A woman has become a first-time author after writing a book to help other parents deal with the loss of a child.

Jude Hill, 50, lost her son to cancer in 1992 and some time later – between Jude’s two other sons – she also suffered a miscarriage at 13 weeks.

She now hopes to help and inspire those struggling with bereavement through her book, Sadness to Sunshine – A Guide for Grieving Parents to Empower Themselves, Transform Their Lives and Be Happy Again.

She launched her book at Southern Valley Golf Club in Gravesend.

It reveals how she started suffering flashbacks and severe grief linked to losing her four-year-old son, Adam, who died in 1992 after a three year battle with cancer. The episodes were so bad they became debilitating. Determined to confront her feelings, she attended an Energy Alignment Method course which helps you discover how to be happy and change your life.

Following the workshop, she decided to write a book to help parents who are going through similar situations.

Jude, who lives in Rochester, said: “Losing Adam at such a young age was devastating.

“I was in my early 20s at the time and realised I had my whole life ahead of me. I had the choice to give up or keep going.

“I chose to keep going and somehow was able to move past my grief.

“I did my best at the time but never really did deal with the grief properly.

“This is why the feelings resurfaced 25 years later and this time I had to deal with it.

“Losing Adam at such a young age was devastating" - Jude Hill

“My hope is that the book will go some way towards helping parents deal with their grief and help them find happiness.”

At the launch, £500 was raised for Kent’s Demelza Hospice Care for Children, through the sale of signed copies of the book.

Claire Battersby, community fundraising assistant for Demelza, said: “We are grateful to Jude for the donation made to Demelza.

“The money will go towards the vital care for families across East Sussex, Kent and south east London Demelza provides.

“We expect that Jude’s book will prove a valuable aid to parents who suffer the tragedy of losing a child.”