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.
His Note
I wear a sweater today. The kind that’s knitted tightly with cream wool and falls down to the knees and well past my wrists. Perhaps I am hiding something under these sleeves. Perhaps I am masking the damaged skin that puckers when it scars or the calluses on my fingers. Perhaps there is a ring on my third finger that I prefer not to show, or a decrepit black notebook in my arms.
By Tyler Means5 years ago in Families
Inheritance Hunt
I was finally cornered at dads funeral party. Surrounded by idle chatter of those that weren’t scared away by my dad’s last years I had tried to keep conversation with anyone other than Miriam, an older woman hiding from age, clearly using Botox, yet would always deny it if ever mentioned. Confidentially she wore an outfit meant for a younger woman.
By Simon Lane5 years ago in Families
Widow
Norse reached into his pocket and withdrew his small leather bound note book. It was black Italian leather. He posted all his secret thoughts in here. He was battling lung cancer and his new born had just been born a few days ago. He looked at his son in his his wife's Neilas arms, she was smiling holding him and singing a lullaby to sooth the child to sleep. Norse walked over to her and planted a kiss on her head. “ You truly are as beautiful as the first day I met you.” He said. She looked up and smiled. “Norse hes beautiful.” She uttered. Norse worked most of his life for a privet cyber security company. He would code programs tirelessly. He was working on his last contract for the company before he would put in for his retirement. He was fifty-five and had worked most his life.
By Shane Gerry5 years ago in Families
Overcoming Loss
I was born in 1981 to a young couple aged 16 and 17, three years later in 1984 my younger sister Mandy was born. When mandy was coming up for her 6th Birthday she began having headaches that became more frequent and more painful. One night we were awoken by a blood curdling scream it was Mandy. We all got up to see what was wrong, she was rolling around in her bed clutching her head complaining of severe pain. Mandy was given Calpol and a warm towel to wrap around her head, she eventually fell back to sleep. The following morning my mum made an emergency appointment at our GP and Mandy was seen, the GP said she has a head cold and that my mum was to give her plenty fluids and rest. My mum was not happy with this advice her gut told her to take my sister to the Accident and Emergency department at the hospital, so she did. When we arrived my mum was asked a number of questions and then we were seated, we were soon called and once the doctor had examined Mandy he wanted to send her for a scan to ensure nothing was going on inside her brain. It was an emergency scan so it was done quite quickly, we were then asked to take a seat and we would be called again once the consultant had gone over her scan. The time came when we were called back, once seated the Consultant turned his chair, took his glasses off and gave a sigh he said "I am very sorry to break this to you but I am afraid your daughter has a brain tumour the size of a small orange located on her brain stem" my mum looked at him with wide eyes he then said "this type of cancer is not operatable im afraid she is terminally ill" he then went on to say that with chemotherapy and radiotherapy it will prolong her life a little and slow the growth of the tumour but thats it. We were given a card and were told to head straight for Edinburgh to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children so Mandy could start her treatment. My mum dropped me off at my Aunts and she headed to the hospital with Mandy. As a young kid myself I was confused at what had just happened but when it was finally explained to me in terms I understood my heart sank. I asked if she would be okay to be told probably not and that it was important I was strong and be there for my sister, I intended to do just that. Mandy was in hopsital for 6 months and my mum and dad would take turns to be there with her, I was allowed to stay on the weekends when I was not at school. My sister looked pail, her long blonde hair was falling out due to the cancer treatment and she was constantly throwing up and felt tired. It saddened me to see my sister this way but I shed my tears when I was alone so she didnt see how upset I was. I looked forward to my visits with Mandy she would always cheer me up and I had the same affect on her. Mandy had her 6th Birthday in the hospital and I must admit they did a very good job holding her a birthday party, some of the kids in the ward also attended it was nice. After 6 months Mandy was allowed home for a month and then she went back in for 2 months and it was like this until Mandy was almost 7 years old. I looked forward to her coming home she always gave me a big hug and a big smile no matter how frail or unwell she was. She had gained a lot of weight due to the steroids she was taking, 11 medicines she took 4 times per day a lot for a small child and she would always complain that they tasted yucky but she took them regardless. When mandy was in doing one of her hospital stays I was told that she was coming home for good, what they meant though was she was coming home to die. We got baloons and banners, cake, sweets, everything that Mandy loved was waiting on her walking through the door. The time came when she arrived I ran outside to greet her but rather than the smile I was used to I was met with a little girl who barely had the energy to walk up the stairs, she wasnt interested in any of the stuff laid out for her she just wanted to go to her bedroom and lie in her bed, we lay there all day me and her just watching her favourite Walt Disney movies and eating cheese and onion crisp as those were her favourite. Mandy's 7th Birthday was approaching and she wanted a pretty dress so one of my Aunts friends came and measured her and made her, her own pretty dress that she designed herself. December came and Mandy was getting iller by the day, on her birthday the 18th December she had no energy to open presents it took her a week to open everything but even at that she had no interest in playing with them despite encouragement from me. My sister was dying and there was nothing I could do about it, Christmas came and went she didnt open any of her presents she just didnt have the energy. On the 5th of January she took her last breath she had just turned 7 and I was 10 at the time, I was distraught inconsolable I just cried and cried and cried. All her christmas presents were stacked neatly at her feet in her small white coffin, I couldnt believe she was gone. The day of her funeral came and the whole town were at their front doors and gathered in the streets of our town to pay their respects. The whole town was in mourning of this special little girl, the cemetry was so full packed I had never seen as many people in the place before. The whole family had a red rose to throw in as she was being lowered this was too much for me to bare and I tried to jump in after her, my father took hold of me and just cuddled me and cried, I had never felt a pain like it I was alone and she was gone. After the funeral we all went back to my house and people came and payed their respects, I lay on my bed and cried hard into the teddy my sister gave me before she passed, she knew im positive of that she knew she was dying.
By Michelle King5 years ago in Families
The Giraffe's Book
Now, in hindsight, I can see where I went wrong. Should I have gone to a professional hairdresser for my dye job? Absolutely. But not one salon would answer my vexed phone calls at nine P.M. on a Sunday. And while I can’t say I was too surprised, the complete lack of compassion to those in society that don’t operate in the same time zone as others, was appalling.
By Bblahblah235 years ago in Families
Loss
I know I’m not alone in experiencing loss of friends and family, especially over the last two years. Some we saw coming, yet despite all our hopes, we lost. Others came as a complete surprise, leaving whole new clusters of emotions to work through. Whether you know Death has his scythe ready or it hits you out of the blue, I don’t think most people are ready to say goodbye.
By Rhiannon Brown Reeves5 years ago in Families
Love Letters from Heather
To my grandson, Jaymison. Both your mom and dad were over the moon about your eventual arrival. Experiencing a couple of previous early losses, they crossed every finger and toe. I could see the happiness in your dad (my son) and revelled in watching your parents choose the nursery theme—baby elephants.
By Heather Down5 years ago in Families
Her Little Black Book
Shit!". That was the first word I ever heard her say. It wouldn't be the first time I'd heard a 10 year old use profanity. She was dressed in an all black pant suit and she carried a little black book in her hand. I should've noticed it then. The way she frowned, the way her hands twitched when she was visibly irritated; but I didn't. Charlotte, that was her name.
By Shiloh Hunte5 years ago in Families
