Sunlight on the Ocean - by Rhyl Venning (Paperback)

About the Book

"Your baby has cystic fibrosis." What do you do when your world falls apart? Rhyl Venning's "miracle daughter" Kari-Lee chose to live an amazing and vibrant life. When Rhyl's nightmare became reality, would life ever feel worth living again?

Book Synopsis

"Your baby has cystic fibrosis. There's no cure. She might live to thirty."

What do you do when your world falls apart? When it's out of your control? When the future holds the threat of every parent's worst nightmare?

Rhyl Venning wrestled with these questions soon after the birth of her "miracle" daughter Kari-Lee, born following years of infertility and medical intervention.

Yet, rather than living a sad and sheltered existence, Kari-Lee bravely chose to live an amazing and vibrant life. With her happy heart, adventurous spirit and positive attitude, she spread joy wherever she went, visiting 38 countries after finishing high school.

When her health suddenly plummeted, Kari fought courageously with everything she had, but tragically Rhyl's nightmare became reality.

Why did this happen? How could Rhyl survive the loss of her precious daughter? Would life ever feel worth living again?

"Rhyl describes with brutal honesty a journey through the depths of despair, jubilation, heartbreak, brilliant love, and the emergence of hope and light. This memoir is a gift for those seeking solace." Leigh Donovan, Former Head of Bereavement Services at Queensland Children's Hospital

"Rhyl honestly addresses the struggles, intense emotions, and unanswerable questions ... Rhyl will be a warm and understanding companion on your own journey through suffering." Jill Sullivan, Executive Director of While We're Waiting

"If you are looking for truth, encouragement and hope for this journey, read this book! I can't recommend it highly enough." Melanie De Simone, Author of the blog thelifeididntchoose.com

Review Quotes

Rhyl shares her story of loss with authenticity and vulnerability, not shying away from the parts that are painful and ugly. She honestly addresses the struggles, intense emotions, and unanswerable questions faced by parents who have experienced child loss, but then demonstrates how God can redeem these things by bringing purpose from the pain. Rhyl will be a warm and understanding companion on your own journey through suffering. JILL SULLIVAN, Executive Director, While We're Waiting

In Sunlight on the Ocean, Rhyl fearlessly shares her heart-wrenching and transformative journey through the illness and ultimate loss of her beloved daughter, Kari-Lee. As a clinical psychologist well-acquainted with grief and loss, I was deeply moved by the honesty and vulnerability of Rhyl's account, and the captivating way in which she described Kari's unique and vibrant spirit and captured the profound impact our loved ones leave on our lives. Rhyl's own expertise as a health professional adds depth and wisdom to her account; one that will provide hope and guidance to those traversing the daunting terrain of love and loss. DR GEMMA ROUX, Clinical Psychologist

Rhyl Venning journals a vivid account of her remarkable daughter's life with cystic fibrosis and her entrance to Heaven. Readers hold a front-row seat as Rhyl writes of the joy and adventures of Kari-Lee and family, followed by the devastating grief and deepest sorrow that any parent could ever face. With transparency and insight, Rhyl tackles many of the difficult questions that face bereaved parents, and testifies of God's faithfulness through the journey. LAURA HOUSE, Associate Director, Our Hearts Are Home

I consider Rhyl a friend even though we live more than half a world away from one another and have never met in person. We were introduced as fellow grieving mothers some years ago and immediately our hearts were knit together. We share a desire to be faithful, honest and transparent guides for anyone following behind us on this path of child loss. Rhyl has written a beautiful and hope-filled memoir of her journey from infertility through delighted birth and on to a life of caring for a medically challenged child. I am so thankful that she chose to share with the world the ups, downs, delights and dreadful heartache of loving Kari-Lee even though she knew she'd likely get to Heaven before her. If you are looking for truth, encouragement and hope for this journey, read this book! I can't recommend it highly enough. MELANIE DE SIMONE, Author of the blog thelifeididntchoose.com

Sunlight on the Ocean is an eloquent yet raw account of Rhyl Venning's reflections on yearning to become a mother, many failed IVF attempts, and finally receiving the most precious gift of all, her daughter Kari-Lee. Yet this gift came with a price, as Kari-Lee was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a life-limiting medical condition, when only weeks old. Rhyl shares the profound joy of watching Kari-Lee, despite CF, grow into a vivacious, curly-haired woman full of life and love and trust in Jesus; whilst balancing the grief of knowing she would one day have to give her daughter back to her God. Sunlight on the Ocean shares the myriad of emotions that have woven their way through Rhyl's life as a mother, before and after the death of her daughter. Rhyl describes with brutal honesty a journey through the depths of despair, jubilation, heartbreak, brilliant love, and the emergence of hope and light. This memoir will be a gift for those seeking solace in listening to, and learning from, a mother who has encountered the greatest joys, yet the unbearable pain of loving and losing their child. LEIGH DONOVAN, PhD, BSW, Churchill Fellow, Former Bereavement Coordinator, Children's Health Queensland, Consultant in Thanatology