The Open to Hope Community

The Open to Hope Community Leader is here to answer questions, provide support, and maintain a healthy, positive environment at opentohope.com. This is the next line.

Articles:

Scheduled Chats

Hello friends, Would you like us to schedule chats of specific interest to you or your loss? For example, if you have lost a child, perhaps you would like to chat with others who have also lost a child. We will be happy to shedule chats of interest to you on a weekly basis, so members can talk with others who share their specific interests. Please email us your Chat requests suggested chat times. We will then schedule the chats and send out a Chat Schedule to all members. Suggested topics are Loss of A Child, Loss of A Spouse, […]

Space Between Breaths

My sister lost her husband in August 2006 to cancer. It was a terrible painful death. She hasn?t been the same. Insurance will no longer pay for counseling. She lives in Lexington. Please tell me more about ?Space Between Breaths?. Is it something that may be helpful for her to attend. I will do anything! Do you have any suggestions on where I can check for free grief counseling? Thank you so much for your help. A loving sister, Marcie

Remembrance Service

Dear Fellow Travelers,? This has been such a tragic week and I know each of us has empathy for those who lost loved ones at Virginia Tech.? Here on campus, we have had several services of remembrance and I wanted to share one of those services with you which is on the website.? Yesterday was the 8th anniversary of those murdered in Columbine and the day before was the anniversary of those killed in Oklahoma .??? I encourage all of you to continue to pray for the families and also pray for our schools and colleges and our young people.? […]

In the Aftermath of Virginia Tech.

My heart goes out to the families and friends of those killed at Virginia Tech. on Monday.? This is truly a horrific tragedy.? I know you are suffering and in a great deal of pain, you hurt so much because you loved so much.? My thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted by this event, and I hope you will find some peace and comfort in the support of those around you. Sincerely, Dr. Heidi

The Virginia Massacre – Our Love Goes Out to All Who Are Impacted

Heidi and I are?watching the news as we know?all of our listeners are regarding the Virginia Massacre.? Our heart goes out to all those who have been impacted by this tragedy and to our families and guests who are reliving their own loss experiences.? Shock and denial are in full swing.??That one person gone wrong could impact so many lives is heart breaking.?For those who are reliving their own experiences please take care of yourselves. You may need to turn off the television and toss the newspapers.? Drink lots of water and go for a walk.? Call a friend. Visit […]

The Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation Single Parents of Children With Life Threatening Illness

?The Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation enables single parents of children with life-threatening illnesses to care for their children fulltime by relieving financial burdens when other resources are exhausted or unavailable.? ?A child is diagnosed with a terminal disease. The mother finds herself alone. Why?? Statistics shows that 78% (8 out of 10) couples separate or divorce once it is determined that their child suffers a life-threatening or catastrophic chronic illness.? Invariably, mothers become the single care-givers.? The struggles of these lone parents and their dying children remain hidden to the world.?? So do the impossible choices that these […]

A Poignant Essay from David Harder – a Must Read

Friends, Below is a critical and poignant essay that David Harder, speaker, life coach, and author, regularly puts out. I’ve known David for years through Jack Canfield. His essays are always full of truisms and the hope that springs forward from human resiliency, and I often find myself quoting him during speaking engagements. However, this time, I had to share this particular one with you because (1) many of you will relate to what he writes about from your own personal experiences; (2) many of you work in a field impacted by such things; (3) my steadfast passion about educating […]

Thank You for Helping Others

I want to tell you that your blog and your radio shows have really helped me heal in my grief. I want to thank you for helping others. Scott and Matthew will never be forgotten because you have shared their lives with so many who are dealing with their personal loss. They must have been great young men. They would have been proud of you and the work you are doing. Thank you so much again. Linda

Thank You for Sharing

Dear Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi, Thank you for sharing The library of Life and Scott’s Site with us on Healing the Grieving heart. From your recommendation of The Library of life and visiting Scott’s beautiful site, I have set up a site for my daughter, Krystal Long Duss. I invite you and your readers/listeners to please visit Krystal’s Site and light a candle for her. krystal-long-duss.memory-of.com With gentle thoughts and gratitude, Jo Ann Webb, Krystal’s Mom

Weaving Threads of Memory

Hello, We came across your website, and being both bereaved siblings, we? would like to share our project with you. We are writing to tell you? about Collecting Loss: Weaving Threads of Memory? (www.collectingloss.com), a community arts project which involves? collecting clothing that belonged to people who have died and? collecting the story this clothing evokes from those who loved them.

Open to Hope is an online community offering inspirational stories of loss, hope and recovery. We believe hope is the bridge between loss and recovery.