A CALL FOR COMPASSION THAT LASTS.
What Not to Say to Grieving Parents and What to Say Instead.
By Ryan K. Brown, Jr. — Bereaved Father, Advocate, U.S. Navy Veteran, Founder of The Andreas Foundation Foreword by David Fleming, Author of Noah's Rainbow
ABOUT THE BOOK
When a baby dies, people want to help. Most simply do not know how. A well-meaning comment can land as comfort or as a wound, and the difference often comes down to a single sentence.
Words That Wound, Words That Heal grew out of that exact gap. It is a guide for anyone standing beside a grieving parent: family, friends, coworkers, even strangers who care but freeze up. It names the phrases that unintentionally deepen grief, and offers the words that actually help a family feel seen.
This is not a book about avoiding grief. It is a book about showing up for it well.
Sometimes the most meaningful thing we can offer isn't an answer. It's understanding.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ryan K. Brown, Jr. is a bereaved father, advocate and U.S. Navy veteran. After the loss of his son, Andreas Darius Brown, to neonatal encephalopathy, Ryan and his family turned their grief into action, founding The Andreas Foundation to support other families facing the same diagnosis and loss.
Words That Wound, Words That Heal is a continuation of that work: turning a father's hardest lesson into a resource for everyone who wants to support a grieving family, but does not know where to start.
WHY THIS BOOK EXISTS
"After Andreas died, we learned that grief does not end when you leave the hospital. People care and they want to help, but often they simply do not know what to say or what a grieving family needs. We want families to know they have not been forgotten." — Ryan K. Brown, Jr., Founder, The Andreas Foundation
This book is part of that same mission: making conversations about neonatal encephalopathy and infant loss less isolating, and giving families, friends and communities better tools to support one another.
WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR
Family and friends of someone who has lost a baby, who want to help but are afraid of saying the wrong thing
Bereaved parents looking for language that reflects what they actually feel
Healthcare providers, chaplains and counselors who support families through neonatal loss
Anyone who has ever gone quiet around grief because they did not know what to say.
Words That Wound, Words That Heal
A practical, compassionate resource for anyone who wants to better understand how to support a grieving parent.
Whether you're navigating your own loss, supporting someone you love or working with grieving families professionally, this book offers a more thoughtful way to approach conversations that are often difficult to have.
Speaking & Media
The conversations behind Words That Wound, Words That Heal extend beyond the pages of the book.
Ryan K. Brown, Jr. is available for select speaking engagements, panel discussions, podcast interviews, media interviews and community conversations focused on grief, child loss, compassionate communication, advocacy and the experiences of bereaved families.
Through his personal experience as a bereaved father and his work as founder of The Andreas Foundation, Ryan brings lived experience and a deeply personal perspective to conversations that are often difficult to begin.
Part of a Larger Mission.
Words That Wound, Words That Heal is one part of the work of The Andreas Foundation.
FROM PERSONAL LOSS TO PURPOSE
Part of a Larger Mission
Words That Wound, Words That Heal is one part of the work of The Andreas Foundation.
Founded by Ryan K. Brown, Jr. and Iman McDonnaugh-Brown following the loss of their son, Andreas Darius Brown, the Foundation supports families affected by neonatal encephalopathy and pregnancy and infant loss through education, advocacy, research and community support.
The book extends that mission by addressing another part of the experience families face: how we communicate with people who are grieving and how greater understanding can lead to more compassionate support.
Choose Words That Help, Not Hurt
Words That Wound, Words That Heal offers a place to begin for anyone who wants to communicate with grieving parents with greater understanding, care and compassion.