Life After the Death of My Son: What I'm Learning

On the morning of February 6, 1991, Dennis Apple discovered the lifeless body of his son on their family room couch. Eighteen-year-old Denny had died without warning from what was later explained as complications due to Mono. Sixteen years later, Dennis still struggles with living in a world without his son.Life After the Death of My Son shares a glimpse of the unspeakable pain, helplessness, frustration, and eventual healing that Dennis and his wife, Buelah, have experienced since losing their son. Using excerpts from his journal―which he began the day after Denny died―Dennis explores the dark, lonely road of grieving for a child. He discloses his anger and disappointment with God, discusses his frustrations with friends and family, and shares how he's dealt with the grief attacks, which continue to sneak up and surprise him. His painful, yet promising story offers comfort and connection to those walking similar paths. With understanding and compassion, Dennis offers grieving parents insight from 10 lessons he's learned―and continues to learn. His gentle words and honest understanding will guide those with grieving hearts on their difficult journey; giving them hope; helping them to discover ways in which God is able to continue the life of the child they loved.

DENNIS L. APPLE has worked to reclaim his faith, his marriage, and his personal sanity after the sudden death of his 18-year-old son, Denny, in 1991. He has started several support groups and continues to counsel couples and individuals are grieving the loss of a loved one. For more than 20 years, Dennis has served as staff pastor at College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas; where he oversees recovery and support groups, senior adult ministry, and hospital visitation. Dennis and his wife, Buelah, live in Olathe, and have an adult son, Andrew.