Identical twins often share an extraordinary bond—shaped not only by shared DNA but by a deep emotional connection. For Christa Parravani and her twin sister, Cara, that bond was strengthened by a difficult, abusive childhood. But then came the unimaginable. After Cara was kidnapped and raped, she spiraled into trauma, eventually turning to drugs. Tragically, she died from fentanyl poisoning.
Christa was shattered. Grief, depression, and an eating disorder took hold. But in the depths of her pain, she began to write Her: A Memoir—a powerful and widely acclaimed book that helped her reclaim her voice and purpose.
In the third and final episode of “What About Us? Stories of Sibling Grief”, Christa opens up about her darkest moments, her journey toward healing, and how she’s now using her story to give others hope in the face of unimaginable loss.
If you liked this episode, listen to the other two episodes in our sibling grief series:
He Couldn’t Save His Brother, But He’s Working to Save Yours and Growing Up with Grief: Emily’s Siblings Open Up
MEET THE GUEST
Christa Parravani
Christa Parravani is an author, photographer, and associate professor of creative nonfiction at West Virginia University. She is the author of Her: A Memoir, which chronicles the life and tragic death of her twin sister, Cara. Her powerful writing explores themes of trauma, loss, and resilience, and has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Vogue, Marie Claire, and The Daily Beast, among others.
