Mom was distressed when we returned from these outings, having in our absence awoken to the possibility that Fred might exert a stronger influence over her boys than she did and that we too would then be lost to her.

NPR: Excerpt: 'Trauma'

"We knew based on legal precedent that custody would be lost, and we agree with that precedent, " said Carolyn, alluding to a similar case of errant IVF in 1999 in New York in which custody was awarded to the genetic parents.

CNN: Fertility clinic to couple: You got the wrong embryos

In the meantime, it's worth saying that even people who are gloomy about our long-term chances of getting back all we have lost would admit that we could be growing faster than we are.

BBC: It's economic growth, but not as we know it

If we were known to be Catholics, our children would have had a rough time at school, we might have lost our jobs, all kinds of things.

ECONOMIST: Castro turns to Rome

If we'd not lost so many early, it would be a different story.

BBC: Cricket World Cup: Kevin Pietersen confirms opener role

The point is that even if jobs were lost, we cannot assume that all those people would suddenly be out of work.

BBC: EU costs and benefits: an impossible balancing act

We thought that maybe Lori would lose the baby, not that Lori herself might be lost.

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Of course, we cannot be sure whether the 53% of deals which destroyed value were among organisations which would have lost value against competition if they had not merged but one of the sure-fire ways to stack the odds against yourself is to look at your target or partner from a business point of view only.

ECONOMIST: Letters

"We would like the authorities to look at why so many days are being lost through stress and what can be done about it, " he said.

BBC: 21,000 teaching days lost to stress in Wales in 2009

"It would be appropriate if the new government were to say: 'Yes, we will try to make up for lost time', " he said.

BBC: Constitutional issues could stop Merkel buckling