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Ethan's Butterflies: A Spiritual Book For Parents and Young Children After a Baby's Passing

by Christine Jonas-Simpson; Illustrated by Karen Friis

16 pages; Saddle stitched; illustrated; catalogue #06-0606; ISBN 1-4120-8850-X; US$9.52, C$10.95, EUR7.82, £5.48

A spiritual story of living with and transforming loss after a baby's passing.

Read more!

About the Book

About the Author

About the Illustrator

Excerpts

Testimonials

About the Book

Spiritual comfort and understanding after a baby's passing was what Christine Jonas-Simpson was looking for in answering her young sons' difficult questions about their baby brother Ethan's passing. This book takes the parents and young children through the journey of deep sorrow and loss of a baby brother or sister from the moment of expectation of meeting them to the despair of knowing they passed, to the joy of reconnecting with them in another way. This story is about living and feeling the deep loss of a baby as well as transforming this precious loss through connecting and creating new relationships.

Proceeds from the sale of this book will go to bereavement charities, research and education.

NEW OFFER!! -- Hospitals, Charities and Non-Profit Organizations will receive a 40% Discount on Ethan's Butterflies. Please indicate what organization you are from and request the discount when you place your order.

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About the Author

Christine Jonas-Simpson's son, Ethan William Simpson, was born still on July 15, 2001. Her sons Jonah and Kyle were 3 and a half years and 22 months old at this time. Christine had difficulty finding a book that reflected her spiritual values and which helped answer her sons' many questions. This book was inspired by those questions and the spiritual answers that came to Christine, her husband Jack and her sons.

Christine is ever grateful for the unconditional uplifting love and support of her husband and sons and friends. A special thank you to poet and writer, Ronna Bloom for encouraging the publication of this book and to Karen Friis for bringing the words to life in such a beautiful way.

Lastly Christine would like to acknowledge the Bereaved Families of Ontario www.bfotoronto.ca and Perinatal Bereavement Services of Ontario www.pbso.ca for the support they offer those who experience the deep loss of cherished and much loved babies.

Christine is a women's health, arts-based researcher and a volunteer who supports bereaved families. She lives in Toronto with her husband, sons and yellow lab, Frodo.

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About the illustrator

Karen's son Jack was born still on September 28, 2004 at 39 weeks old. Karen was devastated by the loss of her first and only child and found a good friend in Christine. She first met the author when Christine was group facilitator at a local Toronto bereaved families meeting. Being a Humanist, Karen found few spiritual yet secular books dealing with this subject but felt encouraged by Christine's idea to write this story. Losing her son Jack has inspired Karen, a novice illustrator, to join Christine in this rewarding project. She owns a small clothing shop and lives in Toronto with her pug Mavis.

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Excerpts

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Testimonials

Ethan's Butterflies is a heartwarming affirmation of the continuing relationship our children have with the brothers and sisters they have lost.  This gentle tale will help parents open the first pages of a precious and healing dialogue with their young children as together they try to navigate their way with courage and tenderness.  Ethan's story is a message of hope in the wake of our devastating losses.

Carine Blin
Mother of Jacob, who was born still on July 20, 1999

Ethan's Butterflies is a story that beautifully illustrates the experience of grieving children - and how simple but important it is to respond to their experiences of loss with the same kind of straightforward honesty and compassion that all bereaved people need. Give these children room to express their feelings and talk about their experiences in a safe and supported way, and they will find a way to make meaning of their loss. This book is a wonderful new resource and will be a tremendous gift to many families.

Betty Ann Rutledge
Program Manager Bereaved Families of Ontario-Toronto

In my former practice as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Maternal-Newborn, I sometimes met mothers and families whose baby was born still. Knowing how to share the loss with their living children was something that bereaved parents struggled with. I would have very much appreciated having a resource such as this book to share with families. I do hope that this sensitive and loving story will be helpful to bereaved families who are going through the difficult experience of having a baby born still.

Beryl Pilkington, RN; PhD
Associate Professor, Nursing
York University, Toronto

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