Grief Digest Articles

Nothing in my fourteen-year hospice career ever could have prepared me for June 9, 2005, when my mother and my two adult children were flown to Shock Trauma in critical condition following a motor vehicle accident. I was not prepared for the “save life at all cost” philosophy or the total disregard of my mother’s advanced directives. I was not permitted at the bedside or even informed that she was dying.Locked down on the first floor waiting room, my husband, my brother and I had no access or up …

The day you died, something inside of me died, too.With no inner flame to light the way,I am greeted by an endless night,dampened in your absence,and darkened by the lack of light.The day you died, I lost a part of me forever.I wander aimlessly with no direction.I am a broken compass, all aloneon a journey without end,on a path that leads me far from home.The day you died, I lost a listener and a friend.I search for understanding and warmth,but my cries are hushed by distanced stares,An empty ro …

It was Tuesday morning, May 23, 2004; the time was 7:00 a.m. The first dad arrived and seated himself at a corner table in the coffee shop of an Indianapolis hotel. A second dad walked into the room, saw the person he was looking for and sat down at the same table. A third dad entered saw the other two and pulled up a chair. Although the three dads had met before, they didn’t really know each other.Jerry’s son, Jason, had died just one week after 9/11, and for a couple of months he had attended …

Six Simple Steps to Grief ReliefFor years, I have studied and offered healing techniques to those who grieve as a way to help ease the daily pain that is the companion of loss. Recently life created the unwelcome opportunity for me to witness the power of this process from the inside out. We all will suffer at least one loss during our lifetime. Each loss carries with it different circumstances, but there are still some strategies we can use to help us cope and heal. Here are some steps to take …

Have you ever stood outside, with your head tilted back and your mouth open wide, trying to catch a snowflake? Snowflakes fall everywhere—on your hair, your chin, your eyelashes, even your nose, and some even manage to land on the very tip of your tongue, only to vanish before you can really get a taste.Each snowflake is a completely different design and pattern. No two are ever created exactly the same. It is a mystery that continues to delight “snow catchers” everywhere. There are very few thi …