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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Five Tips After the Death of a Child
December 18, 2024
Five Tips After the Death of a Child From the moment you get the news that your child has died, you are thrust into a surreal world. People are calling—including doctors, nurses, detectives, police, coroners, and funeral directors. You are disoriented, yet there are decisions that require your attention and macabre tasks you must attend to. Most of us rise to the occasion and react later. When you look back, you will undoubtedly wonder, “How did I get through that?” You will also be emotionally and physically confused for a long time. Take care of your mind and body and […]
Making the Most of Your Bedside Visits: Tips for Patients
December 18, 2024
Making the Most of Bedside Visits Whether you are convalescing at home or are in a hospital or other facility right now, there are some simple things you can do with a loved one or companion – that will feel good and also help you to heal. In the hospital setting, you may be in the care of a physical therapist. Such a specialist can help you work wonders on the way towards recovery. But the demands on their time are such that your needs for physical exercise cannot be met by them alone. Time is of the essence here; […]
Finding my Safe Spot: Going out While Grieving
December 16, 2024
Finding my Safe Spot I arrived at my annual software conference around 8am, the time the doors were scheduled to be open. I went into the amphitheater and immediately saw that the back-row corner seat was taken – damn. That is my safe seat. I own the back corner seat no matter where I go. So I did the unthinkable – I moved the bag over to the second chair and I settled into the end chair of the fifth row. That is my safe spot, my safe place at these conferences and meetings. I have come to learn that […]
Understanding Pregnancy Loss: One Mother’s Journey of Love and Grief
December 15, 2024
The profound impact of pregnancy loss often goes unspoken in society, yet it affects countless families each year. Through the story of Lindsey Henke, a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist, we gain insight into the complex journey of loss, grief, and healing that follows the death of a baby. A Life-Changing Moment In 2012, Lindsey Henke experienced what no expectant parent should ever face. After a seemingly normal 40-week pregnancy with her daughter Nora, she noticed reduced fetal movement the night before her scheduled delivery. Upon arrival at the hospital, Lindsey and her husband received devastating news: their baby […]
Black is the Color of Death
December 12, 2024
Black is the Color of Death I am sure you have seen them, and maybe even wear one or two – those different color silicone awareness bracelets – and they all have their own meaning. Camouflage to support the troops. Orange for Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus and Melanoma. Silver for Dyslexia. And on and on. Black, the color I focus on, is for mourning, POW/MIA, and for some reason Restless Leg Syndrome and Colitis. Matt and I were talking about the black bracelet and what it means to us, the bereaved parents of military personnel, and why black. We both agreed […]
Practical Strategies for Holiday Survival
December 11, 2024
The holiday season can be particularly challenging for those who have lost loved ones. In a heartfelt discussion on the Open to Hope Conversations podcast, Dr. Gloria Horsley and her daughters, Dr. Heidi Horsley and Rebecca Barra, shared their personal experiences and professional insights about managing grief during the holidays. Understanding Holiday Grief The first holiday season after losing a family member often proves to be the most difficult. Rebecca Barra, who lost her father four years ago, initially resisted setting up holiday decorations or participating in festivities. Despite having four children, she struggled with acknowledging the holidays without her […]
For Widows Navigating Finances
December 9, 2024
The journey through widowhood presents unique financial challenges that many individuals find themselves unprepared to face. During a recent Open to Hope Conversations podcast, financial expert Kathleen Real shared valuable insights about helping widows navigate their financial futures after losing their partners. Understanding the Three Stages of Widowhood Real, author of “Moving Forward on Your Own: A Financial Guidebook for Widows,” outlines three distinct stages that most widows experience: Grief Stage: Characterized by shock and emotional turmoil, making it difficult to make clear financial decisions Growth Stage: A period of normalization when widows begin to take control of their financial […]
Faith is Like Insurance When a Loved One Dies
December 5, 2024
Faith is Like Insurance The summer of 2011 will be remembered as a season of violent storms and will be marked by many lives that were turned upside down by the havoc of mother nature. Tornados ravaged Alabama. Hurricane Irene washed the east coast and 11 states with flooding and chaos. Winds and driving rain ravaged the country creating destruction; and flood waters broke records from half-century ago. People were trapped in their homes. Rescue crews worked to dig through the rubble for survivors or bodies of those not so fortunate. The devastation was so widespread that it took days […]
Finding Hope Through Breathwork
December 2, 2024
Finding Hope Through Breathwork Grief is a universal experience, yet it is deeply personal. It touches every corner of our lives, reshaping our identities, relationships, and even our understanding of the world. For some, it comes like a tidal wave, sudden and overpowering. For others, it settles in slowly, like a fog that doesn’t lift. No matter how grief manifests, it often brings questions we don’t know how to answer: How do I move forward? Can I ever feel whole again? As someone who has walked this path, I’ve learned that grief doesn’t just affect the heart or mind—it takes […]
