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For the New Widow: Ten Tips To Help Her Survive…After the Funeral

Posted on January 17, 2007 - by Linda Della-Donna

You?re home now. A short while ago you stood over a hole in the earth. You blew a kiss, tossed a rose, sprinkled a shovelful of dirt over a casket, and said goodbye to your husband, your soul mate, the best friend you ever had. As you move about greeting hungry strangers, someone whispers that the woman wandering about with mayonnaise on her chin is your mother?s sister?s next door neighbor?s cousin?s dog?s pet sitter. It is a scene right out of Star Wars, the one in the bar, and you feel trapped

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I am Krystal’s eldest sister (Kina Long-Rewis), and this is the victim impact statement that I read to the judge (at the sentencing hearing):

Posted on January 16, 2007 - by admin

I am Krystal’s eldest sister (Kina Long-Rewis), and this is the victim impact statement that I read to the judge (at the sentencing hearing): – – – – – To The Honorable Judge Dearing, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to share how the death of my sister, Krystal Long-Duss, has affected my life. I will try my best to find the words that properly describe the pain I am feeling for the tremendous loss of my little sister. For over eighteen months now; I have tried so hard to make sense of this situation, but I […]

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Dear Heidi,

Posted on January 15, 2007 - by admin

Dear Heidi, You may use anything that I have sent you on your blog. I am honored that you would like to use it. If you can wait a day or two, Kina said she would resend her Victim Impact Statement to me. I can then send it to you. When she sent it to me the pictures were in color. I do not know why they are now in black and white. I would like you to see them in color also. Did you open the attachment with my Victim Impact Statement on one of my previous emails? I […]

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Wow Jo Ann,

Posted on January 15, 2007 - by admin

Wow Jo Ann: What a powerful and moving e-mail. Thank-you so much for sharing so much of yourself and your daughter Krystal with me. I can’t even imagine the pain you’ve been through in losing your daughter. My heart goes out to you as a mother, as well as Krystal’s children, and sisters’. I can relate to what Krystal went through to get her wonderful boys, and I am so sorry that she is not hear to enjoy them as they grow up. After my 8 yr. old son was born I tried for yrs. to have another child, after […]

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Open to hope

Krystal’s Slide Show and Victim Impact Statement

Posted on January 15, 2007 - by admin

Honorable Judge Dearing, My name is Jo Ann Webb. I am Krystal Duss’ mother. How can I give you a glimpse of the unspeakable, unthinkable, unimaginable despair, pain, suffering and deep grief of having my child killed by a drunk driver? December 9, 2003 seemed like a typical day. I went to work. I teach at a public high school. Krystal and I usually talked on the phone several times a day. She’d call just to say, “hi.” I’d call to see how her day was going and tell her that I loved her. On December 9, Krystal called to […]

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Open to hope

Dear Heidi,

Posted on January 15, 2007 - by admin

Thank you so much for replying to my email. Your reply means a lot to me because I can only imagine how busy you must be with your professor schedule, working with 911 survivors, writing a book, co-hosting Healing the Grieving Heart with your mom, and having a family, with a new daughter too! Thank you for taking the time to reply. First, thank you for acknowledging the fact that Krystal had her life taken from her. My heart breaks because she did not get the chance the raise Daniel and Andrew. She and her husband Joe tried for 7 […]

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Open to hope

Dear Jo Ann,

Posted on January 15, 2007 - by admin

I just received your e-mail and wanted to first say how sorry my mom and I are to hear about the murder of your daughter Krystal. How horrible for everyone to have Krystal murdered by a drunk driver. She was in the prime of her life, with two twin babies and her entire life ahead of her. This just shouldn’t have happened. Also thank-you for acknowledging my loss, as a bereaved sibling I continue to feel unacknoweldged in my loss. And it is my life’s calling to educate the world about the uniqueness of the sibling relationship and the loss […]

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Dear Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi,

Posted on January 15, 2007 - by admin

Dear Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi, First of all I would like to thank you for your program Healing the Grieving Heart. I listen to it each week and it has been a light in the darkness for me. You both give me inspiration and hope as I travel this journey to build a normal and create a legacy for my daughter, Krystal Duss. However, I must tell you both that I was very offended by Bryon Katie’s show on 1-11-07. How dare she tell a grieving father who lost his only child 7 years ago that he needs to […]

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Refilling The Hole of Loss

Posted on January 15, 2007 - by admin

The truth of celebration is there often is a bittersweet element to it. Someone may be missing this year in the celebration. The last Christmas my family had with my husband was spent at the hospital and at home. We had a Christmas tree at both locations. The children were nine and seven. Christmas morning the children woke up to presents under the tree and stockings filled as the three of us experienced our first Christmas without Dad with us. Later that morning, we went to the hospital with gifts and he had the gifts I’d purchased he would give […]

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Dear Friend of GriefWorks,

Posted on January 14, 2007 - by admin

Dear Friend of GriefWorks, As the New Year gets underway, I want to remind you that GriefWorks is offering a six-week “Family Night Series” from 6:15-8:15 p.m., beginning January 18. Families will begin the evening together with a light dinner (which is provided) and a brief introduction. Then we will divide into groups for parents, teens, and children. In a supportive environment and using age-appropriate activities, family members will have the opportunity to share and work through their grief. Then we will conclude the evening by bringing all the family members back together for a brief summary of the evening. […]

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