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 First Support Group Meeting
August 27, 2009
By Monica Novak – When our daughter Miranda was stillborn 14 years ago, despite the love and support from family and friends, my husband Al and I often felt a strange aloneness, as if we were existing in another world emotionally separated from everything and everyone around us. My saving grace became the local Share support group, a place where everyone understood. It’s sometimes difficult to build up the courage to attend your first support group meeting – it was for us – but the benefits are innumerable and immeasurable. You’re about to read the first chapter of my book, […]
Jullian Quinn: Bouncing Back After Loss
August 27, 2009
Jullian Quinn is the host of the weekly radio show, Bouncing Back. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2010/10/Jullian-Quinn-082709.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Back to School Time Can Be Difficult
August 26, 2009
By Monica Novak – It was July and summer was still in full-swing when the seasonal patio furniture began to quietly disappear from local stores. I knew what was coming, but said nothing. Before long, the signs and bins began going up, and children either delighted or groaned. Parents, too, either delighted or groaned. Back to School clothes and supplies were arriving and the ads were everywhere. But this annual ritual can be a painful reminder for some. Parents who lost a baby three years ago don’t get to shop for the first backpack, something small and cute with ponies […]
Angel of Hope Memorial
August 25, 2009
By Carol O’Dell — Amelia Island, FL, has an angel. It stands just past the intersection of 8th and Atlantic. The childlike face lifts toward the sky, arms outstretched as though holding something invisible, and bronzed wings gleam against the stark Florida sun. The inscription at the bottom of the statue reads, “Angel of Hope.” It is encircled by a short brick wall and eight benches with a loved one’s name on each one. I found this “Angel of Hope” one afternoon on a photography/bike trek around the island. I stopped to take a picture and began to read. The inscription […]
Grief Groups vs Reading Books
August 22, 2009
by Sandy Fox Why do some bereaved parents go to a grief group? 1. We need to be with people who understand what we are going through. Only someone who has been there can identify with us completely. 2. We will find new friends and closer bonds than we ever thought possible. 3. We can be ourselves there. We can cry when we need to and not worry about being embarrassed. We can hug others whether we know the person or not. 4. We need to talk to someone who is a good listener as we remember our children and […]
Sand Dollar Helps Mom Deal With Tidal Waves in Life
August 21, 2009
The creamy white sand dollars felt velvety and cool moving through my fingers. I had removed them from the kitchen windowsill, attempting to examine them more closely. I was hoping to discover something new about them, hoping to learn why they are so good at surviving constant changes. Sand dollars, introduced to me by my now-deceased son, have spawned many stories. “Legends of the Sand Dollar” is the tale of five doves that live inside a sand dollar; when the sand dollar is opened, it spreads good will and peace. Equally sweet is another legend that declares that sand dollars are mermaid’s money, […]
Grief Happens: Taking the Risk to Bloom After a Loss
August 21, 2009
Life and death give us lessons to learn everyday. If we’re aware, we notice the lessons in the media, on bumper stickers; in conversations and through our experiences, but what do we do with them? Do we heed them and heal ourselves by making different life choices? Or do we choose to stay stuck in our chosen state causing our own “death” in our grief? Often, we become so accustomed to life’s bombardment of information that we choose to view life from our surface level of involvement. We notice the signs, “Accidents Happen,” “Divorce Happens,” “S— Happens,” “Change Happens,” but […]
Mother of Ill Child Dealing With Anticipatory Grief
August 21, 2009
Question from Trish: I am the mother of a 6-year-old with Duchenne MD. His life expectancy is 20 years old. I am also an LPC intern (I currently work as a crisis counselor for hurricane victims in south Louisiana). I am interested in specializing in grief, learning more about anitcipatory grief, and assisting other families that are dealing with expected loss. I see anticipatory grief as largely overlooked in the grief and loss field. What are the best resources for those experiencing anticipatory grief? Marty Tousley, CNS-BC, FT, responds: My dear Trish: I’m so sorry to learn of your son’s serious illness, […]
Moon Walk Memories
August 21, 2009
When we hear the term “moon walk,” our minds immediately think of entertainer Michael Jackson and his famous dance that has become a classic. But there is a literal “moon walk,” and a few days ago, it was 40 years since man landed on the moon, July 20, 1969. That anniversary brought back a torrent of memories, most of which made me sit in disbelief that so much time has passed so quickly and my life has changed in ways I could never have imagined, both good and bad. I know where I was at the moment they landed on the […]
