Children and death – The death of a pet – General understanding of death in childhood – Teenagers – Spiritual understanding of death – The death of a parent or main carer – Ongoing concerns – Death of a parent or main carer from suicide – The death of a brother or sister – The death of a child – Talking to a child who is expected to die – Deciding not to talk – children’s questions – Consider asking for help – Information step by step – How will my family cope? – Medical decisions - The sudden death of a child - UK deaths in childhood in 2014.

Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Neonatal death – Three stages of pregnancy – Early and late miscarriage – Will there be a birth certificate after miscarriage? – What happens to the baby after a miscarriage? – Stillbirth – Holding your stillborn baby – Should there be a postmortem of a still born baby? – Saying goodbye – Registering a stillborn baby - Will there be a funeral? – Neonatal Death – Sudden unexpected death In infancy - How can family and friends help? – Sources of help.

Talking about the possibility of suicide is important - Suicide is not uncommon - Efforts to reduce the risk - The bereaved survivors - Talking and practical help.

Five examples of the challenge responding to the sudden death – of a spouse, a son, a mid-career teacher, a recently retired teacher wife and mother; and a teenage neighbour.

Growing old – The limits of modern medicine – Fears about Dying – Palliative/hospice- type care of the dying – If you could choose how would you like to die? – Dementia – A different sort of pain – Access to hospice care – Dying at home – Physician assisted suicide – Euthanasia – the withdrawal of treatment – The use of strong pain medication at the end of life – The legal situation – Compassion and dignity – As good a death as possible – Purposeful living – How do we die?

Describes wrestling with how respond to hearing from an old friend that he had inoperable liver cancer - and why silence will not do. Summarises what is covered in the rest of the book.