Open to Hope Articles

Articles Home

Breathless

Posted on February 18, 2011 - by admin

Breathless A new day comes, and all I think about are the days gone by, the days that were once filled with your beautiful presence I am breathless Inhaling pain, exhaling sorrow. When the sun goes down it falls heavily on my heart, making for yet another sleepless night, full of anxiety and fear I dim the lights, but I can never put them out I am breathless Inhaling devastation, exhaling acute sadness My dreams are filled of you, so many images, memories, delusions and anticipatory returns of your beautiful self One, breath, less, is how my life feels without […]

Tunnel of Torment

Posted on February 17, 2011 - by admin

Since you left I have found myself in what can only be described as a pure tunnel of torment. Sorrow has become my soul mate. Pain a new companion. Fear my unpredictable friend. As for grief, I’m not sure what to make of it this very minute. It’s a menace, the imaginary gun to my head. Life and living is compromised. My brain is up to its old tricks. I search for your face on every street and scan the crowds. A record of you exists. I have it on repeat. It plays on my mind. The body surely speaks, […]

How to Listen to Someone Who’s Grieving

Posted on February 17, 2011 - by Harriet Hodgson

We had just gone to bed when the phone rang. The call was from a member of the ambulance team. She called to tell us our daughter had been injured in a car crash. “It’s really bad,” she concluded. I can still hear her words in my mind and, painful as they were, they helped me prepare for what was to come. After more than 20 hours of surgery, the lead surgeon told us our daughter was brain-dead. Traumatizing as the news was, discontinuing life support and signing documents for organ donation were just as traumatizing. My husband and I […]

sudden death

Posted on February 16, 2011 - by admin

I am writting hoping to get some help 4 month ago my son passed away suddenly at 29 years of age the dr had over prescibed his methodone i am having days when I cry as though I have been cut in half and not sleeping feeling like I dont want to be here anymore people say you have 2 other children but this doesnt ease ones grieve as I dont even know how to help them let alone myself some days I work work work until I drop then break down again all over I just cant except he […]

‘Moments in the Middle’ Make Recovery Possible

Posted on February 16, 2011 - by Cindy Shufflebarger

After my daughter’s death, I recall telling my grief counselor that I knew I would eventually be ok, but I didn’t like the process of getting there. Getting there. It meant laborious work, buckets of tears, and a plethora of pain. I wanted to skip that part. I just wanted things to be ok again. But there was no way around it. I had to go through the journey of dealing with my loss and hurt if I wanted to truly experience healing. I had to live those moments in the middle. A friend once shared that she liked middles. […]

Grieving at a Young Age

Posted on February 15, 2011 - by Lauren Muscarella

In the last nine months, I’ve had the privilege of hearing from several people who have lost loved ones. I know it sounds strange to put it that way but after starting MamaQuest.org and Trauma2art.com, I became an available listener. Because I shared my experience of grief, people feel safe to tell me their story. Hearing these stories is both cathartic for them and comforting for me. I quickly realized everyone’s experience is unique, but we all share a common problem: how do we cope? We also share a bond for seeking to understand what we are going through. Being […]

Our Eternal Valentines

Posted on February 14, 2011 - by Christine Duminiak

Dear Friends, As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, it brings to mind the valentines that we have on earth and also in Heaven. For love is eternal regardless of where we are residing–whether it’s here or “there”. For those who want to say, “I love you” to your loved ones in Heaven, it is never too late to do so. A heartfelt letter expressing your love, feelings, and memories written and read out loud to them will transcend all boundaries. Like our prayers, the words will be heard by the intended recipient. For our loved ones who are now residing with […]

Unconditional Love: Our Hope For Immortality

Posted on February 14, 2011 - by David Daniels

Hope in the dictionary sense means cherishing something with the anticipation of fulfillment. Hope connotes confidence, even assurance. As each of us allow in hope, a natural unfolding takes place. While it is true that the only thing that is constant is change, when we come back to our higher essential qualities, we actually experience that which is constant and unchanging and underlies all else. To me, this means unconditional, enduring love. This is the ultimate hope and the ultimate assurance of our immortality! This is what this contribution is all about. As you read this article, do give yourself […]

my baby boy’s death

Posted on February 13, 2011 - by admin

I wish no mother would ever have to go through what did . I lost my baby boy age 15 minuits old on the 4th december 2007 at u-h-w hospital in cardiff it was the worst day of my life he had spinabifida and hydrocephuls . He was the most beautyfulest baby u could of ever seen. he would have beein three on 4th december just gone . And it is very hard with out him but do u no what makes it even hard is that his proper due date was christmas day . I really dont no how […]

Poem: 30 Years of Marriage and Loss

Posted on February 13, 2011 - by Debra Reagan

Young love Hopes and dreams First born son Joy New home Second son Joy Pets: hamsters, fish, cats, dogs, ducks, rabbit Death of grandparents Sports: practices, uniforms and games Birthday parties Friends Zoo Family vacations Videos games, computers and new electronics Death of parents Malls and shopping Graduations and Jobs Struggles Shock: the death of precious youngest son PAIN Deep Anguish Anger and regrets Weeping One day at a time New daughter-in-law Re-investment New normal and a new hope Love Debra Reagan 2011