Rebuilding a life of love and meaning after loss

A mother’s journey of resilience through complex grief, battling societal barriers, and finding strength in the wake of unimaginable loss.

I'm Brenda Daly.

LCSW AND GRIEF SPECIALIST

If you’re like me and the many parents I’ve met, you may feel isolated and misunderstood after losing a child. I've been there too, and it’s hard to see a way forward.

I understand the raw emotions of devastation and hopelessness. In my book, I tackle these intense feelings, along with the societal barriers that can compound our grief.

In my new book, I candidly share my story of heartbreak and healing through words and collage. I would love for you to read it.

READ A SAMPLE NOW

I know this path.
I’m walking it everyday.

We heal through connection. Every page I’ve written is both a step in my healing and a hand reaching out to you in your journey.

With over 40 years as a clinical social worker and multiple certifications in grief therapy, I combine my professional expertise with my personal experience to guide you through grief using creative storytelling and art.

BUY THE BOOK

“Her vivid descriptions tap into the feelings of each of us who love and have lost someone, even if we didn’t have her exact experience. Her resilience is inspiring. It gives me a sense of hope and I recommend this story to all who have lost a loved one and especially to those whose loved ones have had a brain injury. You will feel less alone.”

- Mary K, Reader

"A candid, courageous memoir about two deeply stigmatized topics - traumatic brain injury and a mother's disenfranchised grief over the loss of her son. Brenda's story tackles these two difficult subjects with honesty and authenticity; the book will resonate with all mothers who deeply love their children. Moving and enlightening!"

- FERN SCHUMER CHAPMAN, Author of Brothers, Sisters, Strangers, Motherland

"Touching... This book tells a heartfelt story of a single Mother who defied all odds at a time when it wasn't acceptable to raise a son alone and learning more about life and love. The author does an excellent job of opening up and revealing the highs and lows of struggling with TBI, addiction and grief. Hoping this helps others in their healing process."

- lori R, Reader

In "I Got Up," Brenda delivers a gut-wrenching narrative of open vulnerability. Her compelling prose combined with her raw honesty, creates a powerful and emotionally resonant journey of self-discovery and the transformative power of resilience. This book is a must-read for those seeking a compelling narrative that will grip your heart and inspire you to move forward.

- jane d., Reader

"Captivating. The words, sentences, paragraphs and pages keep you wanting in anticipation of where the story takes you next. Your expectation is to be submersed into a story of grief and pain. But the beauty of this book and the chapters is that it lays it out in layers, each building upon itself..."

- THOMAS H., Reader

"...A map of a life and love and the origins of it that ultimately define the mystery and complexity of grief. The humanness of affection, connection, relations, social perception, social persecution, the value of life, the mystery of love and the pain of its permanent absence. A beautiful read of the life behind the loss."

- THOMAS H., Reader

"It's astounding how Brenda can be vulnerable and express her raw emotions about the obstacles a parent has to face when a child has this horrible condition, and I can't wait to see how it helps others heal. Managing her personal and family life alongside her son's clinical condition is a remarkable accomplishment that no parent should ever have to endure. The bond they shared will leave a lasting impression in your memory."

- SARA M., Reader

I GOT UP.

In I Got Up, I candidly share my story of heartbreak along with the frustrating reality of our grief-illiterate society. Through my words and collage exploration, I honor my son’s memory and challenge the stigmas surrounding how he died.

Let’s redefine how we talk about and experience grief in all its complexity; how we go from fractured and broken, to fractured and put back together again.

BUY THE BOOK

a mother's resilience: overcoming grief and social barriers

grieving out loud: a mother coping with loss in the opioid epidemic

Author Spotlight: A Conversation with Brenda Daly

Ep. 11

Grieving Out Loud: A Mother Coping with Loss in the Opioid Epidemic

Ep. 77

A Mother's Resilience: Overcoming Grief and Barriers After Her Son's TBI and, Later, Death

Ep. 233

Click any episode below to listen.

with Brenda

Podcast Interviews

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