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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Comfort
March 30, 2009
by Sandy Fox Time heals…she is in a better place…she is still with you…you should exercise every day…there, now, don’t you feel better? No, I don’t, and neither do you if you have lost a child. Our grief is with us always and there is nothing that will make it go away or make us forget. We will always be devastated, but eventually we learn to live again. In her newest book, Comfort, Ann Hood takes us on a journey with her 5-year-old daughter, Grace, who died suddenly from strep throat, a journey for Hood that will no doubt last […]
Mentioning Deceased Child’s Name is a Gift to Mom
March 30, 2009
by Sandy Fox — I often think of an afternoon stage production I attended with five friends because it confirms to me that my child lives on in other hearts as well as mine. While waiting on line to get in to the production, I saw an old aquaintance whose chidren knew my daughter Marcy. The mother, Yetta, and her son Mark were there to see the production also. Mark’s wife wrote it and stars in it. After saying hello to Yetta, I was introduced to her son. “Mark, this is Sandy Fox. Do you remember Sandy’s daughter, Marcy Finerman? […]
Springtime…cleaning and remembering
March 28, 2009
by Sandy Fox Springtime. A time to clean house, clean the yard, and, as I do so, just another season to think about my daughter and how much I miss her. She has been gone now for 15 years. I clean the house, glancing at the boxes in my closet of what is left of her life. It is compacted into a small corner of the closet. There is not much. Some award, some writings, some childhood items, all the lovely notes and remembrances from others, and most of all, the photos. Photos that are worth a thousand words, a […]
Surviving the suicide of my child
March 28, 2009
By Terrye Harris On December 13, 2004, my world shattered into a million pieces. After a 2 year long battle with schizophrenia, my youngest son, Jonathan took his own life at the age of 19. The day Jonathan died, I kept telling myself this is the worst day of my life. Little did I know through the haze of shock that surrounded me,that there would be many more worse days to follow. The first six months, it was all I could do to keep breathing. During this time I believe I could have actually laid down and willed myself to […]
Wristbands Educate Public About Causes of Suicide
March 26, 2009
By Carol Loehr — My son, Keith, was 29 years old when he died by suicide. Suicide is a frightening word and it is not only ignorance but also fear and stigma that keep people from understanding why someone would take their life. In a survey by the USA’s National Institute of Mental Health, it was discovered that 90 percent of Americans who died by suicide suffered from severe depression. Only about half received any treatment, and only half of those who did, received the right treatment. Studies indicate that the most promising way to prevent suicide and suicidal behavior […]
Kathy Eldon: Grief Transformed
March 26, 2009
Kathy has used her grief and work in the media to help make sense of her loss and help others heal. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2009/03/Kathy_Eldon_032609.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Dianne Gray: Grief Transformed
March 26, 2009
Dianne talks about her path in life that lead her to help others in the field of palliative care and hospice. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2010/10/Diane-Grey-032609.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Should Mother Give Deceased Daughter’s Clothes to Someone Else?
March 23, 2009
Question from Mary: I have a friend who lost her daughter at age 10. She now has a step-daughter that age, and my friend is giving her step-daughter her deceased daughter’s toys and other belongings. Is this normal? David Hurley, a contributing writer for Open to Hope, responds: It seems to me that giving her stepdaughter belongings from her deceased daughter is a sign of acceptance for the stepdaughter. Perhaps this mother, like me, has decided that there are no “steps” in her heart. I don’t think there is a “normal” when it comes to activities following the death of […]
Dealing with Grief Triggers After a Loss
March 22, 2009
By Dr. Louis LaGrand — Have you been having a relatively good day after a loss, and then while watching television, see a particular scene and suddenly feel the return of sadness? Or has a newspaper story of the death of a stranger set off sorrowful memories for you? These are moments of “grief triggering,” and are commonly the cause of grieving that can go on for days or longer. Kim Wencl, whose daughter died in a tragic house fire while at college, had the following experience. The bridge collapse in Minneapolis was a trigger for me. It really had […]
