Birth Mothers Publish Book to Challenge Perceptions

Mothers who have experienced the loss of their children’s care have authored a book with the aim of altering public perception of their experiences. This initiative received support from the charity Beam, an organization that assists mothers in navigating the emotional impact of involuntary child separation. While Beam’s operations are based in Suffolk, it extends its assistance to women nationwide. Cheryl, one of the contributing mothers to the book, stated that the process had “shown me my strengths and that I really do matter”. The mothers collaborated with author Helen Jacey, who learned about the charity through a BBC article. A total of 13 mothers participated in the creation of the fictional book, titled One Drop Holds the Sun, which is scheduled for its launch in London. The participants hail from various regions, including Suffolk, Essex, London, Devon, Merseyside, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk. Kye, a Suffolk resident, lost custody of her child due to addiction. She is currently sober, a state she attributes to Beam. She remarked, “They actually helped me to get into rehab. They do not just help mums support each other. They help you with other battles in your life as well.” Kye was undergoing rehabilitation while contributing to the book and stated that the experience “helped her get on the right path, the sober path, and I am now able to live my life to the fullest”. Cheryl, an Essex native, lost the care of her child because her autism presented challenges in providing care. Although her school experience was not wholly positive, Cheryl discovered a new voice through her participation in online workshops facilitated by Dr. Jacey. She expressed, “I felt proud to be part of the book. I hope that when people hear my story it will change the way people see people like me.” She added, “This has shown me what I am capable of and that I am actually quite good at writing, and I am thinking about carrying that forward on my own and writing my own story separate from the Beam book.” The project received financial backing from the National Lottery, distributed via Arts Council England. Dr. Jacey, who resides in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, took on the role of project manager after encountering the BBC News article. She commented that “there was something about the resilience, non-judgmental, life-changing work that Beam was doing that I think all parents need”. The book’s creation unfolded over several months of workshops conducted with the women. Dr. Jacey described the process, stating, “It was about finding a fun, supportive, safe way to get in touch with creativity and words, and I think it was a wonderful process.” She also noted that establishing trust with Cherie Parnell, Beam’s founder and a trustee, presented a challenge. Ms. Parnell, a former family barrister, initially responded with “no” to the proposal but was ultimately persuaded. The individual narratives are interconnected through a character named Hope, a part Ms. Parnell was requested to author. Ms. Parnell stated, “People who have read the book have said they have cried, but it’s not a story of despair. It’s a story of hope in name and in heart.”