The Phoenix

Posted on December 15, 2008 - by admin

The Phoenix: I sit here alone. My husband, 40 years of age and in the prime of his life ended his life last year by suicide. I feel like I am just beginning to emerge from some dark fog that has held my heart, soul and mind prisoner. Today, I sit alone, one child away on a date, one at a friend’s house. A few years back I could have never imagined this would be my life, but here I am alone. I have often referred to my life on this journey of grief as being thrown in a fire. […]

Emotions of a Diagnosis

Posted on December 15, 2008 - by Lisa Buell

By Lisa Buell —

My Life, Seven Years After Her Suicide

Posted on December 14, 2008 - by Abel Keogh

By Abel Keogh —

Home Free: The Dying Moment

Posted on December 13, 2008 - by Nancy Manahan & Becky Bohan

By Nancy Manahan and Becky Bohan —

I Lost My Daughter

Posted on December 12, 2008 - by Monica Novak

From The Grief Blog, March 27, 2008 I lost my daughter Lanai on March 9, 2008. She would have been my first. I miss her so much and it hurts. I know that I will get through it but dealing with this alone has been extremely difficult. I find comfort in reading everyone’s comments to each other and praying. I know that she is in a special place and watches over me every day. Although I was only 4 months along, I fell in love with her the first moment that I was pregnant. When my water broke I feel […]

How Do I Help My Niece – Her Baby Was Stillborn

Posted on December 12, 2008 - by Monica Novak

From The Grief Blog, May 14, 2008 My niece, suzanne, gave birth Monday, May 12, 2008 to a 6 lb 8 oz little boy. The baby was stillborn. Her pregnancy was fine and she had been to the doctor the previous Friday. Baby’s heart beat was strong and she discussed inducing labor with her doctor. They scheduled it for Saturday, May 17th. On Sunday she started to feel not so well and put a call into her doctor. She was given an appt. for the next morning. During her visit they were not able to hear a heartbeat so they did […]

Poem: I Dreamed Today

Posted on December 12, 2008 - by Monica Novak

I DREAMED TODAY, of a little one being born, with ten little toes, ten little fingers and a pug little nose, AND I PRAYED. I DREAMED TODAY, that my little one opened her eyes and noticed that I was her mom, and she looked at me with such a smile and eyes so bright it took my breath away, AND I PRAYED. I DREAMED TODAY that I cooed and tickled my little one and hoped that this feeling of undying love we shared would never end so that I could forever hear my little ones’ laughter, AND I PRAYED. I […]

A Death on “Black Friday”: What is Our Moral Imperative?

Posted on December 11, 2008 - by Norman Fried

By Norman Fried — On November 28, a Wal-Mart store clerk in Valley Stream, New York, was killed after throngs of  Black Friday  shoppers broke down the front doors and trampled over him as they rushed in, searching for post-Thanksgiving Day bargains. The Associated Press reports that the impatient crowd knocked the man to the ground as he opened the store at 5 AM, leaving a metal piece of the door frame hanging “like an accordion.” When told by store personnel that an employee had been killed and that everyone must leave, members of the crowd responded with: “We’ve been […]

Woman Grieves Over Death of a Baby 35 Years Ago

Posted on December 10, 2008 - by admin

Tammy writes in with a question: My friend who is 52 is grieving over a baby she lost when she was 17. She has 2 other children- adults now. But she is suddenly feeling this loss feeling like she was supposed to have 3 children. Is it possible to grieve this far from the death?

Doris Jeanette, Psy.D., author of?Opening the Heart, responds: It is not only possible, but ?helpful, to?grieve any loss that has not been fully?experienced. ?It does not matter how many years ago the original loss occurred.??As a young?mother, your friend may not have been able to fully grieve the loss. She may have blamed herself and as a result shut off her feelings and emotions. Now she?may be ready?to feel the loss and express her emotions. This is wonderful. You can be a helpful?friend?by?supporting?her in expressing her feelings and?emotions?in?healthy?ways. You can also?encourage?her to seek professional help, if needed. ?She will be a stronger and?healthier?person after she processes the loss of her child. Opening the heart is a life-long process and how it unfolds is how it unfolds. Honor her and her healing process.

Widow’s Friends Disown Her After She Finds New Love

Posted on December 9, 2008 - by admin

Anne writes: I lost my dad and husband within a week of each other?three years ago, and life has been a battle. My dearest friends (a couple that my husband and I used to do everything with) won’t accept the fact I am seeing another man and have been for nearly two years. The husband told me the other day never to come back and see them. I have given them space and continue to love and support them, Please help. I am just so sad about it. I have tried talking to them but they won’t. I am also their daughter’s godmother and she is heart-broken her parents are doing this. Help me.