Cynthia Ranyak

Cynthia L. Belcher-Ranyak is director of nonprofit operations for Neon18.com. Neon18.com is an advocacy group for safe teen driving. Since 2007 Neon18.com has given 6 scholarships to deserving students heading for college in memory of Cynthia's beautiful and talented daughter, Emily Jasmine, who was killed in a violent car crash in 2005. Cynthia regards herself as friend to victims of crime and an activist for children’s rights.

Articles:

Open to  hope

Coming out of the Wilderness of Loss

This has been a long Easter season and as we are accustomed to bringing in the newness of life during this season, it is also a great time to let go of the lingering resentments of anger and confusion that comes with grieving the loss of a child.  Holding on to great memories and letting go of hurt, resentment, and hatred, if any is living in your soul, is always what bereaved parents are advised to pursue and hopefully achieve. My beloved daughter was killed one week after Easter in 2005, which was an unusually early Easter season.  This year […]

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Open to  hope

‘Stumbling in the Darkness’ After Loss of Daughter

As I sat there in the waiting room of the oily garage just outside of Sevierville, TN, anticipating the very long drive home to Florida, my 18-year-old daughter was flipping through racing magazines and telling me all about her new friend.  Emily had only one real date with him, and I knew that they were making plans for both of their high school proms. Emily was beaming with new facts:  telling me how his college major was going to be in business so he could be a racing manager for his best friend, who was going to be a Formula […]

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Open to  hope

Remembering a Child, Celebrating a Holiday

The holiday season is calling to us again, the grieving parents of children that we love and lost.   We have a different kind of celebration, but it is our own, and for our own reasons, we put up our holiday decorations or decide that maybe next year we can face the world that is so different from our own. Our world is full of memories of times past and celebrations that were full of our children’s laughter and hopes and dreams. How can we celebrate this Christmas with our families and make new memories without disrupting our precious memories?  What can […]

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