The Future is Rosie
Published on 1. February 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-8382598-3-9 (ISBN)
Description
In her poignant memoir, Carolyn describes the heartbreak of losing a child, and how she and her family dealt with unimaginable loss and learned to live again.
Married with two daughters, Ellie aged 14 and Rosie 11, Carolyn was teaching at Redroofs School for the Performing Arts when Rosie suddenly developed vasculitis, a rare auto immune disease.
Rosie spent many months in hospital undergoing tests, scans and operations whilst her
family were worried sick and traumatised by the lack of support for parents in their situation.
Rosie's tragic death six months later compelled Carolyn to set-up Rosie's Rainbow Fund in her memory and to honour Rosie's wish to help other sick children. The charity has achieved major success bringing music therapy to thousands of sick children in hospital, care for parents with hospitalised children and ongoing support for bereaved parents.
As a believer in spirituality, Carolyn felt that Rosie was sending messages and helping her through her grief. Predictions given to Carolyn previously that her destiny was to have another child, and with Rosie's blessing, Carolyn and her husband embarked upon a five-year programme of fertility treatment.
Carolyn describes in intimate detail all the processes,procedures and disappointments she experienced. Finally, at 54 years of age and through IVF and a donor egg Carolyn gave birth to their son Dominic and a brother for Ellie.
After a painful divorce Carolyn discovered a breast lump in 2016 and following a diagnosis of cancer had to undergo a mastectomy.
She chronicles the gruelling regime of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the caring medical staff and inspiring patients that helped her through this frightening chapter.
However,the rollercoaster of life and death hadn't finished with her yet..
Married with two daughters, Ellie aged 14 and Rosie 11, Carolyn was teaching at Redroofs School for the Performing Arts when Rosie suddenly developed vasculitis, a rare auto immune disease.
Rosie spent many months in hospital undergoing tests, scans and operations whilst her
family were worried sick and traumatised by the lack of support for parents in their situation.
Rosie's tragic death six months later compelled Carolyn to set-up Rosie's Rainbow Fund in her memory and to honour Rosie's wish to help other sick children. The charity has achieved major success bringing music therapy to thousands of sick children in hospital, care for parents with hospitalised children and ongoing support for bereaved parents.
As a believer in spirituality, Carolyn felt that Rosie was sending messages and helping her through her grief. Predictions given to Carolyn previously that her destiny was to have another child, and with Rosie's blessing, Carolyn and her husband embarked upon a five-year programme of fertility treatment.
Carolyn describes in intimate detail all the processes,procedures and disappointments she experienced. Finally, at 54 years of age and through IVF and a donor egg Carolyn gave birth to their son Dominic and a brother for Ellie.
After a painful divorce Carolyn discovered a breast lump in 2016 and following a diagnosis of cancer had to undergo a mastectomy.
She chronicles the gruelling regime of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the caring medical staff and inspiring patients that helped her through this frightening chapter.
However,the rollercoaster of life and death hadn't finished with her yet..
Reviews / Votes
'The year's most heartwarming memoir' Daily Express;''A roller-coaster read of life after loss' Joanne Froggatt-actress;'Carolyn Mayling has found hope and meaning in the most desperate of personal stories,and if this honest and moving memoir doesn't make you cry, you are made of stronger stuff than me' John O'Farrell- author;'This beautifully written memoir is the perfect tribute to Rosie' Lucy Benjamin-actress;More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
326 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-8382598-3-9 (9781838259839)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Carolyn Keston-Bloom was born to Jewish parents in 1954, the eldest of four children. At ten she won a place to study at Arts Educational Schools focussing on performing arts.
She danced in the English National Ballet production of The Nutcracker at the Royal Festival Hall. Aged twelve she played Barry Humphries's daughter Cathy in the Late show for BBC. At seventeen she played Therese Strauss in the TV series The Strauss Family.
Fuelled by her passion for coaching young performers, she began teaching
at Redroofs School for the Performing Arts, which her mother June had founded in 1947.
After a short marriage to James Hall, Carolyn married David Mayling in 1987.
Together they had two daughters Eloise [Ellie] in 1988 and Rosanna [Rosie] in 1991.
Both daughters shared Carolyn's love of the arts and attended Redroofs.
Rosie was diagnosed with vasculitis, a rare auto- immune disease, and tragically died in 2003 aged just eleven.
Carolyn honoured Rosie's wish to help sick children by founding the children's charity Rosie's Rainbow Fund.
In her grief Carolyn turned to spirituality, and her belief in the afterlife was confirmed through messages from Rosie.
In 2008, five years after the loss of her daughter, and with the help of IVF, Carolyn and David had a son Dominic. She was fifty-four years of age.
Carolyn was awarded a Point of Light in 2015 by former Prime Minister David Cameron for "outstanding volunteering in the service of others".
After a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2016, Carolyn underwent radical surgery followed by successful treatment.
In 2017 Carolyn was invited to speak about her charity work at the Classic FM Live concert performed at the Royal Albert Hall.
Now divorced, Carolyn lives in Berkshire with her teenage son Dominic, Pollyanna her daft rescue dog and near to daughter Ellie, her husband and two grandchildren.
She continues to run Redroofs School for the Performing Arts and Rosie's Rainbow Fund.
Her memoir The Future is Rosie is her first published work.
She danced in the English National Ballet production of The Nutcracker at the Royal Festival Hall. Aged twelve she played Barry Humphries's daughter Cathy in the Late show for BBC. At seventeen she played Therese Strauss in the TV series The Strauss Family.
Fuelled by her passion for coaching young performers, she began teaching
at Redroofs School for the Performing Arts, which her mother June had founded in 1947.
After a short marriage to James Hall, Carolyn married David Mayling in 1987.
Together they had two daughters Eloise [Ellie] in 1988 and Rosanna [Rosie] in 1991.
Both daughters shared Carolyn's love of the arts and attended Redroofs.
Rosie was diagnosed with vasculitis, a rare auto- immune disease, and tragically died in 2003 aged just eleven.
Carolyn honoured Rosie's wish to help sick children by founding the children's charity Rosie's Rainbow Fund.
In her grief Carolyn turned to spirituality, and her belief in the afterlife was confirmed through messages from Rosie.
In 2008, five years after the loss of her daughter, and with the help of IVF, Carolyn and David had a son Dominic. She was fifty-four years of age.
Carolyn was awarded a Point of Light in 2015 by former Prime Minister David Cameron for "outstanding volunteering in the service of others".
After a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2016, Carolyn underwent radical surgery followed by successful treatment.
In 2017 Carolyn was invited to speak about her charity work at the Classic FM Live concert performed at the Royal Albert Hall.
Now divorced, Carolyn lives in Berkshire with her teenage son Dominic, Pollyanna her daft rescue dog and near to daughter Ellie, her husband and two grandchildren.
She continues to run Redroofs School for the Performing Arts and Rosie's Rainbow Fund.
Her memoir The Future is Rosie is her first published work.