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.
I just want want to say ‘’Hi Dad’’.
I remember this day clearly, like it was yesterday and I took this picture of my Dad. I remember seeing him go into the cement pier on his own like he wanted to go for a swim, which he hadn’t done in too many years due to his above knee leg amputation and diabetes wounds on his remaining leg. My Dad was a proud man that was never satisfied with anything that made him feel weak or less than anyone else. Since his first heart attack and leg amputation he had changed to someone I did not recognize. He was weak but he always tried hard to push himself to be able to do more, I don’t think his heart helped him at all after the second attack.
By Lori Estrada5 years ago in Families
Messages for a Lifetime
There it is, the car that I always dreamed of buying but couldn’t afford. I’ve driven by this lot so many times in the past 2 years, but have never pulled in. Today, I pull in. Today, I inquire about the car. Today, I plan to test drive this car. The dark red shines in the sun light, as the dark window tint blocks seeing inside of it. As many times as I’ve dreamed of driving this car, owning this car, even just sitting in it, the reality of this happening was not likely.
By anne boutin5 years ago in Families
How Hard It Is to Lose a Parent
It's been almost 3 years since I lost my father. My father suffered mental health issues, the same ones I suffer from as well. My father died of suicide, left so many questions unanswered. It was a sudden death, as I was out with a friend after I called my mother and heard her crying. See when my mother would cry, I knew something was always wrong. I figured at the time something had happened to my grandmother, but to this day she's still alive and well, close to the age of 95.
By Michelle White5 years ago in Families
After You Catch Me
Chapter 1 Leah "She's Gone" High school isn't the same without Laura. I keep seeing the empty seat next to mine in Biology class. I miss running into her in the halls. Rolling our eyes at yet another ninth grader throwing spitballs. I miss her texts to meet up for lunch in the cafeteria or planning another sleepover.
By Carrie Marston5 years ago in Families
An unsung song
Abigail peered around at the seemingly endless task that was set before her. It had been two weeks since she had received the news that her father had died, and as his only heir, she stood in his house as the one who was responsible for removing his possessions so that the owner could replace him with a new tenant. This was the last chore that she had to do, since the funeral was already over and she had closed his one bank account and collected the nearly ten dollars that it contained.
By Vince Coliam5 years ago in Families
Filth on the Rich
“I am a writer, I am a writer… I am nobody.” Charlie looked at herself in the mirror, her long brown locks just about covering her nipples, the rest of her body uncovered. She swung her arms back and forth, softly stroking her hips in the movement. With a slight jump in her step she moved away from the mirror and turned around, staring out of the grand window that looked out over bright green meadows and a few horses. It was the day after her third book launch that had taken place at the local book shop. Half the town had come to hear her read aloud one of the chapters of her latest collection of poetry.
By Laura Rosierse5 years ago in Families
2021 Resolution
Resolution. What does that word mean? By basic definition, resolution means, a firm decision to do or not do something. Often reserved for a new year, resolutions have become cliche. It’s almost always, “I’m going to lose weight”, or “I’m going to stop drinking”. More often then not, people fail to live up to their New Years resolutions. The cycle repeats itself year after year. I myself have been a victim of that cycle more times than I can count. But this time is different.
By Amber Knieriem5 years ago in Families
Dad Bonds
After returning from the park, where she had been playing with her granddaughter, Shelby innocently turned on her computer and opened her HeadLibra social media page, like she usually did. The first post she saw was by her Aunt Cacey “My brother died at breakfast today. I need a ticket to Montana.” Cacey only had one brother, Shelby’s step father, Charles. Shelby screamed at the words, and grabbed for her teddy bear. The old bear had lost an eye, but it was precious to Shelby. It was one of the first gifts Charles had given her. Shelby could not think of a worse way to find out about the death of a man who had loved her, and taught her to love.
By Jennique Lee5 years ago in Families
The Blackest Book
My mother had a stroke. Full, left sided paralysis. Permanent. It was an incredibly heart breaking and stressful time to witness and support her through. I knew that only death would cure her. I gave her a small black book to write some of her memories in. I didn't read what she wrote as I thought it was private. The weeks flew by and then the months. There was a slow, excruciating debilitation throughout that time. She became quieter, less interested in anything. She slipped further and further away from me and then she died. That was it. Death was so final. It didn't matter that she was 82 years old at the time. Having your mother in your life is often the most beautiful part of your life but you don't know that at the time. The time I had with her would never be enough.
By Pauline Koppel5 years ago in Families
Silent
Processing ..... I am trying to still process the devastating news I received yesterday. What I thought was going to be a normal exciting routine doctor visit to hear my son’s heartbeat, turned into devastating news that there no longer was a heartbeat to be detected, and he stopped growing at 11 weeks. I am supposed to be 14 weeks, and approaching the time to schedule the big, exciting ultrasound. Now I am scheduled to partake in a D and C, for my body has yet to recognize that the baby is no longer alive. How am I supposed to handle this? I have 4 other children, the youngest being almost 11 months old, who desperately need my love and attention. However, I cannot stop thinking about what is happening inside my body right now. It has been 24 hours since I found out this news, and I must carry on until Monday (3 more days) when I will go to the hospital and have them take care of him. COVID-19 is causing a stressor for I can not have any support in there, just as I could not have support when I found out this news. My husband will drop me off at the doors and I will then walk the halls alone. Walk the halls of the hospital carrying my son inside me yet I will be leaving without him. How am I supposed to handle this? I know he is only 11 weeks, and I know he is small, but he had a heartbeat, he was there. Now he is gone, and I will never get to know who he could have been. This is hard to wrap my mind around, and focus on the positives, and the fact that everything happens for a reason. Why, why did he stop growing? Why is my body not letting go? I have had 3 healthy babies, what happened? Did I do something? I will never have the answers, and I must live with that. This is not easy for me, and I am trying to process as much as I can. I am trying to think of the future and what will be, but it is hard as I am still carrying him inside me, but he is not there. So many questions…I know I will be okay, I know we will be okay, I just do not know how to handle this one.
By Nicole Browne5 years ago in Families
The Kindness of strangers and loved ones
Let me tell you a story about a beautiful young 18-year-old girl. She had just gotten her life started. For the first time she lived on her own. She had a full-time job and a caring boyfriend. She was looking forward to finally getting to vote. Alas, this was not to be.
By April Barbosa5 years ago in Families
