Experiences in family bereavement.

These case studies illustrate the stories of two families grieving the losses of their children. Some 42,000 infants and children die yearly in the United States, but there is a dearth of research for professionals to draw on when considering the family as the context for grieving the loss of a child. These narratives illustrate the identity crisis the family as whole goes through after the death of a child-the sense of parental duty, the need for communication, and the goal of reunification of the family unit. These stories also provide direction for further research with bereaved families.