Always My Twin

Always My Twin , for young children who have experienced the death of their twin sibling, is a book for any child whose twin died before birth, after birth or as a young child. The story is based on the author's own experience of losing a newborn twin daughter in 2002. The book tells the story through the eyes of a young girl whose twin sister dies shortly after their births. She begins her story with sharing the womb with her twin, the joy of her family anticipating the arrival of twins, the family's pain of losing one of their precious babies, and her own expressions of grief for her twin's death. The surviving twin also shares with the audience the precious ways in which she and her family remember her twin throughout the year. Included are interactive pages for the reader to respond to with pictures, identifying feelings and providing family information.

Heartache, healing and hope are evident through the author's words and the illustrator's artwork in telling the story of loss and love. Whether twins were identical or fraternal, separated by death at birth or years later, Always My Twin will find a special place in the hearts of surviving twin children and their families.

In April 2002, Valerie gave birth to full term twin daughters Gina and Julia Samuels. Her daughter Gina, born with Trisomy 13 and Holoprosencephaly, lived for 9 days before she died in her mother's arms, but not in her mother's heart. Valerie wrote Always My Twin for daughter Julia and other children whose twin died before birth, after birth, or as a young child. "I believe this very special book will provide young surviving twins and their families with opportunities for healing and creating memories of their own to cherish". In 2003 Valerie founded "A Mother's Heart" Ministry which offers support to parents who have experienced the death of their baby due to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. Valerie lives in North Carolina with her 5 surviving children.