Rockford-area dentist writes poetry book inspired by loss of 4-year-old son | My status line

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) – A book written by a local dentist comes from a very personal and dark place.

That’s where Leann Burch was in 2016 when she lost her 4-year-old son, Jordan, to cancer.

Like other mothers who have lost children, Burch found herself feeling a range of emotions and sometimes felt like she was alone in her pain.

“When my child had cancer, I thought, ‘At least I’m not one of those parents who lost their child to cancer.’ My child’s cancer had a very high cure rate,” Burch said. “But he just wasn’t one of the ones that was cured. So it’s a very surreal experience.”

In the midst of a storm, Burch began writing poetry. On June 4, she published “7 Years of Grief,” a collection of works with a powerful message that in difficult times, no one is ever alone.

“I think a lot of times,” Burch said, “if you feel something and knowing that someone else has already felt it, it can be very empowering — that you’re not the first person to feeling sad, hopeless or depressed or angry about what happened to you.

“7 Years of Mourning” is available for free on SRM Impressions in downtown Rockford and is for sale on Amazon.

“It feels really good, mom to mom and small business owner to small business owner, especially as an artist, to help Leann have a little more reach with her book,” Sarah Reed said -McNamara, owner of SRM Prints. .

Burch said her book resonates with those who were with her when she lost her son. She hopes the central message of “7 Years of Grief” will have a huge impact on the community.

“It was something that healed me and I hope it touches someone else,” Burch said.

Burch, who owns Burch Dental with her husband, plans to continue writing and hopes to publish another book in the future.