Maria Housden is a lecturer, author and passionate advocate for quality of life, particularly for those with terminal illness. She has led bereavement support groups and speaks throughout the US to groups as diverse as church and civic organisations, high school students and medical professionals. For 4 years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Kimberly Fund, a nonprofit organization that raises money for families of children facing life-threatening illnesses. As part of her commitment to helping others understand the gift of life, she has led groups of women on contemplative, silent journeys through Death Valley. Mother of three children in addition to Hannah, she lives with her husband, Roger, in a log cabin in Woodstock, New York. Maria's website, www.hannahsgift.com, serves as a community of support and remembrance for those who have loved and lost a child, and also provides more information about Maria's work and how to reach her.