January 29th, 2008 . by The Grief Blog
The death of a loved one and the grief that follows teach many lessons. Perhaps the most important one is that pain is the sign to take a new road in life. This is a double barreled lesson. First, we often have to decide to do some things we have not thought of previously—or ever attempted before. And secondly, of equal importance, the key to advancement into our new world (that is, our adaptation to the loss) is the necessity to take action.
Accepting the new and taking action are crucial learnings; they are also difficult to embrace. New direction takes many forms in the grief process. Here are five to consider that others have had to deal with in their journey through grief. You too, may well have to deal with one or more of them. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Dealing with Grief, Blog | 1 Comment »
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January 28th, 2008 . by The Grief Blog
Four months ago my daughter was killed in a car crash. Her sudden death on a snowy night stunned her 15-year-old twins and sent shock waves through the entire family. Many of us are still in shock. I know I am. One moment, I know my daughter is gone. The next moment, I can’t believe it.
Nobody can grieve for me and I am working hard on recovery. But my grief flares when well-meaning friends say, “Last year was a hard one for you.” Last year? It has only been four months since my daughter died. When friends say this they are expressing caring and the fact that their lives have moved on. Though my life is moving forward, it is moving at a much slower pace. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Dealing with Grief, Death and Dying, Blog | No Comments »
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January 24th, 2008 . by The Grief Blog
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and fans of Heath Ledger. Heath died way before his time but left his mark on the world through all the films he did. He will be missed by many.
May his family find some peace during this emotional time.
Sincerely,
Dr. Heidi & Dr. Gloria
Posted in Q&A, Blog | No Comments »
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January 24th, 2008 . by The Grief Blog
HEALING THE GRIEVING HEART
Pregnancy Loss: Our Babies are Just a Cloud Away
Hosts: Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley
With guest: Diana Gardner-Williams
January 24, 2008
G: Hello, I’m Dr. Gloria Horsley with my co-host
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’ve suffered the loss of a loved one and for healthcare 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 need 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.thecompassionatefriends.org websites. All shows can be downloaded on iTunes and the transcripts can be accessed on www.thegriefblog.com. Well, Heidi, good morning. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Past Show Transcripts | No Comments »
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January 24th, 2008 . by The Grief Blog
Diana Gardner-Williams is the mother of a three-year-old son, two early pregnancy losses, and one stillbirth. Nearly three years after losing her stillborn son Tanner, Diana set out to provide a creative outlet for parents to acknowledge and preserve the legacy of their “angel babies.” Diana is owner and founder of Just a Cloud Away Inc., which provides specialty scrapbook remembrance kits to families grieving the loss of their baby. Diana is also a professional landscape designer who has a passion for developing Memory Gardens to help those grieving the loss of a loved one. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Selected Guest Quotations | No Comments »
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January 21st, 2008 . by The Grief Blog
My only two children died from Long QT Syndrome, Jimmy Brackett Died April 15, 2000 suffering from a seizure, Only two years later my Daughter Crissy Brackett died same as her brother on July 25, 2002
They both left behind a baby girl Jimmy’s daughter Alexis now 9 years old and Jessica now 6 years old, this has been the worst 8 years of my life, I live day to day. They found Long QT in my Mom 10 months after my daughter death, I have Long QT as well as both Granddaughters, Please contact me for More information.
A Response from Dr. Gloria
Dear Jackie,
I am so very sorry to hear of the deaths of your children Jimmy and Crissy to Long QT Syndrome. I have worked with several people who have lost siblings to this syndrome and I know it is very difficult for those who are left behind. There is also concern for your own health and for others in the family. This can be quite fearful and put you in the position of Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Death of a Child, Dealing with Grief, Death and Dying, Blog | 1 Comment »
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January 18th, 2008 . by The Grief Blog
Dr. Gloria,
My 32 year old son died in Sept 2007 and I have been trying to deal with my grief. I came across your griefblog recently and am pleased to be able to have access to someone with your background. In trying to find books and websites to help me, I am finding that there is only one “category” called child to talk about the grief a parent feels. Do you think that the grief and grieving is the same for the loss of a child versus and adult? I believe it is different and I am looking for help for the loss of an adult son.
Thank you for your input.
Alice
Dr. Gloria Responds
Dear Alice,
We are so very sorry for your loss. It is hard to lose a child at any age and losing a son that you have loved for 32 years leaves a big gap in your life. And you are right - there is little written about losing an adult child. I think the problem is that the world doesn’t recognize how difficult it is to lose an adult child. I don’t care if you are 90, your child should not go before you. It is a very short time since September and we encourage you to be gentle with yourself - get plenty of rest and do what you need to do to take care of you. Grieving is hard work and takes a great deal of energy. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Death of a Child, Dealing with Grief, Death and Dying, Blog | 30 Comments »
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January 16th, 2008 . by The Grief Blog
My mother had a 3 story house that is broken into one studio apartment with a bathroom in the basement, a 2-bedroom duplex on the first and second floor. I lived in the studio apartment, my mother and sister shared the first floor and my brother had the second floor duplex. We all lived there like one happy family. It’s hard to believe that 4 adults could live together and get alone but we did.
On June 23rd my sister and I were awaken by a knock on the door. My sister is a chaplain at one of the local hospital in our city. So when she say a police officer and a chaplain at our door she knew someone was dead. She called me from downstairs. The officer told me that my brother had fallen from a second story balcony and broke his neck which led to his death. He has just turned 53 years old 11 days before that. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Death of a Parent, Death of a Sibling, Dealing with Grief, Death and Dying, Blog | 2 Comments »
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January 15th, 2008 . by The Grief Blog
My Great Grand daughter Raimey Elizabeth Cantrell-Rider, born June 21, 2007, died Dec 31, 2007. I wrote this poem for her and her family.
We hardly got to know before you passed away.
You were so sweet and beautiful,
As dear as dear can be.
We hardly got to know you before you left this world.
Wait!
Come back!
Were really not ready to say goodbye.
We hardly got to know you before your very last breath.
We were so looking forward to knowing you,
and watching you grow and change.
We hardly got to know you before you went away
We will always and forever
Cherish you anyway.
Remembered.
Your simple sweet smile
That subtle baby smell,
Your beautiful face,
with those big beautiful eyes
Your soft creamy skin,
That perky little mouth,
And those perfect tiny fingers and toes.
You were,
Are still,
So very precious.
We will miss you Oh so much.
Goodbye sweet darling,
We love you still.
By Suzanne Newbro
Edited with her son Cory Bonallo
Posted in Q&A, Grief Poems, Blog | No Comments »
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January 15th, 2008 . by The Grief Blog
It has been 5 years 4 months and 19 days since my 8 month old son was murdered. I was enrolled in college, it was my first day and he couldn’t go to daycare because he had a small cold. So I called his father, his father’s mom, his father’s grandmother and even my own mother. Well no one could watch him for the 45 minute class then the 10 minute drive there and back. My mother even cursed me for even thinking about missing class that day because missing college is not like highchool .I already knew this. Well I had been dating a guy that lived across the street for 6 months and he said sure I’ll watch him no problem. Well it was when I came home he was having grand mahl seizures. I was hysterical and the ambulance driver said i couldnn’t ride with. I said Ok he can drive me in my car. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Q&A, Blog | 2 Comments »
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