Mona Villarubia, MRE, has transformed profound personal tragedy into a beacon of hope with her newly published memoir, "Surviving a Loss: The Devastation of Suicide." Written as a tribute to her son who died by suicide several years ago, the book offers intimate reflections on navigating the complex journey of grief and healing.
In her vulnerable work, Villarubia explores the emotional terrain familiar to those who have experienced similar losses—from overwhelming despair to unexpected moments of peace. Through carefully crafted meditations, she illuminates both the darkest valleys and unexpected moments of light that have marked her path toward healing.
The emotional complexity of her experience is powerfully captured in an excerpt from the book's back cover:
"How many children do you have?" An innocent question in a social gathering. But how to answer truthfully without causing discomfort. If I respond "We had two sons, but we lost one," the inevitable follow up is, "Oh, I'm so sorry. How did he die?" And maybe I can't have that conversation right now. But if I answer, "We have one son and he lives in Massachusetts,' I'm not lying but I am denying the reality of my first born, denying his very existence. And the pain of that is unbearable.
Malcolm is my son; he will always be my son. I think of him daily; I talk to him often. But Malc chose to take his own life at the age of 24, barely out of adolescence, on the cusp of adulthood. And we don't know why. We will never know why.
One of my survival tools is writing. In a previous book, Traces of Hope, I pursued answers to the questions of suffering and death. I referenced philosophers and theologians. This book is very different. It is a collection of posts from my Surviving a Loss blog at Wordpress.com. I have no answers to offer, but I have perhaps written something useful to you or someone you know. That is my hope
Villarubia's memoir stands as both a personal testament and a compassionate resource for others facing the devastating aftermath of suicide loss. Order a copy here.