grief

Losing a family member is one of the most traumatic life events; Families must support one another to endure the five stages of grief and get through it together.

Beginning to Move Forward After a Miscarriage
As we draw to the end of Baby Loss Awareness Week, I wanted to talk about moving forward—starting with going back to work. It's Saturday night and by some miracle I have made it through 5 days back in school. My word was it tough. Teaching 26 of other people's children is a hard way to throw yourself back in but I managed and as the week has progressed I have found it became a big distraction. But as I drove home from work for the weekend I felt that the distraction was too soon in a way. I felt annoyed at myself, maybe even slightly angry, that I hadn't thought about our Little Bean much. I don't want to forget about them and I know I can't think about them all of the time but I'm not sure I was ready for less thoughts to happen yet. I was tearful on the way home because of it. I was also incredibly tired and drained. It didn't help that Tuesday evening I gave myself a black eye in the garden just before bed! (Don't headbutt a BBQ—it hurts!)
By Aimee W7 years ago in Families
Grief
The sudden loss of a loved one will turn your life upside down. It's devastating. They're here one day ... gone the next. How the hell do you cope with something like that?
By Roger Kriner7 years ago in Families
Sometimes Life Throws Grenades
Sometimes instead of lemons, life throws grenades. Miscarriage is never pretty. A miscarriage, for all intents, is losing a baby that never was. Most are lost before 12 weeks, with most happening between 4 and 6 weeks. Life is more than a miracle than people realize with so many miscarriages being missed as the woman never realized she was pregnant. I have been through three. I can tell you that it is not a lemon life throws at you, it is a grenade. It shatters you in ways you didn't know you could shatter. It is not JUST the loss of an embryo, it is the loss of your child. It is all of the Christmases, and Halloweens, and every single milestone that that child will never reach. The first word, first steps and high school graduations are all taken from you in an instant.
By Michelle Shaver7 years ago in Families
Being Still Hurts
I've stumbled, fell face flat, sat in a 6-foot deep hole and shed way too many tears to count in recent. Social interactions became a blur without one single thought of happiness in my mind...Being still hurt.
By Starsha Etner7 years ago in Families
As Long As There Is Life, There Is Hope. As Long As There Is Hope, There Is Life.
What does it feel like to lose a baby? Ever wondered that? It may have crossed your mind at one point but it was probably only a fleeting thought and that's absolutely fine. Who would want to dwell on that?
By Aimee W7 years ago in Families
Where Is Dad?
It was a Thursday morning, around 6:30 AM. I was jolted awake by the hellish scream of ambulance sirens. Footsteps echoed past my bedroom through the narrow hallway. I heard the familiar voice of Kathy, one of the members of the local law enforcement. Why was she here? As I pondered the questions forming in my head and trying to think of logical answers to keep my mind at ease, I heard the mournful sound of my mother sobbing. I summoned the courage to leave my room to investigate the possible tragic events. I tried to show no emotion and used my excuse of "looking for something to eat" as a ploy to hide the dismay and chaos that was erupting inside of my maddened mind. With my father owning the title of Fire Department Chief, I had become acquainted with most of the local EMTS, which was fine until they showed up at my house equipped with an ambulance and a gurney. As I stepped out of the professionals' path to my parent's bedroom, a body numbing question was forced into my lost brain: "Where is Dad?"
By Cameron Anson7 years ago in Families
Time Does Heal
Hi, I would like to share a story of mine which is a little personal, it is a story about my grandfather. Four years ago in the year of 2014 he lost his battle with cancer. There was one time during his long struggle that the cancer was nowhere to be seen and yet somehow it made its way back into his body. This time the cancer came back even stronger than the first. I was 17 years old when he passed away, being that young and losing someone I had known all my life had a huge effect on my heart and my mind. Throughout everything I have a regret, one regret that will forever stick in my mind. Was it because I was in denial? Did I just not want to see him like that not or did I want it to be real? I will never know but it is too late to say sorry now.
By LeighAnn Connor7 years ago in Families
My Sister Janna's Last Words
When you’re young, things that’ve happened just don’t seem to click. Even catastrophic things, like death. Maybe it does click for some kids, but most of them just process a sudden tragedy, they may ask questions, and they may express sadness, and then they move on.
By Kira Zimney7 years ago in Families
Grieving with a Step-parent's Death
58 days ago, 2:08 PM, I was given the news that I had lost my step mom. It’s hard to process something like that when just hours earlier you were leaving for school and everything seemed normal.
By Madeline’s Cooking7 years ago in Families
Why Don’t We Talk About Those Who Have Passed?
When you saw this title you probably thought “Huh, that’s a morbid topic.” Yes, I would agree it’s not the most “sunshine and rainbows” topic, however, it’s something I believe is worth thinking about. So no, I’m not one to be thinking of death often but losing my grandma in February is what sparked my thoughts on this topic.
By Christina Russo7 years ago in Families
Getting Through Loss
There is no getting through loss, there is only living with it... Sharing your story, and hearing others share their stories, it helps to know you are not alone. That others are dealing with the pain of losing a child and still making it through each day. Here is part of my story...
By Sylvia Martin7 years ago in Families
Miss Your Loved Ones Who Have Passed, and When it Hurts, Miss Them Harder
The empty chair at the dinner table, the automated voice at the dead end of a phone call relaying that the number has been disconnected, the longing to tell a story about something that happened in your day, something you know they would laugh at, they would be proud of, they would be overjoyed to hear— these are the things that eat us alive when grieving the death of a loved one, the things that bring about a sense of emptiness within our souls that cannot be filled with anything this earth has to offer.
By Abbey Walters7 years ago in Families