Without Mama

About the Book

“It’s a cold day. Mama’s sick, Daddy’s gone. The baby’s crying, I’m hungry. It’s Christmas. I can’t take care of the baby. I’m just five.” “Without Mama” is a story of survival. Helen and her sisters are abandoned by their alcoholic father after their mother’s death. Without guidance of either parent, during their childhood they are physically alone, hungry, and needing affection. Geraldyne, 12 is in a wheelchair. Thelma, 9, wants the sisters to always be together. Helen is a mystified five year old who doesn’t understand death, nor what Christmas is all about. Ethel, the baby, is 8 weeks old.

About the Author

Joan Engelhardt Nielsen is a free lance writer and has loved writing since she was a small child. She has done feature articles for newspapers, short stories for a variety of publications, and has written several poems. Working as a nurse she, cared for Helen, who shared her life story with Joan. As she cared for Helen, Joan learned how vibrant and determined Helen was. Some of the obstacles Helen endured were similar to Joan’s experiences. Joan has been a type 1 diabetic for 58 years. Like Helen, she had severe problems with her legs and feet.