Grief | Grieving | Death of a Child

HEALING THE GRIEVING HEART
A Mother’s Journey Through Grief
Hosts:  Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley
With guest:  Beth Page
May 31, 2007
G: Hello.  I’m Dr. Gloria Horsley and this is our show.  Welcome to our show, Healing the Grieving Heart.  Our show is conversation with those who have suffered a loss and is for health care professionals who have worked in this most difficult field.  And always our message is others have been there before you and made it.  You can, too.  You do not need to walk alone.  If you’re listening to our Thursday live Internet show, please join Heidi and me and our guest on the show by calling our toll-free number, 1-866-472-5792, with questions or comments regarding the losses in your life.  These shows are archived on our blog, www.thegriefblog.com, as well as www.compassionatefriends.org websites.  All of our shows can be downloaded on Itunes and transcripts can be accessed on www.thegriefblog.com.  Well, good morning, Heidi. Read the rest of this entry »

MAY 31, 2007 - A MOTHER’S JOURNEY THROUGH GRIEF:  BETH PAGE.  Beth Page is the owner of Dakota Winds, a family owned business that originated from grief and grew because of hope. From their own experience with loss, Beth and her husband have designed some special gifts which celebrate the lasting memories of a lost loved one.  Their inspiration was their four year old son, Dakota, who died after a two year battle with cancer.  Through Dakota Winds, Beth shares her story and plant seeds of hope for brighter tomorrows into the hearts of others who are grieving.  Read the rest of this entry »

I am the mother of a 28 year old son who died from a fall down his basement stairs (TBI) almost 2 years ago now (June 19, 2005). Of course it has been devastating for all the members in his family. We have found out how very hard it is to grieve the loss of someone we love so dearly. Our son left behind a (at the time of his death) 4 month old baby girl. She is now 2 years old. My question is how we can help her know her dad, how much he loved (and still loves) her, and all the issues around her not having him in her life. Myself (her grandmother), her grandfather, aunt, uncle, mom want to do what the exp erts suggest is best for this beautiful little girl. Any suggestions, comments, etc. I have looked for resources on this issue but really can’t find much for a child this age. Do you know of any? Thanks for any help you can give me on this issue. Debby

This is a new version of Do Not Stand At my Grave And Weep; on our website www.thelightbeyond.com it also forms the basis of an inspirational movie. I hope you find it helpful! Feel free to use the poem as you see fit (but please keep the credit at the bottom).

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.

Do not stand at my grave and mourn.
I am the dew-flecked grass at dawn.
Where tranquil oceans meet the land
I am the footprints in the sand
To guide you through the weary day.
I am still here; I’ll always stay.

When you wake up to morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there; I did not die.
© 2007 Lucie Storrs www.thelightbeyond.com

Hello dear friends and family,

Know anyone who needs prayer? If so, please read on.

I chose you because through the years, you’ve touched my life in a special way.

So many of you have sent prayer requests in the past. And now, I want to offer a more effective response.

If you, or anyone you know needs prayers for health concerns, struggles, emotional pain, disappointments or just issues in life, I offer you the following:

*To make sure someone begins to pray for you immediately, please leave your prayer request by clicking “prayer: when you visit my web site:

www.janetperezeckles.com Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Gloria, I recently heard you speak at the Compassionate Friends group in Monterey. I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. We lost our 34 year old daughter to colon cancer in November 2006. She has 2 sisters. Jenny, her 29 year old sister lives in Brooklyn–works in Manhatten. I am doing the footwork to find out if your daughter has a sibling support group that she conducts or recommends. Thank you for any information you may be able to provide. Shirley Kiatta

HEALING THE GRIEVING HEART
The Death of a Mother: Integrating Personal and Professional Knowledge
Hosts:  Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley
With guest:  David Browning
May 24, 2007
G: Hello.  I’m Dr. Gloria Horsley and
H: Dr. Heidi Horsley.
G: Each week Heidi and I welcome you to Healing the Grieving Heart, a show of hope and conversation with those who have suffered the loss of a loved one and for mental health professionals who work in this most difficult field.  As always the message is others have been there before you and made it, you can, too.  You do not walk alone.  If you’re listening to our Thursday live Internet show, please join Heidi and me and our guest on the show by calling our toll-free number, 1-866-472-5792, with questions or comments regarding the losses in your life.  These shows are archived on our blog, www.thegriefblog.com, as well as www.compassionatefriends.com website.  All shows can be downloaded on Itunes and transcripts can be accessed on www.thegriefblog.com.  Well, good morning, Heidi.
H: Good morning, mom.
G: I noticed in the New York Times a couple of days ago, there was a big article about birth certificates.  A lot of states are issuing birth certificates for stillborn babies now.
H: Oh, I think that’s wonderful.  I’m glad they’re finally doing that.
G: Yeah, that’s going to be great for mothers because they feel like they’ve had babies too so we’re really glad that mothers are getting that recognition and we hope that you have that kind of recognition in your state if you’re looking for that.  Also, a couple of weeks ago we did the Mother’s Day program.  We’ve had quite an email response to that, haven’t we, Heidi?
H: Yes, we have.
G: Yes, those holidays are a big issue for people and we had Debra Regan on and we received some emails where we put people in touch with her so I think that’s a nice thing, don’t you, Heidi? Read the rest of this entry »

 When David Browning was thirteen years old, his mother Harriet died after an extended struggle with lung cancer. Like many children who lose parents, the trajectory of his life was then shaped by the impact of that loss. A practicing therapist and educator for twenty-five years, David has sought to understand what it means to be a professional caregiver when one’s own identity has been fashioned by loss. He has published several essays and articles articulating the need for healthcare professionals to better understand the rich intersection between personal experience and professional knowledge. Currently, David is Director of the Initiative for Pediatric Palliative Care (at Education Development Center, Inc.), a national project aimed at transforming the culture of healthcare for children with life-threatening conditions and their families.

David Browning:  I was close to my mom, and as is true in a lot of families, children get particularly often closer to mothers especially in that generation than with fathers so the loss was kind of like other grieving people talk about these kinds of losses.  You’re really not quite sure who you are after a death like that and you’re not quite sure about your own survival after a death like that. Read the rest of this entry »

MAY 10, 2007 – GETTING THROUGH MOTHER’S DAY:  DEBRA REAGAN.  For Debra Reagan, a Research Specialist at the University of Tennessee, being a “good mother” was always foremost in her life.  Why then had her youngest son, Clint, had so many problems?  Her question was answered when Clint received the dual diagnosis of bipolar disorder and a drug addiction.  With this diagnosis, Debra felt a hope for cure but then her life was changed forever when on August 6, 2005, Clint died, at the age of 20 from an accidental overdose and bronchial pneumonia.  Getting through that First Mother’s Day was pure agony.  Debra has written about that day in her essay, “Mother’s Day Trail Message.”  The essay can be found on www.thegriefblog.com.  Debra, her husband of 25 years, and her 2 sons live in Eastern Tennessee.
Debra Reagan:  He livened up a room just by walking into it and if he gave you a hug, you knew you had been hugged by him, but I think the trail message gave me –was the beginning of giving me permission to forgive myself.  Read the rest of this entry »

HEALING THE GRIEVING HEART
Getting Through Mother’s Day
Hosts:  Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley
With guest:  Debra Reagan
May 10, 2007
G: Hello.  I’m Dr. Gloria Horsley and
H: Dr. Heidi Horsley.
G: Each week Heidi and I welcome you to Healing the Grieving Heart, a show of hope and conversation with those who have suffered the loss of a loved one and for health care professionals who work in this difficult field.  As always the message is others have been there before you and made it, you do not walk alone.  If you’re listening to our Thursday live Internet show, please join Heidi and me on the show by calling our toll free number 1-866-472-5792 with questions or comments regarding the losses in your life.  These shows are archived on our blog, www.thegriefblog.com, as well as www.thecompassionatefriends.org website.  All the shows can be downloaded on Itunes and transcripts can be accessed on www.thegriefblog.com.  Well, good morning, Heidi.
H: Good morning, mom.
G: We’ve got some new music going on there, huh?
H: Yeah, I heard that.
G: Wow, and a new announcer.
H: Yes, and a new announcer.  We had gotten some comments earlier about how the music was really really sad and you know music does bring you into such an emotional place so some of our listeners were saying can you make it a little more upbeat.
G: And so we’re playing the same music, the Pachelbel’s, but we’ve gone a little further into the song so we hope that you’ll like our new music.  Well, today, we’ve got a special show and a special guest because we’re coming up on Mother’s Day and this can be a really difficult time for people, right, Heidi? Read the rest of this entry »