Open to Hope Articles

Articles Home

Wondering About the Dreams of a Lost Child

Posted on February 26, 2011 - by Diana Doyle

THE BEREAVED – May Williams Ward In the next room, in the low chair, In the soft dark, are you there? I do not ask it when sun is laid Through the checkered window in yellow plaid- Then love this is past seems rich enough And having had that, I can give you up, But in the deep dark…In the low chair In the next room, are you there? I want you there…. This morning, while trying to rinse dried oats off Peter’s breakfast bowl, I looked over at Dempsey who was lost in a TV program. She was sitting […]

‘Moving Forward’ After the Death of a Child

Posted on February 25, 2011 - by Maria Malin

I’ve often wondered what the recipe included when mothers were created. Part superhero, part superhuman, “moms” surely have many ingredients: one wrist that can test the temperature of baby formula, three measures of skinned knee fixability, two cups of tear catching, zero sick days, little nightly sleep, a dash of fever-gauging with a kiss on the forehead, many heaping tablespoons of patience, endless pickups, drop-offs, and grocery lists, and several thousand sack lunches and dinners. Topped with the wave of one giant problem-solving wand sprinkled with magic glitter from up above, a mom is born. Mothers have strength beyond muscle, […]

The Highway of Life: Get Back on the Bus!

Posted on February 24, 2011 - by Maureen Hunter

The bus stopped for you at GRIEF, and as you stepped off, you sank into an abyss of pain and sorrow, like nothing you had experienced before. You don’t have to stay forever in this inhospitable place. Get back on the bus now! When we experience the loss of a loved one, we can feel totally powerless as the feelings associated with grief wreak havoc in our lives. In the short term, we may have little control over our life and go through the motions in survival mode only. We wonder if we will ever feel some degree of peace […]

Always Counting: Anniversary of a Daughter’s Death

Posted on February 23, 2011 - by Harriet Hodgson

Today is the fourth anniversary of my daughter’s death. I’ve been dreading this day for several weeks because it reminds me, yet again, of the finality of loss. It also brings back memories of surgeons operating on my daughter for 20 hours in a desperate attempt to save her life. Heroic as the surgeons’ efforts were, their efforts failed. The lead surgeon came out of the operating room to tell us our daughter was brain dead. Lost in a web of shock and confusion and grief, my husband and I signed the organ donor documents. Two days after my daughter […]

Losing a daughter to cancer

Posted on February 23, 2011 - by admin

My beautiful first born daughter died three days before she turned 26 from cancer. She fought so hard for 14 months but the cancer was so aggressive and she lost her battle. Our family never lost hope and thought that God would answer our prayers and we would have our miracle, but it did not happen. We could never talk about death, just the hope that she would make it. I am having so much trouble dealing with this unbearable loss, I don`t know how I can ever be happy again and not have this sadness. I would like to […]

Supporting a Bereaved Parent, From a Distance

Posted on February 22, 2011 - by Marty Tousley

Question from a Reader: My husband and I are dealing with his mother’s grief over losing his father (her husband) this past January. His father passed away in a wonderful hospice in New Mexico. I have visited the online grief support Web site offered by Hospice of the Valley, and although it helps calm my nerves somewhat to see that other widows are experiencing the same acute grief emotions as my mother-in law, we are at a loss for how to help and support her most effectively as she is in New Mexico and we live in Arizona. We are […]

Three Things That Should Never Be Broken… Hearts,

Posted on February 21, 2011 - by admin

As I walk into the extra bedroom at my parent’s home, I notice the little frame on the dresser. A small simple frame, it holds a note that is written in my brother’s hand. On the note is written: “Three things that should never be broken; Hearts Promises And Friendships” There is a large space between the words Promises and Friendships, a space that hints at uncertainty and deep thought. It’s a space that haunts my mind. I wish Brother had thought about that last choice more thoroughly. You see, someone who was supposed to be his friend killed him. […]

Bereaved Grandmother Turns the Corner on Grief

Posted on February 21, 2011 - by Nina Bennett

My granddaughter was unexpectedly born still in 2003. My daughter-in-law had a healthy, uneventful, full-term pregnancy. There were no indications of any problems during her labor. The medical staff was as stunned as we were when Madeline was delivered without a heartbeat. My background is in behavioral medicine, and I have worked professionally with bereavement issues for several decades, but none of my education or experience prepared me to cope with the death of my granddaughter. I also felt powerless when it came to providing solace to my son and daughter-in-law. As I felt my way like a blind person […]

Grief Teaches Us Simple Lesson: Accept Death

Posted on February 21, 2011 - by Monique Antoinette

Grief is indiscriminate of categories as to how life ends, our race, religion, gender, or any other box asking to be checked off for validation. Grief counterparts like denial, guilt, rage, craziness, plus so many other bright colored ones, will at some point fit perfectly into a box on what I call The Human Application. The most appropriate box name for this human commonality should be Griever. Imagine being able to check this box off. It would tell the world that you were in need of a time out. It would tell the world you were in need of additional […]

my mind keeps denying that my dad is gone

Posted on February 20, 2011 - by admin

well i am 23 and single i used live with both my parents my parents had been married for 30 years and no matter how much they fought they loved each other like anythin, i mean they used to talk and talk all night still.. my dad was so good lookin and he used to look so young no one could tell he was our dad mum has been always ill and he has always been running here and there for her even he used to still do my and my sisters stuff like we were little kids, he spoilt […]