Gigi Khonyongwa-Fernandez delivers a compassionate, honest, and profoundly healing guide for parents navigating the trauma of NICU stays, infant loss, and raising children with special needs. Drawing from her own story and hundreds of interviews, From Rollercoasters to Carousels is a lifeline I wish I had had earlier.

Using the metaphor of the amusement park, Khonyongwa-Fernandez compares the chaotic emotional ride of trauma to a rollercoaster and gently guides parents toward the more grounded, steady rhythm of the carousel. Her focus on seven core emotions (anger, anxiety, fear, grief, guilt, overwhelm, and shock) creates an accessible framework in workbook format, encouraging self-reflection and intentional healing.

As a parent who once walked the NICU halls myself, I found this book especially resonant. My son, born prematurely at 34 weeks, weighed just 3 pounds 9 ounces. More than 20 years later, I still feel the ripple effects, whether I acknowledge it consciously or not. This book validated emotions I hadn’t fully explored and helped me understand that healing is not about “getting over it,” but rather about finding steadiness within it.

Among my favorite parts are the “Words of Advice” section, which offers authentic and heartfelt wisdom from fellow parents, and the rich resource list organized by country and continent. Additionally, the journal prompts at the end of each chapter encourage parents to uncover the roots of their lingering pain and emotional responses.

From Rollercoasters to Carousels is a must-read for parents grappling with birth trauma, loss, or the ongoing challenges of raising medically fragile or differently-abled children. Khonyongwa-Fernandez doesn’t promise a quick fix. Instead, she offers a way to take control of the emotional rollercoaster. 

I received an ARC from the publisher.