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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Judy Lipson: Death of a Sibling
October 8, 2015
Judy Lipson lost her sister Jane at age 22 in 1981 in an automobile accident, and sister Margie at age 35 in 1990. Judy suppressed her grief for 30 years and five years ago began the journey to mourn for her beloved sisters.’ She is an advocate for adult sibling loss, and does an annual ice skating fundraiser Celebration of Sisters in memory of her sisters. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/OpenToHope_JudyLipson.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Episode 50: Family Dynamics When Dealing With Loss
October 4, 2015
On this show Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley interview the Ferber family: Dorothy, the mom, David, the dad, and their son, Jordon who talk openly about the death of their son and brother, Russell, and how his death impacted their lives. They also talk about how they have honored his name through The Compassionate Friends and forming the Russell Ferber Foundation. Jordon Ferber facilitates a sibling loss group and also hosts the podcast “Where’s The Grief”.
The Day I Lost My Oxygen…and How I Got It Back
October 1, 2015
“I’m sorry, but there was nothing we could do…she’s gone,” the doctor stated in a professional tone of voice on that life-changing Thanksgiving morning. I felt as though my stomach and heart had been knocked out of me, then after the initial shock, as though I couldn’t breathe at all. It felt as though grief and life had knocked my breath out of me and took all of my oxygen away. I was only 19 when my 22 year-old sister, Melody, died on Thanksgiving Day, but I wasn’t new to grief. I had already experienced the devastating deaths of my […]
Remembering Izzy
September 30, 2015
It was a baby rat. Recently, after years of contemplating the possibility, I obtained two adult rats as pets. They were potentially to be used as live examples in the psychology classes I taught, and in a fun way—treats all around! A day after I received the rats, the previous owner informed me that one of the 5-month-old females “might” be pregnant. Two weeks later, that possibility became a reality. Ten baby rats emerged, and all were seemingly healthy and active. They were cute, to say the least. As they grew, it became obvious that one in the litter was […]
Erika Barber: Navigating Life Stages Post Sibling Death
September 29, 2015
Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley talk with Erika Barber about her experience with losing a sibling. Barber enjoyed life with her sister for 15 years, but after her sister committed suicide, Barber found herself lost. It’s been a lifelong exploration to define who she is without her sister’s physical presence. She wrote Letters from a Friend: A Sibling’s Guide for Coping and Grief to help others in similar situations, but also to help herself work through the unique challenges of suddenly being without a sibling. Barber’s sister was five years older than her and served in the role of “big […]
Humor and grief: Jordon Ferber
September 24, 2015
Jordon Ferber is a 14 year veteran of the New York comedy scene, as well as being a bereaved sibling. He has been seen on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, NBC’s The Restaurant and is a regular on The Joey Reynolds Show on WOR. He is the sibling facilitator of Manhattan chapter of The Compassionate Friends and writes for the chapter newsletter. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/OpenToHope_JordanFerber.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Siblings: The Forgotten Mourners
September 18, 2015
Episode 24 of The Open to Hope show features Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley interviewing Dana Brophy and Zander Sprague. Brophy is the daughter of Alan Pedersen, the Executive Director of The Compassionate Friends. She lost her brother, Sean, and knows all too well how disenfranchised sibling loss can be. Like many siblings, she hid her feelings in order to protect her parents. So much of the time, the focus is on the parents when a child dies, but a sibling takes on a huge responsibility—all while feeling like they’ve lost someone they were “guaranteed” to spend their life with. […]
Dana Brophy: Siblings the Forgotten Mourners
September 16, 2015
Dana Brophy is the daughter of Alan Pedersen, Executive Director of The Compassionate Friends. Her personal experience with sibling loss has unfortunately made Brophy an expert on sibling loss. Her brother, Sean, died when he was 21 in a car accident. He was her only sibling and, even though she wasn’t a young child when he died, she found herself in the unique situation of suddenly having very protective parents. Her family is involved with Angels Across the USA, and Alan is a singer-songwriter who now specializes in grief music and performances. “Sean was a very fun, hilarious guy,” Dana […]
Siblings Forgotten Mourners
August 29, 2015
When Dr. Heidi Horsley was in college, she lost her 17-year-old brother Scott in a car accident. “The loss was so severe for me and the pain was so great, I honestly didn’t know how I was going to survive or if I even wanted to.” She remembers the early years, and how many people told her she needed to be strong for her parents. Not only was that advice unhelpful, but it was also hurtful. Today, as an industry expert on grief and loss, Dr. Horsley shares the best tips for coping and healing when you experience a loss. […]
