Faith Wilcox - Author, Hope Is A Bright Star: A Mother’s Memoir of Love, Loss, and Learning to Live Again

Faith Wilcox

Faith Fuller Wilcox believes that self-expression through writing leads to healing. Her writing is reflective of a growing body of medical research about “narrative identity,” which illuminates that how we make sense of what happens to us and the meaning we give to experiences beyond our control directly impact our physical and psychological outcomes. Faith learned these truths firsthand when her thirteen-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer that took her life. Faith’s journey from grief and despair to moments of comfort and peace taught her life-affirming lessons, which she shares today through her writing. Faith is the author of Hope Is A Bright Star: A Mother’s Memoir of Love, Loss, and Learning to Live Again that was published in June 2021. Faith is also the author of Facing Into The Wind: A Mother’s Healing After the Death of Her Child, a book of poetry.

 A longtime resident of Massachusetts, Faith leads a journal writing program at MassGeneral HospitalforChildren for patients and their families designed to give participants the opportunity to express themselves, alleviate stress, celebrate victories, and honor their grief. As co-chair ofMassGeneral HospitalforChildren’sFamily Advisory Council, she works with parents and medical staff to improve the lives of patients and their families.

I’m so excited for you to connect with Faith, check out her work, and follow along as she continues to inspire others to share their journeys and express themselves through their writing.

I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on. How did you get started? What Inspired the work you’re doing?

My writing career was borne out of suffering. It started as I wrote in a journal by the bedside of my thirteen-year-old daughter Elizabeth while she was being treated for a rare form of bone cancer. I wrote of my fears and anxieties, my hopes and dreams, my inner turmoil and my yearning to stay strong. On some days, I wrote about when Elizabeth expressed optimism to beat her cancer; on other days, I captured her weak and despairing moments after months of chemotherapy. After Elizabeth’s death, I wrote about my grief and feelings of hopelessness. And after many years of steadfast care, encircled by the love of my family, friends and supportive community, my feelings of hope and peace flowed onto the pages before me.

 Over the past few years, I reread my journals and my writings evolved into a book, Hope Is a Bright Star: A Mother’s Memoir of Love, Loss, and Learning to Live Again. I share the stories of Elizabeth’s struggles and grace, my grieving and healing, and my awakening to discover new meaning in life. My memoir is at turns both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and my messages reveal how abiding love can heal a once-broken family.

What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?

After losing a child, I painfully learned that life can change overnight. After my years of grieving, I slowly came to a new realization that life is a gift and needs to be lived to the fullest because we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. In my new beginning, one question kept returning. How could I help families who have a child who is facing a life-threatening illness? I knew how others helped me in my time of despair so now would be my time to help others. After months of ruminating an idea started percolating. What if I could bring a journal writing program to a pediatric hospital and encourage parents, siblings and adolescent patients to try writing as a way of helping them? I reached out to a Family Advisory Council comprised of parents and medical staff at the hospital where Elizabeth received her treatments. I proposed that I lead a journal writing program that could benefit both caregivers and adolescent patients. I submitted research articles about the therapeutic benefits of journal writing when facing life-changing circumstances. The hospital was thrilled with this idea.

Once a week, I board a train bringing along twenty journals. I walk along the in-patient halls of the hospital, knock on doors, and meet privately with parents, caregivers who may be grandparents, aunts or uncles and patients. I speak about how writing in a journal could help them to unburden some thoughts that may be buried inside, let them express their hopes and dreams, and write down the treatment plans. The latter may seem obvious but when you’re in a hospital and are experiencing a new medical diagnosis the words can seem like those from a foreign language. It’s extremely valuable to record what is happening and then have time to refer back to your notes and ask for further explanations. 

I encourage adolescent children who are patients to write about their hopes and dreams and /or what it’s like to be in a hospital. I give them writing prompts and some prompts might include, What do you like to do the most at home? What do you like to do on the weekends? Can you remember a favorite family vacation? Who gives you the most comfort and happiness? By asking these questions, I am encouraging adolescent children to remember life outside of the hospital and try to bring some measure of normalcy to their lives. The response to this program has been overwhelmingly positive. Now, in addition to the in-patient floors, the program is available in the Pediatric Intensive Care unit (PICU) as well.

Meeting with caregivers and children in the pediatric hospital has become my passion. It is immeasurably gratifying to know that in some way I have helped them during a time of great need.

What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?

What brings me joy? Walking my two-year-old Goldendoodle dog along woodland trails, gazing onto the sparkling sea, and spending time with my family including my energetic and fun grandchildren. I’m also an athlete and I love swimming in a lake, playing tennis and golf.

How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?

How do I stay mindful and grounded? I write in a journal as a daily practice. I walk or exercise every day. I reach out to friends and make plans to see them. I appreciate life and the blessings surrounding me.

What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?

Honestly, I believe that my younger self would have great sorrow about the trials I have endured and would be proud that I survived these trials and am living a life with new meaning now.

What is your biggest dream?

I would like to bring the journal writing program that I spoke of above to many pediatric hospitals and help parents and their children who are suffering. I would also like to reach many readers of my memoir, Hope Is a Bright Star, and let them know that they should always hold onto hope no matter what harsh circumstances they face in life.

To learn more and connect with Faith visit her website www.faithwilcoxnarratives.com and on LinkedIn here Twitter @FaithFWilcox Instagram @faith.wilcox and Facebook @FaithFWilcox and via email faith@faithwilcoxnarratives.com

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