean of tears. I wish I were dead.”
Through Richard’s journaling, we are privy to his innermost thoughts and feelings. We sob when he sobs. We cheer him on when he begins to sense a glimmer of hope. But most of all, we see ourselves in his journey, for love and loss ultimately unite all of humanity.
*Also available at Barnes & Noble & BCH
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“Immersed within the airless depths of grief, the temptation is to withdraw and sink ever deeper. Embracing each day in its aching fullness becomes an unimaginable struggle. For those seeking the strength and courage to reach up from the fathoms to the distant light above, Richard Ballo’s Life Without Lisa offers a lifeline of help and hope.”
— Ira Byock, M.D., Director of Palliative Medicine, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Author of Dying Well and The Four Things that Matter Most
“When Grieving the death of someone we love dearly, it may seem that nothing and no one can help us. Life Without Lisa offers help in at least two very important ways. Richard Ballo’s remarkable descriptions of his many painful — and frequently changing — reactions reassure the reader of how normal these feelings are, even when nothing, especially oneself, seems normal. At the same time, his account fo interactions with family and friends and his use of grief support services, including those of local hospice, offer hope and suggestions for growth and recovery.”
— Patricia Kelley, RN, CHPN, Vice-President, Montgomery Hospice, Rockville, MD, author of Companion to Grief and Co-author of Final Gifts
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Author Richard Ballo was two months away from his 40th birthday when his wife of almost eight years died of cancer. Lisa was only 38 and fought the disease for 4 years before it won. Their boys were only 5 and 6 and a half. As a journalist Richard turned to writing to help himself heal. In this book, Richard bares his soul about his grief journey, and how he came to see himself and his world through new eyes.
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Author: Richard Ballo
Publisher: Quality of Life Publishing Co.
Format: Paperback: 207 pages, dimensions: 6 x 9
