Yet The Heart Remains

Yet The Heart Remains is the debut anthology by Sylvie Messing, chronicling the loss of her mother to suicide. Through poems, vignettes, and essays, Sylvie paints a raw and unflinching portrait of losing a parent to the devastating grip of mental illness. She reflects on years shaped by her mother's struggles with alcoholism, substance abuse, and the treatments that sought to save her. Ultimately, Tina Helsell lost her battle on December 31, 2014.

In the decade since her passing, Sylvie has turned to writing as a way to process her trauma and the mental health challenges that followed. This collection recounts stories of grief, loss, survival, self-compassion, and the long road to recovery. Above all, it is a poignant reminder that despite our deepest suffering, we learn to survive, and the heart remains.