A woman who lost both of her parents to cancer and cared for her mum through a brain tumour has released a memoir about her experience.
Handle with Care recounts how 25-year-old Rochelle Bugg nursed her mum, Shirley, through a terminal brain tumour having already lost her dad to pancreatic cancer when she was just 14. Based on the blog she kept while caring for her mum, it follows Rochelle as she navigates a changing family dynamic with her two young sisters, the emotional and financial pressure of being a full-time carer, and the challenges of rebuilding her life after the loss of a loved one.
Providing a unique insight into the reality of being a young carer, the book is divided into key themes, including diagnosis, family, hope, dying and healing. It explores loneliness, isolation, the loss of a sense of self and how to cope with grief, among other subjects.
Rochelle said: “The book combines my story with practical advice and a healthy dose of humour. I’ve thought back to what I wish I’d known, what I wish I’d done and what I wish I hadn’t done, so that it might help others who have a loved one with a life-limiting illness. I wrote it for people who have to grow up before they’re ready. For the people that want a reassuring hug, only to realise it’s them who has to give the hug. For the people who find themselves in a role they never asked for, but who nevertheless are determined to do a good job.”
Handle with Care is available now and can be purchased as a paperback, ebook or audiobook here.
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