Surviving Grief
Title: Surviving Grief: A Prescription for Disaster
In a world where justice feels more like a PR slogan than a reality, I found myself thrown into a nightmare I never saw coming. “Thank you for not only your time and referrals, but…” started out as a simple letter. But by the time I was done, it had become something much bigger—a gut-punch of truth from a grieving husband trying to make sense of a system that failed his wife, Heide.
This isn’t just about loss—it’s about how the healthcare system put convenience, red tape, and indifference ahead of compassion and common sense. From the moment they misdiagnosed her, I was in a fight—not just against cancer, but against doctors who couldn’t be bothered, attorneys who didn’t want to touch it, and a hospital that seemed more concerned about covering itself than caring for its patients.
Let’s be clear: I knew she was dying. But what still keeps me up at night is how preventable her suffering was. She could’ve had more time. She could’ve passed peacefully, surrounded by love—not stuck in a broken system that looked the other way.
This book is my way of saying, “Enough.” Enough with the excuses. Enough with the bureaucratic shuffle. Enough with letting people slip through the cracks. It’s personal, it’s painful, and it’s the truth.
Surviving Grief isn’t just my story—it’s a wake-up call. Because behind every chart and hospital bed is a real person, a real family, and a real chance to do the right thing. And sometimes, all it would’ve taken was a second opinion. A little humanity. A moment of accountability.
And maybe then, I wouldn’t be writing this.
Customer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2024
The book was amazing and well presented. John did an excellent job.
One person found this helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A window of hope in the depths of despair.
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2024
Raw, brutal, painful look at how quickly life can turn upside down in a quick second. This love story surpasses any romantic novel one could read, or any romantic comedy one could watch. This is the true meaning of love and marriage.
This author, able to eventually find a light after years of deep grief, gives me hope that it is possible for anyone.
A book about an amazing woman, an amazing love story, and how to hang on by your fingernails when all seems lost.
5.0 out of 5 stars The love and trials of a man feeling helpless
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2024
I liked the fact that the author wants to share his experience so others may not have to endure what he did. We trust our healthcare system too much. His journey was heart breaking with so many obstacles along the way. I felt the love for his wife, but also frustration of her care. The advice he gives others about grief, shows that he cares about people. I liked the insight as to their journey to New Mexico when they were young adults.
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2024
Broke my heart to know how much my friend suffered because of a failed healthcare system. Thank you for sharing your story John. Your loving devotion lives on .
Louis
5.0 out of 5 stars An empathetic Tale
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2024
This story brought tears to my eyes. Cancer has dealt significant blows to many families, and John's family is one of them. I am glad he eventually found comfort in prayers and serving God.
The Mission
Let me be real: this book isn’t just about losing my wife—it’s about what happens when the system that’s supposed to protect us does the exact opposite.
Surviving Grief is my way of shedding light on a legal and healthcare system that seems built to protect big corporations, not regular people like you and me. If you’ve got money, you’ve got power—and that power buys influence. The kind that writes laws, dodges accountability, and leaves grieving families like mine stuck picking up the pieces.
From the first misdiagnosis to the missed chances that could’ve given my wife more time—or at the very least, a peaceful passing—I ran into walls everywhere I turned. Cold attorneys. Specialists who just saw another chart. A hospital system more worried about liability than life.
And don’t be fooled by the whole “non-profit” label either. Just because they slap on a 501(c)(3) tag doesn’t mean they’re not raking it in or cutting corners.
This was never about if my wife was going to pass—it was how she was forced to go. That’s what broke me. And that’s why I’m telling this story.
Grief isn’t neat. It’s not stages in a book. It’s a mess—one you’re stuck walking through without a map. If what I went through can wake even one person up to how twisted the system is, then maybe it means my wife's suffering wasn’t for nothing.
I’m not writing this to make anyone comfortable. I’m writing it to demand change. To get people to look closer at who’s really pulling the strings, and to make damn sure someone else doesn’t have to go through what I did.
This isn’t just a story—it’s a call to pay attention. Because the line between life and death? Sometimes, it comes down to whether someone bothers to care.
2024 John F Lorne All Rights Reserved
