Breathing Sorrow

About the Book

How do you survive the unthinkable, the slow loss of your soulmate and the life you once knew?

In Breathing Sorrow, Carole-Ann Baer offers a deeply moving grief memoir that begins with the moment her husband, Lee, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given just three to five months to live. Overnight, the familiar rhythm of their happy, predictable world was shattered. Cancer, an uninvited intruder, quickly consumed every corner of their lives, altering not just routines, but identity, faith, and the very meaning of hope.

This widow memoir is more than a chronicle of terminal illness and caregiving. It is a raw, honest, and at times breathtaking journey through anticipatory grief, emotional chaos, and spiritual endurance. Baer’s personal reflections illuminate the profound heartbreak of watching a loved one fade and the impossibility of preparing for that final goodbye.

Yet amid the sorrow, Breathing Sorrow is also a healing after loss narrative. It is a tender testament to the resilience of love, the strength of family, and the presence of light even in the darkest days. With each chapter, Baer weaves heartfelt insights and poetic moments of clarity, offering solace to readers grappling with their own loss of a spouse or navigating the shadows of grief.

For anyone seeking a spiritual grief journey that acknowledges pain while gently pointing toward peace, this book holds space for tears, healing, and the fragile beauty of carrying on.

If you’ve lost someone and are wondering how to keep breathing, let this story walk beside you.

About the Author

Carole Ann Baer, a distinguished figure in the ballroom dance world, has achieved notable success as a performer and educator. She studied special education and psychology at Brigham Young University where she also danced with the Brigham Young University Ballroom Dance Team and currently teaches dance at Brandeis University. She has a passion for cultural, community and service-oriented programs and currently is the Commissioner and founder of the Sudbury Little League Challenger Division as well as one of the founding members of HOPEsudbury. Baer lives in Stow, Massachusetts.