Chin Up Head Down: A Mother's Journey of Madness and Grief

“Chin up, head down.” These are the last words that Helena Tym ever received from her son, Cyrus, at the end of the final letter he wrote to her. On June 2, 2009, two men knocked on her door and informed her that Cyrus, a nineteen-year-old solder in the UK Armed Forces, had been killed that morning by an explosive whilst serving with 2 Rifles in Afghanistan. In an effort both to cope with this incomprehensible news and to capture the memories of her son, Tym wrote this book, and a portion of the proceeds goes towards the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help organization.
 
A heartrending account of a mother’s loss, Chin Up, Head Down will resonate with anyone with a loved one serving in the armed forces or dealing with a life-altering grief.