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.

Pain and Love are Synonymous Sisters
I don't remember the first time I saw you in any other way than a vague memory. A snapshot that may have been constructed later, simply from what I had been told. Or maybe it is authentically my own. I'd like to think that. A piece uncovered from my subconscious. And if that's true, were you wearing a surgical mask? Is that just how I imagine it should be or is this image really mine? It would be my first memory of you, and I swear I do remember, yet I'll never know.
By M.C. Murphy 4 years ago in Families
In Honor of my Father, Dr Abakpa Benedict Ameh (1951-2021).
It has been a year since mum and I were on the phone praying for daddy to stay with us...a year since my big brother softly said from the other end of the phone line "Daddy's gone".
By Test4 years ago in Families
Is there Normalcy after Losing a Best Friend?
You see all the necklaces and bracelets that coin the term “best friends forever”. But is that really true? I used to think that it was. I had a best friend for over 20 years and now the only time we speak is when she sends me the occasional text message asking for money. You might think it is easy just to text back, no. However, it is literally the hardest thing for me to do. I loved my best friend like the sister I never had. That was until she opened the door to addiction. She quickly became addicted to many different illegal substances. Knowing that is not my life, I Just as quickly distanced myself from her.
By #KristinaWrites4 years ago in Families
Stillborn
Alexei looked at me, surprised. "Are you sure you feel like it?" "I'll be OK," I replied, stumbling to the closet to fumble through my clothes. Somehow I was able to find a pair of navy blue maternity pants and a white shirt. I put them on and followed Alexei out to the van.
By Angela Denise Fortner Roberts4 years ago in Families
Introducing a special woman I loved dearly
Verna S. Kessler, 100, of Roanoke, passed away Monday June 2, 2008, when the angels came and took her hand and took her home to her Lord. She is preceded in death by her husband, Boyd Kessler, and stepson, Sherman Kessler. Mrs. Kessler was a member of Belmont Christian Church. She is survived by her sons, Julian Lynwood Hinchee and wife, Carolyn, of Vinton, and Lawrence Edward Hinchee Sr. and wife, Wanda, of Blue Ridge; stepsons, Richard Kessler and Raymond Kessler, both of Vinton; five grandchildren, Lawrence Hinchee Jr., Angela Hinchee, Ricky Hinchee, Timothy Hinchee, Brian Hinchee; four step grandchildren, Beverly Bean, Sherry Moore, Barry Dickerson and Lisa Toney; nine great-grandchildren; nine step great-grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; and three step great-greatgrandchildren. Graveside funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 4, 2008, in Evergreen Burial Park with the Rev. Bobby Harris officiating.
By Lawrence Edward Hinchee4 years ago in Families
An Open Ended Letter to My Father
There were so many things I left unsaid, the day you left. I wanted to tell you I was afraid. I wanted to tell you that I needed you, that I really wasn’t prepared for this. But I didn’t. I was your strength when you were scared, I was relief for when it became too much. In retrospect, I gave so little of my time. I thought, foolishly, that we would have more time to visit and talk about innocuous, unimportant things. I thought, naively, that there was going to be a time where you were cancer free, somewhere in the future. Even as each medication made you weaker, and yet the cells grew stronger. Even as you stumbled, confused, against the wall. Even as I drove you to the emergency room, the last time you ever went back. Even as I said goodbye, leaving you sitting in the hospital room all alone to face one of the toughest decisions of your life.
By Tatyana Tieken4 years ago in Families
Life without "MOM"
I had six weeks to prepare for my mother's death. That's 42 days or 1,008 hours, depending on how you want to look at it. But, I learned in those six weeks is it doesn't matter if you have one day or one year, there is no time in the world that can prepare you for the absolute devastation you feel when you a lose a loved one.
By mahi choudhary4 years ago in Families
I've Been Meaning To Write...
I’ve been meaning to write. Even that simple sentence isn’t simple. I’ve been meaning to write anything. You understand what it's like when you're not writing. You were a poet, a wordsmith. Sure, you were humble about your writing, and I am sure that you would demure if I said as much, but even your jokey way of telling a story or proposing an outrageous deal was an art form. Nobody made me laugh like you did.
By Allison Rice4 years ago in Families
How I Survived the Most Painful Year of My Life
February 2021 Dad’s breathing had turned erratic and laboured. Mum was by his bedside, wiping the sweat from his brows with a damp flannel.
By Rhea Dyuti4 years ago in Families
Love And Loss In The Prime Of Your Life
The poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, famously said “Tis better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.” Now I don’t know the first thing about romance and I’ll gladly admit that, so if that’s what you’re looking for, now’s the time to turn back. For those of you still reading on, allow me to tell you what I do know: Love and Loss.
By Isa Nan4 years ago in Families
An Orange Goodbye
The day of my grandmothers memorial, was not as somber as one would think. A full day on the beach would keep everyone in high spirits don’t you think? Of course, I cried every time I looked to the ocean and caught a glimpse of a lonely dolphin passing by. Dolphins were her thing. Oceans, were her thing. Her home was filled with glass dolphins and shells collected from very frequent trips to that happy sand filled place.
By Nyx4 years ago in Families
Daddy
I got the text at noon, I think. From my stepmom. Daddy was in the hospital. "It's his heart", she told me. "Call your sister," she said. "And come. He may not last very long."
By Elizabeth Ramsey4 years ago in Families