Piece by Piece: Remembering Georgina: A Mother's Memoir

by Helen Anderson

In July 2013, fourteen-year old singer-songwriter Georgina Anderson received the shock news that her recent ‘indigestion’ was in fact an aggressive form of liver cancer. As doctors battled to save Georgina, her mother Helen poured her thoughts and fears into the pages of a diary. Piece by Piece is a transcript of that diary as a new member of the ‘club’ no parent wants to join. A breathtaking record of the author’s journey as a mother from that day onwards, this unforgettable book also charts the stunning reaction to Georgina’s music as celebrities and members of the public spread her story around the globe. This memoir is Helen Victoria Anderson’s testament to her daughter’s courage. Shot through with dark humour, Piece by Piece is an honest snapshot of turbulent times which captures the strength of the human spirit in the face of the unthinkable. Praise for Piece by Piece by Piece is extraordinarily moving and beautifully written - there is such powerful attention to detail here that the reader is given new insight into grief and love. This memoir is a testament to Helen Anderson’s strength and courage - her honesty is Piece by Piece demands to be read by everyone. - Marion Husband, author of The Boy I Love trilogy, The Good Father, Say You Love Me, and Six Little Deaths To say Piece by Piece is a moving memoir wouldn't do justice to the raw honesty on every page. I cried so many times as I read Helen's story of losing her lovely Georgina so young and trying to cope with the pain and sorrow that are with her day in, day out. Helen is a wonderful, heartfelt, descriptive writer and her grief is tangible, yet she is not only surviving every mother's worst nightmare, she is chronicling it as a life lesson for the rest of us. She is one brave lady to let us into a heart that has been through so much. - Christine Fieldhouse, author of Why Do Monsters Come Out at Night? Piece by Piece is more than a compelling story of death and grief. It is a story of the love of strangers; the love of the community and the love of an amazing family. - Karen Charlton, author of The Detective Lavender Mysteries As a mother who has also lost a child to cancer, I completely identify with the range of emotions which are perfectly encapsulated in Helen's memoir. The overwhelming sense of loss and longing for your child, of no longer knowing your purpose, and of trying to find a way through the pain to discover a new life which is acceptable enough for you to want to learn to live again... These are real quandaries in the tragedy of child-loss, and I believe that this book will help many people realise they are not alone, others have walked this path before, and that somehow, they too will survive. - Leona Knox, mother of wee Oscar

203 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2015

About the author

Helen Victoria Anderson is a British writer of creative non-fiction, fiction and poetry. She enjoys mixing 'dark' with 'light' to make 'thought-provoking'. She is fascinated by the therapeutic potential of creative writing. Helen has an MA (with Distinction) in Creative Writing from Teesside University. She won First Prize in the InkTears Flash Fiction Contest 2015 and was also awarded First Prize in the Bridgwater Homestart Short Story Competition 2013, judged by Dame Margaret Drabble. Helen Victoria Anderson’s work has been published in magazines such as Alliterati, Confingo, Compass Literary Magazine, Material, Miracle, The Black Light Engine Room and Fat Damsel, as well as in a number of short story and poetry anthologies.

Reviews

[Louise Beech · Rating 5 out of 5]

It must have taken great bravery to write this book. And it's beautiful. A tribute not only to Helen's daughter, but a tribute to how we cope when life hands us great difficulties. I've always believed in the power of writing as a way of healing/coping, and this gorgeous memoir only adds to my belief. I'm still thinking about it a week after finishing it.

[Debra Hickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving tribute to a cherished child

This book moved me in ways that are hard to articulate. Many times we take for granted the joy a child brings as we go about our daily lives but when the unthinkable happens and you are faced with the devastation and finality of cancer especially to one so young you are taught to hold tightly to every moment. As a parent it is hard not to feel the grief and loss this family has felt but I truly hope they feel the comfort and loving support of those who have been privileged to come to know their beautiful Georgina. Not only is Mrs. Anderson a talented writer, she is unbelievably generous of heart. This peak into her grief is just another testament to her courage and her will to keep her promises to a child so dear. I wish this family a gentle calming down to their souls and the knowledge that I will remember your beautiful girl as you so graciously shared her with the world.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m sure many of us have wondered when we see on the news, or watch programmes like Children In Need, how parents cope with losing a child. It would be my absolute worst nightmare and many a time I have woken up from some horrible dream where something bad has happened to my children and my face is soaked with tears. Luckily for me that’s all it is, a bad dream. Sadly for some other parents it’s a reality.

Piece by Piece is a book made up of diary entries, by Helen, as well as status’s posted on social media, again by Helen and her husband, from when Georgina was diagnosed, but mainly on the aftermath after her death.

This novel felt very personal and I can only thank Helen from the bottom of my heart in sharing her thoughts and feelings with others. I think this book will be such a big help to any parents whose child is terminally ill or have lost a child. It will also help others that have not been affected in this way to understand what someone is going through and hopefully be more mindful as well as be better prepared if the worst was ever to happen to them or someone they know.

Grief is something that obviously affects each of us differently. We get to see this in how Helen and her husband react differently and how they both go about coping with it. The support from a certain football club as well as Georgina’s school and her friends was especially touching and I had to have the odd breather as I couldn’t see the words through my tears.

Piece by Piece was obviously going to be a heart wrenching and emotional read. The devastation of losing a child was everything I thought it would be and more. It will certainly make you appreciate your children even more than you already do and hug them that little bit tighter.

[Madeleine Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful and heartfelt memoir that had me crying, laughing and understanding more of the grief that Helen Anderson was plunged into after daughter's death. She writes in a such unique way which is often painful, raw and honest, walking along side her as she exposes her heart and mind. This book is a gift

[Emma Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honouring Georgina beautifully

Thank you Helen for gracing us with this beautiful, honest piece. Your writing talent is as distinct and profound as Georgina's musical talent was.

[Barbara Beswick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have to begin by saying after the last book I read, this is more like it! - which sounds a terrible thing to say and also so wrong considering it's a real-life story of a family grieving for the loss of their fifteen year old daughter to cancer. I was lucky enough to meet the author along with her lovely friend Karen, albeit briefly in Leeds last month at a book club meet-up. Funny how sometimes you know within minutes of meeting someone, what sort of person they are. It was plain to see. She was warm, friendly, caring, unassuming and down to earth. And you know what? So is this book. The love within this family shines through from the onset. Not in a gushing over-sentimental hand-wringing 'woe is me' king of way though. Yes, tears plopped onto several pages, and a lot of throat-clearing was going on, but boy do you sense that should you ever tragically find yourself in a similar situation, Helen Victoria Anderson is someone you would want as a friend. As the pages turn, I'm feeling, - well I don't know what I'm feeling. The same year Georgina was diagnosed, my Mum was also diagnosed in September with pancreatic cancer. She died on Christmas Day 2013, and my goodness, I know exactly how myself and my three sister felt/feel. Mum was 84. 84 is a whole lot bigger number than 15. Poor girl. Poor beautiful girl. Poor family. Cancer you are a b****** - why don't you just do one! This is such a heart breaking gut wrenching story yet it is so beautifully told, it offers hope and a belief that loved ones can and will live on in hearts and minds and therefore always be close by, despite the many tears, their smiles will surely win through. I was never lucky enough to meet or know you Georgina Louise Anderson, but I'll bloomin' well remember you!!

[Terrence Whitter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy reading this, it was only in the way that it was sad to read this story of Georgina. As it tells of her deterioration through her mothers writings.
There are some good things in this book, Georgina's song hits up in the charts and takes youtube by storm.
Overall a story not for the sensitive type, I've always been a little sensitive to true story hardships and this got to me a bit.

Note to Helen: Thank you for this insight these true events needed to be told. Best of luck to you in the future.

[Paul Korhonen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A family's worse nightmare - a daughter tragically stricken and taken by cancer. The author bares her soul and pulls no punches in the telling of this story. Well written and you cannot fail but to be touched by the raw emotion of a mother's grief. Recommended reading!