Father and author Greg Burchett’s journey following the devastating loss of his child
According to the American Psychological Association, between nine and 15 percent of new mothers will experience post-partum depression, which leads to an increase in anxiety, cognitive impairment, guilt, and often having difficulty bonding with their child and in providing nurturing and developmental care to their infant.
In a stark manner, author Greg Burchett sheds light on a topic that is often considered “taboo” to discuss the
firsthand accounts of post-partum psychosis of a mother in “Missing The Links”. Sharing a father’s journey of making sense out of the impossible death of his child, this book tells a unique story from a father’s point-of-view after his wife made national news for killing their infant.
Post-partum psychosis is something that our doctors never told us about. If I did hear of this kind of situation, it was referred to as the ‘baby blues’ that a woman may experience, said Burchett.
“After the birth of our second child, my life seemed to resemble melting snow. It began to melt and break apart slowly, gaining momentum, until it became a raging river,” Burchett said. “Post-partum psychosis is something that our doctors never told us about. If I did hear of this kind of situation, it was referred to as the ‘baby blues’ that a woman may experience.”
Exploring the before, during and after effects of women’s health related to pregnancy, Burchett forces himself to revaluate the chain of events leading up to the death of his 17-month-old son.
“Missing the Links” aims to educate parents in the taboo topics of prenatal care, as well as mental health after pregnancy. Burchett reveals the personal details of an unimaginable story to bring awareness, help and hope to every family.
“Missing the Links” offers glimpses into what seemingly was a normal life, and what eventually led up to the murder of a small child. Burchett frankly and bluntly explores many aspects of life, often the most difficult to discuss, and reveals the personal details of an unimaginable story to bring awareness and offer hope and optimism to every family.
“I believe that everyone can relate to this story, on some level. Mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, family, friends and colleagues have all experienced, either in their lives, or in the lives of others, some of what I have shared. It is my hope that my sharing this very intimate story in this manner will help raise awareness, and that such loss can be prevented in the future.”
“Missing the Links”
By Greg Burchett
ISBN: 978-1-4918-1489-5
Retail price: $19.95
Available at authorhouse.com, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
About the Author
Greg Burchett is an Associate Professor of Life Sciences (Biology) at Riverside City College, and currently lives in Riverside, California. This life journey is a true and unfortunate story.
