The event revolves around the extraordinary three-part documentary The Mummy Diaries, in which a clinical psychologist helps both mothers and kids talk about and deal with the mothers' incurable illness. Immediately following the first episode of The Mummy Diaries on November 16, viewers can go to Your Voice, TVO's Web-TV program at tvoparents.com, where host Cheryl Jackson and expert guests take questions from viewers and discuss issues raised in the film.

    <<
    The Mummy Diaries - NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
    Sundays November 16, 23 and 30, 2008, at 8 pm
    3 / 50 minutes
    >>

The cherished joys of motherhood and the agonizing reality of impending loss come together in this moving three-part documentary following five families as each copes with the trauma of the mother being diagnosed with terminal cancer. How can the mothers help their kids understand their illness, and prepare their kids for the unthinkable: life without a parent? And how can the kids communicate their feelings, worries and questions?

Julie Stokes, a British clinical psychologist and pioneer in childhood bereavement is a welcome support figure, giving the families guidance in the face of these daunting challenges. The mothers write "mummy manuals" on everything from schooling, relationships and even sex education, advising loved ones on how they want their family to live when they are no longer there to guide them, and they create poignant memory boxes to help remind children of happier times. Julie also helps the younger kids express their emotions through play and toys.

    <<
    Your Voice: Special Mummy Diaries webcast - LIVE
    Sunday November 16, 2008, at 8:50 pm ET at tvoparents.com
    >>

Immediately following the first episode of The Mummy Diaries, Your Voice, TVO's live Web-TV discussion series for parents, presents a special webcast to bring parents and experts together on the topic and to address issues raised in the evening's documentary. Host Cheryl Jackson will be joined by expert guests to discuss questions such as: If you were dying, how would you tell your children? What do kids need to know? And how you can help them grieve, and move on? Confirmed guests include:

    <<
    -   Andrea Warnick, a registered nurse with a masters degree in
        thanatology (the study of death, dying and grief). She provides
        counselling to families who are coping with dying at the Max and
        Beatrice Wolfe Centre for Children's Grief and Palliative Care at
        Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.
    -   Dr. Dori Seccareccia, a palliative care physician with the Harold and
        Shirley Lederman Palliative Care Centre at Princess Margaret Hospital
        in Toronto.
    >>

Parents can join this important, live discussion by sending their questions directly to the experts online at tvoparents.com, or by phone at 1.888.891.1195. They can also interact with other parents in an online discussion forum.

For interviews or for more information, please contact TVO Communications.

About TVO

TVO is Ontario's public educational media organization and a trusted source of interactive educational content that informs, inspires, and stimulates curiosity and thought. TVO's vision is to empower people to be engaged citizens of Ontario through educational media.

SOURCE: TVO

SOURCE: News - Media

Media Contacts, TVO Communications: Angela Garde, (416) 484-2600 ext. 2305,
agarde@tvo.org; Anne Rubenstein, (416) 484-2881, arubenstein@tvo.org