Poetry Contest Entry: Child of Mine by Kim Hodne

Child of Mine

The child I brought into this world
Is no longer of this world

Yes it is not like the first year
When it was hard to catch my breath

Awakening each morning with the searing pain
Not wanting to believe he was really gone Read more

Crafting a New Life As a Widow

By Elaine Williams

When you become a widow your life changes and there is no guarantee of sanity in the transition. Some days are topsy-turvy; other days have a numbing calm. You wonder if life will ever be joyful again. You’re not crazy, you’re grieving.

Joy has a way of creeping up on you when you least expect it, yes, even in the midst of loss. I discovered it’s a waste of energy to feel guilt over a moment of joy while in the pain of loss. I used to tell myself I had to stop being so serious and cut myself some slack. I refused to be a victim in life and I vowed not to become bitter over my husband’s loss. Read more

Days of Tina

Days of Tina

One day ago
Tears ran down my face
In remembrance of you

Two days ago I lit
A candle for you
In remembrance of you Read more

Having a hard time

Hi Dr. Gloria,

I have been listening to your show for a while. I download to Ipod and listen in the car. Eight years ago my 3 year old son was killed when a truck backed over him while he was walking with his sister and childcare provider to the store. As you know the pain was intense. As the usual people surrounded me, and my husband stayed strong and went back to work a week later. I went through two years of intense counseling and my two surviving children did as well. My husband did not. We were not able to collect from the drivers insurance company so our lawyer used a loop hole in the state and we ended up collecting a insurance settlement from my husbands companies underinsured motorist policy. I know that lawyers are there not to really support you but get for you what they can, and what I think we really wanted was for the driver to held accountable. However, this was very early on in the process and we basically were on autopilot and did what we were told. Read more

How Do I Survive the Murder of My Son? I Need Help.

I need help. recently, my son was murder and it is tearing me apart from my heart to my head. I do not know how to deal with it.  please respond to me. Drs. Gloria and Heidi Respond
Dear Bernice,

We are so very sorry for your loss. The hardest thing a parent can face is the loss of a child and murder makes it even more difficult to handle. We are glad to see you are reaching out for help. Know that it is alright to feel what you feel - there is no right or wrong way to grieve and there is no time limit. In somes ways we never get over it and life is never the same, but it does begin to hurt less and allow for some degree of healing and a return to a more normal life. Right now your wounds are very fresh and very raw and it is not unusual that you feel “torn apart.” This is a time to be gentle with yourself -  to take time for rest,  to grieve in the way you need to at the moment and to involve yourself in those activities that bring you comfort. Drop your expectations of how grief is supposed to be and walk the path one day - or even one moment - at a time. Read more

A personal message from Jeff and Lori re: the Bill in NY State (See Article Below)

Dear Friends,

The fight will continue in New York State.

We are very disappointed and saddened to say that our bill was killed last night at 11pm…talk about the final hour.

We are planning to expose this injustice for what it is, and we will be working toward alerting the national media of this transgression against grieving families. Read more

New York Legislators Kill Bill for Grieving Mothers

New York Legislators Kill Bill for Grieving Mothers

Albany, NY (June 26, 2008) — SB8960 would have helped to provide much-needed comfort, dignity, and accurate documentation to women and their families experiencing the death of a baby just prior to or during birth. Yet, despite overwhelming support from individual legislators, including 53 Democrat and Republican sponsors, a powerful minority of reproductive rights activist legislators have “killed the bill” as of 11:00 p.m. on the last day of session. Read more

Meanings of Life, Death, Loss, and Grieving, Guests: Thomas Attig, Ph.D. and Nancy Cincotta

Thomas Attig, Ph.D., and applied philosopher, is the author of The Heart of Grief: Death and the Search for Lasting Love and How We Grieve: Relearning the World. His latest work, Catching Your Breath in Grief, tells the story of how we breathe into life; loss takes our breath away; and, through grieving, we catch our breath and live meaningfully again. He invites you to visit him at www.griefsheart.com. e-mail: tattigca@earthlink.net

Nancy Cincotta is on the faculty at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and is the Psychosocial Director of Camp Sunshine, a nationally based retreat program for bereaved families and families of children with life-threatening illnesses. Her current research centers on the role of hope in the lives of families with seriously ill children.
e-mail: nancycincotta@gmail.com

A poem I wrote for my daughter Keren - I Used to Live in May

I USED TO LIVE IN MAY

I used to live in May
brilliance,warmth and
laughter filled my days

I used to live in May
Then you died and went away
Now darkness,cold,and crying fill my days

I used to live in May
Come back,Come back I say .

For when you were here
I used to live in May.

written by Louise Lagerman

Lessons From Tim Russert

By  Trignano

This past week has been filled with stories about the life Tim Russert lived. How he lived life to the fullest. I am saddened at his passing; saddened at losing such a remarkable person and journalist. As I listen to the many stories, I am reminded again of the lessons death teaches us.  Although I never knew Tim Russert personally, here are a few of the lessons his life and death taught me: Read more

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