Open to Hope Articles
Do you want to read stories of others who have been where you are? Are you looking for bereavement help, and advice? Look no further. We offer over 3,000 articles written by our Open to Hope authors.
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The Compassionate Friends; People Helping People through Bereavement
July 21, 2015
Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley interviewed married couple Michele Muro and Babe-Anthony Muro on The Open to Hope Foundation show, in collaboration with The Compassionate Friends. The Muros lost daughter/stepdaughter Lori in an automobile collision while she was serving in the military. Gloria and Heidi also interview Arnie and Varda Wendorf, who also lost their daughter Lauren in a car accident. Following the loss of Lauren, the Wendorfs teamed up with The Compassionate Friends to become co-leaders for the Staten Island New York chapter. Michele says her daughter was just 24 when she died, and the family “was at a […]
Richard Sightings
July 20, 2015
Soon after my beloved son Richard died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism at age 46 in September of 2014, my family and I began experiencing what we call ‘Richard Sightings’. For us, a ‘sighting’ is a coincidence or synchronicity that reminds us of him or causes us to feel his presence. Richard was my only child. His death was my worst nightmare. It hasn’t been easy to move from my worst fear, heart-break, pain, suffering, and anger, to feelings of love, support and connection. Twenty years prior, I experienced another sudden tragedy when my stepson Logan was killed in a […]
Sherry Cassedy: Spiritual Journey After the Loss of a Son
July 17, 2015
This Open to Hope Radio show episode showcases the interview of Sherry Cassedy, JD, MA by Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley. Dr. Cassedy has practiced law for nearly 30 years, and owns a mediation/private judging practice in the Palo Alto area. A certified yoga instructor, she excels in combining yoga philosophy with spiritual guidance in her practice. Her son, Tim, died when he was 20 years old in a skateboarding accident. However, Tim didn’t die instantly—Dr. Cassedy’s family was able to stay with him in the hospital overnight before his death. She chose to donate his organs, and says, “It […]
Neal Raisman: Finding Hope After Child Loss
July 16, 2015
Dr. Neal Raisman lives in Columbus, Oh where his surviving daughter, two grandchildren and son-in-law live. He is a consultant to colleges and universities in topics of academic customer service and retaining students. He is the author of Standing on One Leg: 70 Pieces on Death, Grief and Finding Balance about his son Isaac who died of meningitis at the age of 26. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/OpenToHope_NealRaisman.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Finding Hope After Child Loss: Sukey Forbes
July 9, 2015
Sukey Forbes is the founder and president of an art, antiques, and interior design company and a blogger for The Huffington Post. She is the author of The Angel in My Pocket a deeply personal story of losing her young daughter, Charlotte, to a rare genetic disorder. She and her family split their time between Boston, MA and Mill Valley, CA https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/OpenToHope_SukeyForbes.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Memoir of a Spirit
July 6, 2015
Many of us grapple with the thought of our own mortality. It’s a frightening unknown cloaked in mystery, but it doesn’t have to be. My son, Erik, took his own life just after his 20th birthday. Since he was 14 years old, he struggled with severe bipolar disease. On top of this, he had odd tics and learning disabilities, and all of this caused him to be target of bullies, even teachers. Of course my family and I were devastated, and my grief was compounded by the fact that I was raised by atheists so I didn’t even know whether […]
What is Strength in the Face of Grief?
June 26, 2015
“You’re so strong.” If you’ve suffered the devastating loss of a loved one, you’ve probably heard the phrase. I certainly have after the death of my 4-year-old daughter, Margareta, in 2009. But what does it really mean, anyway? What exactly is the definition of strength in the wake of a loved one’s death? Chances are if you ask a griever and a non-griever that question, you’ll get very different perspectives and very different underlying meanings. When people have told me how strong I am after the death of my daughter – and many people have – they sincerely mean it […]
Miriam Greenspan: The Wisdom of Grief
June 18, 2015
Psychotherapist and author Miriam Greenspan was born in a displaced-persons camp in southern Germany shortly after World War II. She is the mother of a child who died in infancy and has a daughter with multiple disabilities. Her most recent book is Healing through the Dark Emotions: The Wisdom of Grief, Fear, and Despair. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/01-OpenToHope_MiriamGreenspan.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
A Father ‘Hears From’ His Deceased Son on Father’s Day
June 15, 2015
Hi Dad, I have been thinking awhile of what I would write to you on Father’s Day, what I want to tell you, as well as what you need to hear. For Father’s Day, a day that you have never embraced since the loss of your father so long ago, God has finally let me write you this letter. Of course, it is your fingers doing the typing – but by all means, these are my words and thoughts – to you. First of all, I know you miss me terribly, and I know you will never get over that […]
