Author Bio

My pen name is Cecil Liverty which I use to write articles or books. My real name is Ken Kernen. I was born in Milwaukee, WI and raised in a small Milwaukee County town called Franklin. My faith and my family are the bedrock for my unique way of using emotion to reach my readers. I am passionate about serving others and at one time was an instructor at the University of Phoenix, Milwaukee Campus, where I discovered my love for writing. I used my own past true story as a backdrop for my book “Ampa, the true story of estrangement due to a son’s betrayal”

AMPA

This cover holds deeply personal meaning for me as both the author and a betrayed grandparent. However, many readers may also be able to relate to some part of my story.

About the Author : Cecil Liverty

Cecil Liverty was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His faith and family are the bedrock of his emotional and powerful storytelling.

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My Article

Whether you consider yourself estranged, betrayed or just separated from a loved one for whatever reason, there are things that we all have in common during this time. Two of those things are guilt and grief. Guilt can, of course, lead to the grieving process that we all go through and suffer from. But the actual emotion of grief can be so overwhelming it’s difficult in some ways and impossible in others to live with. It’s that feeling of emptiness that can’t be filled by anything or anyone. It’s the constant gnawing at your soul and tearing of your heart that can leave us in deep depression or worse. We walk through our days aimlessly, with a heartache that doesn’t seem to have an end. And we have no control over what form it takes or how it might end, if it ever ends.

For most people, grief is associated with the loss of someone to death or disease. The pain is real and losing a loved one is so very hard for us all. However, it is my opinion that grieving the loss of someone who is still with us is more painful than losing someone to death. Remember, this is my opinion because I’m still suffering from it today, as I write this to you. A few years ago, I lost my mother. I was the child in the room when she passed and to this day, I still see the look in her eyes when she laid back and took her last breath. She was suffering from dementia and had become combative in those last days, but I didn’t love her any less. For us, my siblings and I, we wanted to make sure one of us was there when she passed. I worked third shift for years so that’s the time frame I took, 9 at night until 7 in the morning. The day of her passing at 4:44 AM she sat up, looked me in the eyes, mumbled something I couldn’t make out and let the Lord take her home. Grief came fast that day. But knowing she was somewhere better helped and it was final. We don’t get a say in the end result.

This is why grief for the loss of someone who is still alive is so devastating. We know the person is still here, alive, within our reach but someone else has chosen that person to be dead to us. And just like a real death, it sometimes can be final or even just feel final but knowing they are alive is the one component that tears our hearts out. There are ways to deal with grief. I’m not a therapist but I speak from experience and I know firsthand how I have tried to deal with it. Please note I said “tried” not that I’m over it. The first step for anyone to help themselves is to acknowledge the pain. If you don’t, it festers inside and turns on you, eating you alive. And that isn’t what you want. We all want to hold onto hope, even for as hopeless as our situation might seem today.

And because each one of us is a unique person with unique qualities and emotions, each of our paths through grief will be different. If someone tells you they know “exactly” how you feel, take it with a grain of salt, smile and say thank you for trying to understand, I appreciate it. But make no mistake, we all feel things differently and to different degrees, which is why seeking out people who support you and know about the background of your situation is so important. Talking about grief is every bit as important as looking for ways to get through it. There are many church support groups who deal in processing that pain of grief, don’t be afraid to join one even if you aren’t a member of that faith group. They aren’t there to judge, they are there to help.

And lastly, take care of yourself. Both emotionally and physically. I’ve talked many times about long walks, reading a soothing book, going online and making use of sights like Calm.com. And set aside some time to pray, it’s so important to talk to the Lord during your time of grief. These outlets can help but they won’t if you don’t make use of them. Take up a yoga class. At my gym, they have special classes designed just for seniors or check with your local senior living center.

Remember, you can always write to me as well and I’ll do my best to use my experience to help in any way I can. Blessings to you all!

Our Reviews

In this deeply personal and courageous account, Ampa shares the devastating story of one family’s rupture—torn apart by the betrayal and accusations of a son. What begins as a timeline of heartbreak unfolds into a powerful exploration of pain, resilience, and the difficult path toward understanding and healing.Told with honesty and heart, this narrative is more than just a recounting of events; it’s a search for meaning amid chaos, and a beacon for others navigating similar storms. Ampa offers hard-won insights and compassionate advice for families in crisis—especially those facing the unimaginable when loved ones turn against each other

Don D

I could not put the book down, I read it in one afternoon. This book is both moving and courageous, sharing personal experiences that most people wouldn’t speak about or share.

Judy S

I think the author is brave to have shed light on the depth of his soul and on events that have been one of the most traumatic and dark ongoing experiences in his life. A passionate writer gives birth to his story, word by word, sentence by sentence and one paragraph at a time. Through the birthing of his book, he has given voice to the deep pain and anguish the situation with his son and the women in his life has caused his life and the life of his entire family.

Nancy L

This book is a raw representation of a family who has weathered the storm of devastating family estrangement, false accusations and taxing litigation. It is helpful for anyone who has been through or is going through the aforementioned and is in need of hope that they are not alone.

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