Grief Digest Articles

As I slowly faded away on the couch with the T.V. blurring to white noise and Aurora’s, our 13-year-old Maltese, furry back arched against my leg, Sue whispered softly into my ear, “Why don’t you go up, babe.” I gradually opened my eyes but in the haze I didn’t see her. For a brief moment I was confused. So I dragged myself up the stairs—Aurora following right behind—and slid into bed. Sue would repeat those words almost every night as she spot-checked me to see if I was still awake. She, on the …

January 22, 2019 marks ten years since my beautiful Jenna died. In many ways it feels like she was just here—I remember her last days with us so clearly—but it also feels like it’s been an eternity since I kissed my little girl goodbye. She was only five years, six months, and twenty days old. As time goes by, I miss her more. I wonder who she would be. This quote by Jodi Gilliland resonates in my heart: “The death of your child is a loss you never get over—it just becomes part of who you are.” …

Walking alongside T through his cancer treatment and finally his death was the most deeply devastating, heart shattering and painful experience of my life and the boys. And, it was the most precious, meaningful, experience as well. Life was simple in the sense that nothing else mattered but time with him. Moments of simply being. Soaking up each touch, breathe and sound with him. Death sat with us each day at our family table. Sitting in the reality of the fine line between life and death. It …

When my daughter was stillborn, friends and family reached out in countless thoughtful ways to show that they cared. They brought meals to fill our bellies, sent cards to offer condolences, and gifted trinkets to help us remember Charlotte. The overwhelming majority of those well-wishers suggested that she would "be in our hearts forever". This metaphor is truly a beautiful one: I will hold my child in my heart by honoring her existence and she will live on as I revisit those few, but meaningful …

I first met Matt and Dylan at a summer soccer camp when I was in 3rd grade many years ago. My family had just moved to this new town, and I knew nobody. My shy demeanor and sheepish personality certainly weren’t helping me in the friends’ category either. During that first summer, I attended a soccer camp where I met Dylan and Matt. We instantly became best friends. There was no defining moment, it just happened. We aptly named ourselves, The Three Musketeers, and we became inseparable much to t …