Hélène Risser is a renowned French journalist and writer, celebrated for her comprehensive analyses of social, political, and justice issues. Her work with networks like Public Sénat, where she hosts political commentary and decryption shows, has solidified her reputation. One of her most distinguished programs, Déshabillons-les, delves into the communication techniques and image management of politicians, examining their speeches and gestures to reveal underlying strategies.
However, Hélène Risser’s life took a tragic turn in her role as a mother. Two years ago, she lost her 21-year-old son, Arthaud Courage, in their family home. This Sunday, October 27, she will appear as Audrey Crespo-Mara’s Portrait of the Week on Sept à Huit, sharing her story of heartbreak and the experience of that devastating day. In an excerpt shared on the show’s Instagram, Risser recalls discovering her son’s lifeless body: “I go into my son’s room, and I see that he is in the same position that I left him in the day before when I saw him lie down.” Despite the overwhelming shock, she attempted to revive him, initially refusing to accept his passing. She reached out to her partner, Arthaud’s father, and together they made desperate efforts to bring him back. Emergency services soon arrived, confirming that her son had been gone for several hours, and that nothing further could be done.
The first emotion that surfaces when Risser recounts the tragedy is one of profound guilt. “Because I am a mother, and a mother is obligated to protect her child,” she reflects. She feels an immense burden, believing she should have sensed her son’s distress, as she was just meters away in another room. “A mother feels responsible for the life of her child,” she explains, revealing the guilt that now shadows her daily life.
Since that fateful day, Arthaud’s room has remained untouched. Risser describes how the slightest noise makes her feel her son’s presence: “As soon as there is a noise, I hear my son.” Her mind plays tricks, conjuring his footsteps in the house, his approach on the stairs—a result of a brain trained to associate these sounds with him, even if she knows he is gone. This constant reminder, she says, leads to emotional collapse multiple times a day.
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Risser has chronicled her journey through grief in her memoir, After Arthaud, where she bravely recounts her experiences, keeping her son’s memory alive in the wake of this profound loss.
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