Keep Your Head Up

A Mother’s Story of Chasing Joy in the Face of Grief

A testament to the depth of familial love and our ability to endure in the face of childhood terminal illness.

Keep Your Head Up is the incredible tale of one family’s path to perseverance in the face of devastating odds. When author Dr. Tasha Faruqui gave birth to her second daughter, Soraya, she knew immediately that something was wrong. Yet as years passed and every medical test for Soraya came back normal or inconclusive, Tasha began to realize that science doesn’t always have the answers, and there are some issues in life that simply cannot be fixed. Yet, we can continue to find happy moments and celebrate the beauty of what we have.

This story gives a voice to parents and loved ones of terminally ill children, illuminating the way to comfort, community, and unbreakable hope. This book discusses terminal illness with raw honesty, demonstrating how families can provide transparency to life-limited children around a terminal diagnosis, comfort them when they are afraid of what comes next, and continue to embrace life despite ongoing challenges. With beautiful narration and a heartfelt perspective, Keep Your Head Up testifies to the true depth of familial love and the hard things we can endure with grace and resilience.

Coming September 16, 2025 • Available Everywhere Books are Sold • Preorder Now!

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This book:

  • Provides guidance, hope, and understanding to parents and caregivers of terminally ill children

  • Tells a story that will resonate with families facing elusive diagnoses, fickle healthcare systems, and emotional turmoil

  • Offers hope that it is possible to find joy in the face of tragedy and give sick children the gift of a fully lived life

  • Presents the balanced and relatable perspective of an award-winning pediatrician and parent to a child in hospice

Who is this book for?

Parents, family, and friends of terminally ill children, as well as healthcare professionals and educators, will appreciate Keep Your Head Up for its candor and its value as a guide to moving through a situation no family should have to face.

• Parents, Family, and Friends of Terminally Ill Children

This book gives a voice to parents and loved ones of terminally ill children. With beautiful narration and raw honesty, it is a heartfelt companion offering comfort, clarity, and hope through the hardest moments.

• Healthcare Professionals

Drawing from both a medical and deeply personal perspective, this story offers a rare and essential glimpse into the emotional world of families navigating pediatric terminal illness—reminding providers of the lasting impact of empathy, presence, and truly listening.

• Educators

A compassionate resource for teachers and school staff supporting children and families facing life-limiting diagnoses. This book offers insight into grief, resilience, and how to create safe spaces rooted in care, communication, and understanding.

Early Praise for Keep Your Head Up

  • "Tasha's words are a masterclass in courage. In holding grief and joy at the same time. In creating meaning from suffering and making space for both the unbearable and the beautiful."

  • “I couldn’t stop reading. It completely grabbed hold of me as if I was listening to her and I didn’t want to stop.”

  • “This book was written as a healing tool for parents everywhere. The unexpected pain of grief and loss is such a huge thing in so many people’s lives. It's comforting to know that we're not alone in the struggles of humanity."

  • "The whole human race needs to read this book to get these different perspectives and learn more empathy towards each other."

  • "This is a book that will alternately make you laugh and cry. There are so many sad moments, but also moments of joy.”

  • “This is a devastating but beautiful glimpse into the life of a family choosing joy when grief could overwhelm them.”

  • "Vital and impactful.”

  • “This book would connect with any mother or father wanting what was best for their child, especially if they needed to be an advocate for their child in any way.”

  • “Faruqui's willingness to be vulnerable in sharing the story of her daughter's terminal condition tears at your heartstrings and simultaneously gives hope and joy.”

About the Author

Tasha Faruqui, DO

is a pediatrician, speaker, advocate, and author of Keep Your Head Up: A Mother’s Story of Chasing Joy in the Face of Grief (Wiley, September 2025). Inspired by her daughter Soraya, who is currently in hospice due to a rare, undiagnosed medical condition, Tasha is a passionate advocate for parents of medically complex children and those with limited life expectancies. She regularly brings her dynamic message of fierce and loving hope to medical students at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the top pediatric medical facility in the country, Make-A-Wish events, and her Instagram community, which focuses on raising awareness about anticipatory grief. Tasha was named a top doctor by Cincinnati Magazine in 2022, 2024, and 2025. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and three daughters—the Faruqui 5.

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