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 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.

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

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.

Author: Tasha Faruqui
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
Published: 09/16/2025
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.12lbs
Size: 9.23h x 6.33w x 0.78d
ISBN: 9781394358762

About the Author

DR. TASHA FARUQUI is a pediatrician, public speaker, medical advocate, and author. She's passionate about helping parents of children with complex medical conditions and reduced life expectancy. She was named a top doctor by Cincinnati Magazine in 2022 and 2024. She continues to share her family's journey on Instagram (thefaruqui5).