Mum’s work of love helps her deal with great loss

IT'S been 20 years since a grieving Murwillumbah mum penned a tribute to her late son - and it's still flying off book shelves.

Lorraine Grennan said she had been blown away with the number of grieving parents who turned to her story for comfort.

"I think my boy would be turning over in his grave if he knew ... I think he knows," Mrs Grennan said.

"There's a lot of bereaved parents out there."

Mrs Grennan said the book, dedicated to son Mick, was now available around the world through online retail giant Amazon and also as an ebook on her website.

She's also had to do a second reprint, with the help of friends Judy and Ian Fraser who also lost a child.

The book was re-launched in Murwillumbah last November to a crowd of more than 130, including Mick's friends.

Mick lost his battle with leukaemia aged 20 in 1983.

Mrs Grennan, a mother of five, said it wasn't until years later that she felt able to write and tell her son's story.

"I didn't write the book to get rich, I wrote it because Mick requested a story."

The book talks about Mick's life, the sad years after his death and how Mrs Grennan was able to channel her grief to help others.

She founded the Murwillumbah Chapter of Compassionate Friends, a group for bereaved parents, nine years after her son's death.

"I read in the Daily News that these two women were starting a group for bereaved parents.

"I cried when I read it... no one seemed to understand.

"Now 20 years later I'm still doing it."

Mrs Grennan, 72, has won awards for her work with the group, including the Tweed Shire Australia Day Citizen of the Year in 2011.

The group meets regularly and will resume meetings for the year on March 14.

Contact Mrs Grennan to join on 02 6672 3219.

Her book is available online at lorrainegrennan.com or can be found in hard copy at the following Tweed stores - Andersons Jewellery (Main St, Murwillumbah), Birdwing Cafe (Riverside Dr, Tumbulgum) and Heidi's Place (Queen St, Murwillumbah).

Win a copy

WE'VE got a copy of Lorraine Grennan's book Mick ... Send Me A Butterfly to give away.

To win, write the answer to the following question on the back of an envelope marked with your name and phone number. Send to Daily News, PO Box 6336, Tweed Heads South, NSW 2486.

Entries close 10am Thursday, winner notified by phone.