A Dubai widow's book on healing and dealing with grief
Priya Pinto's husband Schuyler, a chemical engineer, was just 39 years old when he died of a heart attack 10 years ago. Photo: Priya Pinto
A widow in Dubai has written a book ‘Ma, will life ever be the same again?’ to help people cope with the loss of loved ones. Antonie Robertson / The National
Now Ms Pinto, who lives in Dubai with her two children, has written a book to aid people in dealing with the loss of a parent or loved one. Photo: Priya Pinto
Ms Pinto is a member of the Widow Warriors, a support network of women in the UAE and India who have lost their spouses. Photo: Priya Pinto
The Widow Warriors network helps women to apply for jobs, take care of their families and act as sole providers after their husbands' deaths. Photo: Priya Pinto
Ms Pinto's children, Yana and Johann, place a star on the Christmas tree, an annual tradition for the family at a time when they remember their father. Photo: Priya Pinto
In her book, Ms Pinto draws from her own experience of losing her husband and rebuilding a life for their children. Antonie Robertson / The National
The book's three characters, a mother and two children - Ma, Yo and Ya - give parents, children, caregivers and teachers tools to deal with grief. Antonie Robertson / The National
Colourful illustrations depict snapshots of the Pinto household when the family decide to host a football tournament in their father’s memory. Antonie Robertson / The National
The family in the book creates a treasured artwork using their father's favourite music CDs, and suggests working on something new together to keep precious memories alive. Antonie Robertson / The National
Ms Pinto said she hoped sharing her family's story would help other mothers, single parents and children navigate the grieving process. Antonie Robertson / The National
In one image, the daughter mourns her father when seeing a dad lift his child up in the air at school. Antonie Robertson / The National
