Sandy Fox

Sandy Fox has won four finalist awards for her recent book "Creating a New Normal...After the Death of a Child" with over 80 coping articles and a huge resource section. One award is from USA Book News in the Health/Death and Dying Category for 2010. The second award is from ForeWord Reviews in the Health Category for 2010. The third is from Royal Dragonfly Book Awards. The most recent finalist award is for the self-help category of the 2011 Indie Book Awards. She is also the author of another grief book, "I Have No Intention of Saying Good-bye." “I Have No Intention of Saying Good-bye” tells the stories of 25 sets of parents and how they moved on with their lives after the death of their child, offering hope and survival techniques. Sandy has headed two national bereavement conferences for childless parents and spoken for many years at Compassionate Friends National conferences, POMC and across the U.S. to a variety of bereavement groups. She also writes articles for the Open to Hope site, EZ articles, and Journey through grief newsletter in addition to her own weekly blog: www.survivinggrief.blogspot.com. Sandy can be contacted at sfoxaz@hotmail.com to set up any speaking engagements or to ask any questions related to surviving the death of a child. Sandy was a guest on the radio show “Healing the Grieving Heart“ discussing: “I have no intention of Saying Good-Bye: Coping Techniques for the Now Childless.” To hear Sandy being interviewed on this show by Dr. Gloria & Dr. Heidi Horsley, click on the following link: www.voiceamericapd.com/health/010157/horsley010407.mp3

Articles:

Bereaved Mother Seeks Grief Group After Death of Infant

Question from Marie: My son Daniel went into the light and passed away from?SIDS on Nov 16, 2008. He was a precious baby, smiled all the time, and is loved so much by his family. We do not understand why he is gone physically; it just seems surreal;, we are still in shock, and his big sister is doing well with it. When I found him it was too late. We triedeverything to save him. Even though his life was short lived, he was supposed to be here. We chose me to be his mother, and even though he has passed it was the biggest gift just to have him in my life for the 2 1/2 months. He was 14 pounds and perfect. I just don’t understand; this is my biggest struggle. We love you, Daniel. If anyone out their knows of hospice support groups for parents who have lost children, please let me know, because I need a little help understanding grief. We get through the days but a part of me is broken.?I was his mother, his main caregiver. And I miss him so much. Rest in peace, Daniel, and I know your seeing beautiful things. Remember to sing and dance, until we see you again.

Making Choices

by Sandy Fox “If life doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger.” I don’t know who said that, but it’s true. After your child dies, you have a choice: to continue living or to lie down and give up. I chose to live. In order to do that, I had to have a new purpose in my life. Whether it was a cause, helping others or just finding new interests, my life took on new meaning eventually, and as I look back now, 14 years later, I know I have my daughter to thank for all that has happened […]

Starting your own support group

by Sandy Fox I would encourage anyone, who needs the help of a support group to deal with the death of a child, to start their own if there is none in the area in which you live. The group does not need to be part of a national group of bereaved parents. It can serve any purpose you need in your own area of the country. In order to get started, the local newspaper should be contacted to see if they will do a story in the paper about your first and subsequent meetings. Flyers can be placed in […]

Writing Condolence Letters

by Sandy Fox — Whether you are a bereaved parent or just know of someone else who has lost a child, the most challenging letter an individual is ever called upon to write is a letter of condolence, particularly one about a child. The written word can bring much comfort when coping with a loss. We want to convey so much to these bereaved parents, particularly if we are close to them, but how should we do it? A few tips follow. First, acknowledge the loss and how shocked and dismayed you were to hear about the child dying. Then express […]

January 4, 2007: I Have No Intention of Saying Good-Bye: Coping Techniques for the Now Childless – Sandy Fox

JANUARY 4, 2007 – I HAVE NO INTENTION OF SAYING GOOD-BYE: COPING TECHNIQUES FOR THE NOW CHILDLESS: SANDY FOX, the bereaved mother of Marcy, her only child who was killed in a car accident 12 years ago.? Her book, I Have No Intention of Saying Good-bye, tells the story of 25 sets of parents and how they moved on with their lives after their loss.? Sandy, a high school teacher for 28 years, has been a journalist and freelance writer her whole life and now enjoys speaking to bereavement groups around the country, trying to help others through their grief […]

Teaching Others About Our Grief by Sandy Fox, author of “I Have No Intention of Saying Good-Bye”

We cannot expect others to understand how we feel after the death of a child, especially if they have never gone through it. Sometimes we get angry at how friends or relatives react and respond to us. They don?t know what to say or how to say it and often they say it wrong, not meaning to be cruel, but not knowing any better. We have a choice. We can be bitter and resentful to others or we can help them understand and be part of our grief journey. What follows are what I call ?10 Grief Lessons for Others.? […]