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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Echoes of Earlier Losses
May 8, 2025
Echoes of Earlier Losses Unfortunately, many of us have experienced compound grief from multiple losses – either more than one sibling, a child/sibling, sibling/parent, sibling/grandchild, or partner/child. The death of my father three decades after losing my beloved sisters Margie and Jane, triggered feelings I kept dormant. When Margie and Jane died, I didn’t know what grief was. Siblings are the forgotten mourners and take on the role of caretakers. I fast tracked life, ignoring my own grief. I don’t recall Margie and Jane’s funerals. With my father, the experience was totally different. I was present for his last breath, […]
Caring for Surviving Siblings
May 2, 2025
Caring for Surviving Siblings A decade ago, I was fortunate to meet Heidi Horsley, a fellow surviving sibling and philanthropist. We bonded immediately. After years of being alone in my grief, I was grateful to connect with individuals who understand, are compassionate, speak the same language, and are members of the same club. Thanks to Heidi, who is executive director of Open to Hope, this year marks a decade of me contributing articles for this website. Writing became a vital tool in my grief journey. The process began with journaling, progressed to articles, and ultimately a memoir. I never dreamed […]
How Many Siblings Do You Have?
April 28, 2025
How Many Siblings Do You Have? “How many siblings do you have?” It is a dreaded question asked of many a surviving sibling. When I’m asked, my heart thumps out of my chest. I sense the heat rising on my face and struggle to breathe. How do I answer? For me, the answer has changed over time. When asked, decades after I lost my sisters, I still experience the tremor in my body. Regardless of how ready I believe myself to be, the experience leaves me reeling when asked. After my younger sister Jane died in 1981, was I now […]
Honoring Sibling Loss
March 24, 2025
Honoring Sibling Loss The discussion centers on the deep pain and continuing impact of losing a sibling. The conversation gathers heartfelt stories, personal reflections, and practical advice from those who have experienced such a loss. The dialogue touches on the challenges of grief, how sibling loss shapes personal identity, and ways to remember those who have passed. The speakers share how these losses have altered the course of their lives and offer inspiration for others dealing with similar emotions. Sharing Personal Journeys Several individuals recount their experiences with sibling loss. Among the speakers is a host who is a doctor, […]
Lynn Shattuck and Alyson Shelton: Sibling Loss; The Loss of a Lifetime
March 20, 2025
Trying to cope with the loss of a sibling? Join Dr’s Gloria and Heidi Horsley and their guests bereaved siblings Lynn Shattuck and Alyson Shelton. Lynn has been publishing essays on sibling loss for more than a decade. Alyson has published widely at outlets including the NY Times. Lynn and Alyson are Co Authors of an essay collection entitled: The Loss of a Lifetime: Advice from Grieving Siblings on Loss, Love and Hope. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Lynn-Shattuck-and-Alyson-Shelton_-Sibling-Loss-The-Loss-of-a-Lifetime.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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To Lose a Twin
March 4, 2025
To Lose a Twin I was taken captive by life and death at the age of twenty-one. My identical twin sister Paula and I faced life together for twenty-one years. We never imagined life without the other. As twins, we had an unspoken pact to care for one another. When she died suddenly in a small plane crash, I questioned who I was in the world without her. Could I even function in life without my twin? Our losses are as unique and personal as our love. All bereavement experiences are different. For me, grieving for my sister came many […]
Julie Ryan: Communicating With Spirits
February 13, 2025
Have you wondered what a deceased pet or loved one would say if they could speak? Join Dr’s Heidi and Gloria Horsley and their guest Julie Ryan Psychic Medium and Medical Intuitive. Julie is a businesswoman, inventor, author, podcaster, and a serial entrepreneur. She is the author of Angelic Attendants and Julie’s Angel Messages books. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Julie-Ryan_-Communicating-With-Spirits.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Episode 235: Navigating Loss
December 20, 2024
Losses are complicated, how do we navigate them? Join hosts Dr. Gloria Horsley and her daughter Dr. Heidi Horsley and their guests; Julie Ryan, Sarah Voleman and Dr. Korie Leigh to talk about navigating loss. Julie Ryan is a Medical Intuitive. She is the author of, Angelic Attendants: What Really Happens As We Transition From This Life Into The Next, and Angel Messages, picture books answering kids’ tough questions. Julie hosts the “Ask Julie Ryan” show which is heard by millions worldwide. Sarah Voleman is a board certified art therapist and a licensed social worker. She is a faculty member […]
Symon Braun Freck: A Journey into End of Life Care
December 5, 2024
Would you like to know how to find hope after loss? Join Dr. Heidi Horsley and her guest Symon Braun Freck to discuss this question. Symon is the founder of SBF Creative, a creative consulting firm. She also founded AI Death Doula, a start-up dedicated to making end-of-life care practices accessible. Her journey into end-of-life care began at the age of 12 as a hospice volunteer. She is focused on how technology can empower individuals to make autonomous end-of-life care decisions, and how it can help bring death care and funeral care back into the home. Visit Symon Braun Freck […]
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