grief
Losing a family member is one of the most traumatic life events; Families must support one another to endure the five stages of grief and get through it together.
The Day My World Fell Apart
When I was 21 years old I got pregnant. I was in shock and disbelief. What am I going to with a child? I am a child myself. I didn’t know what to do or where to turn. I called out of work the next day. My mother got home that evening and asked me what are you doing home? I froze. My heart was racing. I said as quick as I could I’m pregnant. I was scared at what she would say. I ran in my room crying. She followed me in and said WHAT?! I was overwhelmed with emotions. So I got up the gumption and it came out like word vomit I’m pregnant. She just stared at me with a look of fear, confusion, and disbelief. She said make an appointment with the doctor.Then she just turned around and walked out.
Ashley DinsmorePublished 7 years ago in FamiliesChildren's Grief Awareness Day 2017: What Do Grieving Children Need?
Grief, as most of us know, is a very tricky thing. Some want to talk about it. Others, for fear of breaking down or somehow seeming "weak," don't. Our youngest members of society have it particularly rough, as they often take their cues from us about how to act and react when it comes to loss. Loss is an unavoidable part of our lives; whether we are discussing death of a loved one or beloved pet, or a loss of an important relationship in our lives, we all cope with loss in different ways.
Christina St-JeanPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesThe Day My Heart Broke
"No one... No parent should ever have to bury their child." I've heard this statement throughout my life. Never knowing that I would have a true understanding of that phrase. Yes, I had to endure that dull ache in my heart that will forever be embedded there. It didn't seem fair, it still doesn't. How can someone only experience 5 years on this Earth? How could God do this? It just seemed cruel. I had so much anger in my heart at that time. I was confused, I was scared, I was lost in my own mind. My days were full of darkness. How was I to tell my other children that their sister would not be coming home? How could I make them understand when I didn't even understand it myself? God, why would you leave me with this task of breaking their hearts? God, how could you take my baby from me??
LaKisha JeterPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesStar Man — Processing Loss
“My greatest fear in life now, is to get to an age where I can say ‘It has been 23 years since I lost my Dad.’ To live the same amount of life without my Dad as I did together.”
Matt AmisonPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesWhat Is Family
What is family to you? To me it isn't always the people of your blood. I grew up believing the man raising me was my father until I was 11yrs old. A girl who was supposed to be my friend got mad and told me she heard our moms talking. Honestly it didn't matter to me that he wasn't my biological dad, because he was my daddy. He had raised me. After my oldest was born he moved to Florida and vanished. A family friend hired someone and had him found after my youngest sister died in a car crash. He came home shortly after that. I won’t lie, I was angry at that point, he left all of us and my youngest sister didn't even see him. I felt like he had betrayed us, betrayed me. But I finally talked with him and told him all this, and he told me why he vanished. Years ago he found out he had lung cancer. He fought a long time, even made it to remission, but when it came back years later it was too much. He didn't have the strength to do chemo or radiation again. My children meet him for the first time then. We made peace and when he became ill the second time and decided no more treatment I was OK with that. I rushed my children to meet their grandfather, and he them. For the first time in forever (we were little kids) our dad had all of his daughters (cause that is all he had) in one room together. It was also the first time my sisters had meet all 4 of my children together. It was a very sad time but also bitter-sweet. My daddy lived a few months more and during that time I spoke to him every day and my sister Crystal stayed with him every day. When it came to the point he couldn't talk any longer, or he was sleeping all the time, Crystal or the nurses would hold the phone to his ear just so I could say I love you daddy and thank you for being my dad. Crystal was the only one with him when he passed she took his last breath into herself.
Theresa HarringtonPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesSurviving Suicide
So it has been precisely one year, three months, and sixteen days since my younger brother hung himself in his apartment on a sunny day in late July. Right now as I start writing this, I am listening to a cover of "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd. I do wish you were here. I think about you every single day. The depression and PTSD I have developed since your death make sure I remember you in the most painful of ways. I remember your voice as I hear it in my head, but it feels like it hits my eardrums like actual sound, I turn to my friend who looks at me questioningly because no one has said anything as I ask "Yah, what?"
Amethyst PearsonPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesAn Important Part of My Life - My Brother Lee's Death
On Monday 29th July 2013 I went to the Mencap Summer Scheme with my brother Lee. He had been feeling fine all day until that night when he started to complain about feeling out of breath. He went on the nebuliser to try to normalise his breathing but a few minutes later Lee collapsed. He had suffered an aggressive asthma attack. My dad tried to carry out CPR on Lee while my mum called an ambulance. Once it arrived the paramedics took over from my Dad and Lee was sent to Antrim Area Hospital.
Eoin CampbellPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesIn Loving Memory
I've always been afraid of dying. In fact, absolutely petrified. It's one thing in life we are all sure of but never prepared for, even when it's expected. It never seems a fair part of life at whatever age we go.
Kirsty 'Adie' McKayPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesThe Day My World Was Shattered
“Sorry for your loss…” I’ve always hated when people say that crap at funerals. Of course you’re sorry, someone just died. I mean what is that? As if I didn’t already feel terrible and unhappy for the death of the most important person in my life. I don’t mean to be rude, and of course I accept every stupid “sorry” from people who want to express their sympathy for my family and me, but Jesus Christ it just makes me feel worse. Sorry, I don’t exactly know how to deal with grief. I’m working on it, okay?
Blue Jay
The road to the Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota seemed like it went on for an eternity. I was four, and I could not grasp the significance of what was happening. Although I do not remember everything, I know it was the end of 2002 or the beginning of 2003. The adults would only tell me that Jay was sick, so I did not understand why this was such a big deal to everyone. The hospital was tremendous and was filled with many different rooms. The ceilings towered high above me. Years later, it felt strange going back to the Children's Hospital and realizing how small it actually is. That day, we were going to visit my 10-year-old cousin.
Almárëa LaurësilPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesMy Other Baby
I went out to the local bar on my 20th birthday, I had a feeling that I was pregnant. But with only doing the baby making deed on days that I was not ovulating, I thought it was near impossible of actually happening.
Annie ButtonPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesLight
September 3, 2017 The Initiative. July 24, 1987 I had turned 9 nearly two months prior and as I held a balloon that my mom had given me earlier that day during the parade, I sat on the side of the hill at Liberty Park awaiting the fireworks that were scheduled to start in the next few minutes.
Wendy FinauPublished 7 years ago in Families