Parents facing a fetal diagnosis that will cause their baby’s death soon after birth often feel lost, alone, scared, and even angry. This tragic scenario is difficult enough for parents to wrap their heads around, let alone small children, who are facing the loss of a sibling they have yet to meet.
This loss is the subject of a soon-to-be-released children’s book entitled Orchestra for Oliver. Author Laura A. Stewart wrote the book in honor of her grandson, who lived for only a short time. Stewart’s grief poured out in love through a pen and beautifully illustrated by Estelle Corke, tells the story of a family who grieves the impending loss of a child but who chooses to celebrate him while they can, for as the book says, “even the shortest lives are special.”
Orchestra for Oliver is the first-person story of a little girl named Camille. It begins as her excited parents tell her that they are expecting a baby. She joins in their excitement, explaining that she has always wanted to be a big sister, and she soon learns that she will have a brother.
Not too long after, her mom shows her a sonogram image and tells her that the baby is not growing as he should and that he might not live long after he is born. Camille expresses her confusion, and they explain to her that they will keep taking care of him because they “want to give him every chance to grow, before and after he’s born.”
Camille goes to bed that night and prays, and when she wakes up, her parents tell her that they want to make as many family memories with the baby as possible. They start by naming him Oliver, a name that means peace.
The family then begins to go on many adventures together, always talking about Oliver and making him a vital part of their outings. One night, they attend an orchestra performance. Oliver has grown bigger, and his mom says he really enjoys the music, as she can feel his lively kicks. Camille exclaims, “My heart felt . . . happy. We were sharing this moment with Oliver. He was alive and real. Our time with him was important.”
Oliver became an integral part of their special moments as well, as when Camille received her First Communion, her mom told her that “she felt Oliver jump for joy the moment [she] received Jesus.”
Throughout the book, the family prays together and talks of how God hears them and loves them, even though they do not understand why Oliver will have such a short life. Beautiful illustrations capture the emotions of the family so well that you will need a Kleenex as you journey with this family. From excitement about the new baby to sadness that he may not live long, to the adventures that show the love of family, readers will experience a wide range of emotions.
One of the most precious things is that tiny preborn Oliver even makes an appearance in many of the illustrations, as Corke has drawn him growing in his mother’s belly. These crucial images show the humanity of the baby and help him truly come alive for little ones (and not so little ones) reading along.
On the day of Oliver’s birth, the family finds that, indeed, he is very sick. A priest baptizes him immediately, and Oliver dies in his mother’s arms.
Even though the family is grieving, they know that they have done their best to care for him and make memories. They cherished the gift of their baby boy as much as they could. The story ends with Camille standing firm in the belief that Oliver will always watch over her and that he will remain in her heart.
As we walk with this family through their grief, we can’t help but feel it as well. Stories like this give courage not only to kids but also to parents. They come to see how they can take something incredibly tragic and trust in God, even if they don’t understand.
Orchestra for Oliver is a phenomenal help for parents of preschool or early elementary children as they learn to navigate loss. Even if your family has not had this experience, the beautiful story will help your young children see the humanity of the preborn baby and will build the foundation they need to trust in God when bad things do happen.
Families often need stories like Orchestra for Oliver to help their little ones understand that God wants us to find some joy in the here and now and in what we have without completely focusing on what we might lose. They teach us to make the most of our time here on earth with those we love and to entrust our families to God. Children can even personalize prayers provided at the end of the book to help them grow in this trust and in faith.
Orchestra for Oliver is a beautiful story that reminds us in a gentle way that no matter who we are, how old we are, or how developed we are, God is a good Father who watches over us and protects us in ways that we cannot even imagine. When things go wrong and when we face tragedies, we can be assured that He hears our cries of pain, and if we let Him, He will comfort us.
This sweet book will resonate with families of all types, as it takes one of the most difficult circumstances families can face and focuses on the beauty of life. It reminds us of God’s goodness, of the fragility of life, of how precious every moment is, and that we should be thankful for all the gifts God has given us, no matter how long we get to keep those gifts. And it reminds us that, truly, even the shortest lives are special.
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