The Gift of Ben: Loving through Imperfection
On a hot, New England summer day in 2014, tragedy befell author Lindsey Rogers-Seitz and her family when her husband inadvertently left their fifteen-month-old son, Benjamin, in the back seat of their car all day where he then passed away from the heat.
With raw emotion and grit, Lindsey chronicles the aftermath of her son's death in this debut memoir as she and her husband explore the intricacies of unimaginable pain, love, and the challenges of forgiveness on the other side of broken. She skillfully weaves in her personal experiences with manic depression and the mutual support and love found throughout her marriage.
Aside from overwhelming grief and loss, the family also had to deal with the media and public scrutiny due to the emotionally-charged and highly politicized nature of Ben's death. We learn of their grueling journey navigating the legal system and battles with child protective services, through which Lindsey was profiled and discriminated against due to her history with mental illness.
After years of reflection and healing, Lindsey finds her path to self-acceptance, as the love she found in her son's life gives her the power to, in turn, love herself. That is the love of a son for his mother-the gift of Ben.
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"Rogers-Seitz's memoir leads the reader through the murky depths of a psyche confronted with unthinkable tragedy. Her approach to the material borders on the poetically abstract while retaining a clear sense of meaning ... Acutely and emotionally observant, the author possesses a rare ability to pinpoint and convey the debilitating emotions and sensations associated with intense grief ... a profoundly moving debut that may offer solace to others grieving the loss of a child. Expressive, courageous writing that wrests insight from the depths of grief." - Kirkus Reviews
"An epic journey filled with bravery in each word of raw emotion." - Kids and Car Safety
"A heart-wrenching and inspiring journey through trauma, grief, and forgiveness. I couldn't put it down." - Brian Cuban, Author of The Addicted Lawyer: Tales of The Bar, Booze, Blow, and Redemption
"The Gift of Ben is a searing, powerful memoir about justice, injustice, love, healing, and perhaps most important and surprising, what happens when a woman forgives a tragic mistake that society thinks she should not. This is a book that will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about forgiveness." - Kerry Egan, Bestselling author of On Living and Fumbling
"Broken, poetic, brave. Inspired by her beautiful boy, a grieving mother confronts the unthinkable and fights for her family. In The Gift of Ben, Lindsey Rogers-Seitz reconciles joy and sorrow, wellbeing and mental illness to discover true unconditional love for her family in heaven and on earth, and finally, for herself. - Michele Gay, Co-founder of Safe and Sound Schools, mother of Josephine Grace Gay (7), Sandy Hook, CT
"Lindsey Rogers-Seitz has written a must-read for anyone who is looking to dive deeper into understanding our mental health epidemic and the journey of unimaginable grief. Her authentic and raw writing style beautifully captures the delicate balance needed to find hope amongst the shattered lives left behind after an unthinkable loss. This is a book that will change you." - Jen Marr, Author, Founder and CEO of Inspiring Comfort LLC
