Rainbow Hair

Excerpt

“I’m learning that if my heart is on the right path, things line-up as if by magic — the perfect person, book, phone call, class, etc. appears just at the perfect moment. Bread crumbs, in the form of little intuitive nudges, are there if I’m able to trust them. Sometimes I can sense this divine direction in real time, but more often it’s through hindsight.” 

Everyone has a story and it’s only human to try and make sense of our story. Through intimate essays and poetry, this memoir, Rainbow Hair, contemplates universal experiences — birth, family, motherhood, death — within the framework of a hopeful tragedy. Can there be such a thing?

With humor and awe, the author relates sentinel, often miraculous experiences that have led her to the conclusion that love never dies… nor do the ones we love, especially our children. They are still right here — patiently waiting for us to find them.

“I loved Nancy’s book Rainbow Hair.  The heartbreaking story of losing her boys Will and Joey only to rediscover them in spirit. Letting us know that not only are they accessible in spirit but they are healed and happy.

And although it’s quite evident that Nancy’s heart will remain broken until reunited with her sons on the other side, she remains here.  Two feet on the ground.  A loving mother and grandmother. 

Nancy’s book follows no timeline and like the other side it’s not linear.  It bounces from a description to a poem, to a revelation, and then back again.    And that makes it her story and that makes it perfect.  It’s an important book for any grieving parent who question’s if they are doing it right. 

Because like Nancy’s book, no matter where you are in the process, it’s where you ought to be.  And like Nancy’s book.  That’s perfect.” –Joe McQuillen, speaker and author of My Search for Christopher on the Other Side and We’re Not Done Yet, Pop 

"Rainbow Hair is an incredibly tragic, yet powerful and beautiful story, of resilience, hope, and everlasting love. Nancy inspires those of us who have lost a child to reexamine our connections with our children in spirit. Although we continue to mourn the loss of their physical presence, in time, we learn to develop an even deeper relationship with our children who have left their physical beings. Their love, their energy, are everlasting. The signs are present and undeniable, if we chose to be open to them. Grieving is a necessary process, and not a linear one. The deep pangs of longing will come and go, but by remaining focused and committing to seek the light, we will find joy and a renewed and powerful connection to our children who have transitioned to the other side of the veil. Nancy’s words profoundly resonated with me but did so in a visceral sense when she discovered her eldest son, as my experience was eerily similar. Nancy Hejna’s Rainbow Hair is a must read for all who are navigating this journey of life after the loss of a child, and in her case, not one, but two sons: two years apart, at the same time of year, and at the same ages. Nancy is indeed a “shining light parent,” but she is also a courageous warrior, overcoming the invisible scars from a battle that is seemingly insurmountable."  

- Margaret Thompson, author of Finding Color in the Darkness: Losing My Son to Bipolar Disorder

"I just finished reading, Rainbow Hair by Nancy Hejna. It is a compelling and touching story.  I can't imagine the loss of two sons in the span of two years. I know the pain of that loss, for I have lost a son, as well. Nancy's writing touches my soul, and I admire her strength." - Mark Petruzzi, author of, Rockets in the Sky: One Man’s journey of healing the loss of a child.

About the Author

Nancy is a retired pediatric occupational therapist, residing in the Miller neighborhood of Gary, Indiana, at the southernmost point of Lake Michigan. Primarily a visual artist, she has harbored a secret wish to write and has done so with some urgency over the past few years. She enjoys walking the Indiana dunes with partner, Mauro, and spending time with her beautiful children, grandchildren, beloved cats, and backyard chickens.

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RAINBOW HAIR

Author: Nancy Hejna

Release Date: January 10, 2023

Published by Lisa Hagan Books

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