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What We Inherit Beyond Genes: Uncovering Our Emotional Ancestry
Sometimes, the patterns we repeat in relationships have less to do with conscious choices and more to do with heritage. Some families keep their distance emotionally, while others feel entangled in each other’s lives. The reason may lie in what I describe as our ‘emotional DNA’ – the unseen inheritance that carries forward the echoes…
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British Society for the History of Medicine Reviews Yet — A Moving Story of Childhood Illness, Resilience, and Hope
I was moved to tears to see ‘Yet’: A Story of Triumph over Childhood Separation, Trauma, and Disability reviewed by the British Society for the History of Medicine (BSHM). Seeing my father Harry’s story recognised by such a respected organisation means a great deal. ‘Yet’ tells of Harry’s childhood battle with bovine tuberculosis in 1930s Sheffield — a…
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12 Powerful Themes from ‘Yet’: A Story of Triumph over Childhood Separation, Trauma, and Disability
Discover Yet: A Story of Triumph over Childhood Separation, Trauma, and Disability—a deeply moving disability memoir exploring resilience, trauma recovery, and the power of the human spirit. Inspired by my father Harry’s experiences, this book traces his journey through childhood separation, disability, and social exclusion in post-war Britain. Blending social history with psychological insight, Yet…
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Dear Dad
Writing Dad’s book has kept him close since his death in 2022, but I’m entering another phase of my grief. I miss our conversations so much that I decided to write him a letter. How do you manage your own losses? Dear Dad, I want to tell you why I’ve chosen to publish your story…
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‘Can’t Do to Can Do … Yet’: Harry Drabble’s Journey Through Disability, Work and the Fight for a Livelihood in 20th Century Britain
Harry Drabble’s story of resilience, from being written off as a child with a disability to building a successful life, highlights the fight for inclusion in 20th-century Britain. Shared for UK Disability History Month, his journey inspires us to challenge prejudice, reframe limitations, and strive for true equality.
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Hidden Wounds: How Childhood Adversity Shapes Our Family Stories
Understanding adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) transforms family history research beyond names and dates. These hidden traumas—war, abuse, neglect, long-stay hospitalisation—ripple through generations, shaping behaviors and relationships. By recognising ACEs in historical records and family patterns, we gain compassionate insight into our ancestors’ struggles and the emotional legacies they passed down.
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The Emotional DNA We Inherit: How Our Ancestors’ Bonds Shape Who We Are
Our earliest bonds with caregivers create blueprints for lifelong relationships, passed down through generations like emotional DNA. By viewing family history through attachment theory, we uncover patterns of connection and disconnection, trauma and resilience. Understanding these invisible inheritances transforms genealogy from collecting names into mapping the emotional currents that shaped—and continue to shape—our families.
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Uncovering Intergenerational Trauma in Family Histories
Family history goes beyond names and dates to explore ancestors’ inner worlds, enriched by psychological insights. Attachment theory and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) reveal how early bonds and traumas shaped personalities, behaviors, and intergenerational patterns, deepening empathy and understanding of family legacies of trauma and resilience.
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From Harry Drabble to Diddly Squat Farm: The Lasting Impact of Bovine Tuberculosis
The recent bovine TB outbreak at Jeremy Clarkson’s farm highlights the disease’s emotional and economic toll. Harry Drabble’s 1937 battle with TB, detailed in Yet by Helen Parker-Drabble, echoes today’s struggles. His resilience and mantra, “I can’t… yet,” inspire hope amidst the enduring challenges of illness and adversity.
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Separation and Strength
In July 1937, young Harry Drabble was hospitalised for tuberculosis, facing isolation and trauma. His experience epitomizes the emotional struggles of many children in 20th-century Britain separated from families during long treatments. Despite these challenges, Harry developed resilience, ultimately shaping his life positively and highlighting the importance of understanding and acknowledging such hidden histories.
