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Terminal Grief

Posted on October 3, 2011 - by David Roberts

My life as I knew it ended on May 26, 2002, when my eighteen-year-old daughter Jeannine was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare, aggressive and incurable form of cancer. Jeannine died on March 1, 2003, at the age of 18, approximately ten months after diagnosis. When she was diagnosed, the experience itself was surreal. In the blink of an eye, I went from the everyday joys of being a parent to a vibrant daughter to the horror of having that same child diagnosed with a terminal illness. My subsequent research revealed that the five-year survival rate for her cancer was […]

Her Faith Pulled Her Through Series of Losses

Posted on October 2, 2011 - by Mary Elizabeth Robinson

It’s been eleven years since I stood next to my dying brother’s bed and stroked his hair, trying to give him comfort in his time of need. He and I were both certain the end was creeping in just as day turns into evening. We knew it, but never spoke of it. I was standing there in another moment of a flood of emotions. I, of course was feeling miserable, as this was the very last time I would ever see my brother alive. The last time I would talk to him or hold his hand. Yet my inner strength […]

‘Happy’ Holidays? Not for the Newly Bereaved

Posted on October 2, 2011 - by Karla Wheeler

This holiday season, an estimated one in 20 Americans will be grieving the loss of someone dear. And for some bereaved folks, the loss is so profound in their lives that they shudder at the thought of celebrating anything, especially a season that is supposed to be merry and jolly. If you are dreading the upcoming holiday season because your loved one has died, please take a deep breath. Help is on the way. Know that your feelings are normal and there are a number of things you can do to ensure you and your family will get through […]

Did My Cat Go to Heaven?

Posted on October 1, 2011 - by Marty Tousley

Question from a reader: I have been grieving the loss of my cat for some time now, and the pain does not go away. I am still very sad and wondering what kind of help you can give me. I keep thinking—did my Mittens go to heaven or not? I had a very tight bond with this cat. I miss her companionship every day and I miss her so much. My response: I’m so sorry to learn of the death of your beloved cat Mittens, and I offer you my deepest sympathy. Having lost my own beloved Tibetan terrier Beringer just […]

Whispers of Love, Signs of Hope

Posted on September 30, 2011 - by Mitch Carmody

If you have lost someone close to you and suffer with that loss, you may have wished for, prayed for, expected and or anticipated some sort of supernatural experience that would validate your belief that there truly is life after death. I believe that somehow our loved one who has moved on in spirit can communicate to us in some form or fashion, and that it can bring us a peace that can be found no other way. I believe we live in one sphere of existence, our departed loved one lives in another, but we can meet at the […]

Poem: We Promise to Remember

Posted on September 29, 2011 - by Janet Grimes

Dear Children, We promise to remember your eyes so blue The joy in your faces that remained so true. Your hair so blond, it seemed almost white The way you hid behind your parents, acting so shy. We promise to remember your bashful grins and quiet chatter The way you spoke to each other, as if no one else mattered. The way you loved each member of your family With lots of hugs and kisses; the way it should be. We promise to remember that you’re with Jesus now. Two perfect angels, with wings and with crowns. The three of […]

Letting Go and Moving Forward

Posted on September 29, 2011 - by Carl Mathis

Let’s face it: we all have negative or bad experiences that we just cannot seem to get past. There are just certain things, that when remembered, always cause anxiety and anger to build up inside us. And we have to admit that sometimes we just don’t want to let go of these negative emotions and memories. Why? Do we want to feel like we’re the victim? Do we need to even the score before we let go? The truth is, holding on to negative emotions, feelings, thoughts, or experiences drag us down. It drags us down mentally, emotionally, and sometimes, […]

The Year of Firsts

Posted on September 28, 2011 - by Jean Williams

Imagine a young son who has struggled his whole life with pain and illness. His parents have cared for his physical needs and felt responsible for his emotional well-being. Now, imagine they are witnessing their twenty-five-year-old son die from a bullet by his own hand. That profound moment began our yearlong of firsts. I know my husband had his own list of firsts, but mine began with disbelief the morning before Saint Patrick’s Day. Each reminder of Joshua not being there was gut wrenching throughout that first year, but there was grace, too, which I never expected. Until Easter, my […]

New Calling: Reaching Out to Others Through Writing

Posted on September 27, 2011 - by Mary Elizabeth Robinson

When I was young, my life’s calling was softly introduced to me. It may not have been a path I would have chosen as an adult or of my own desire, but it changed me and made me who I am today. I guess my mother’s illness and death deeply impacted my life. I never forgot the realm of devastation or the pain it caused me as my days unfolded without her. I had a strong inner impulse toward my purpose. My heart ached for those who faced similar circumstances. I would reach out to people I knew or didn’t […]

Can I Believe My Mother is in Heaven?

Posted on September 26, 2011 - by Lauren Muscarella

I love going to psychics. I’m not sure if it’s my impetuous nature to know what is to come, the comforting assertions like “Great fortune is headed your way” or its mother-memory connection. I became loosely associated with the magic of clairvoyance at age 5. I waited in the reception area while my mother traveled through past lives and peered into her future. These days I’m allowed to partake in the mysticism myself. Turning the corner on six years of motherlessness, I strolled through the beaded door of a Hyannis psychic on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Once inside the inconspicuous […]