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.
She was a human
I get so mad when people say infants with anencephaly aren’t human. My daughter Raelyn was more human then anyone who says she wasn’t could ever be. There is a lot of misinformation out there about babies with this condition. When I was pregnant I was told that I should abort because she was nothing but a body that was still living but not really alive they would say. I would get so heartbroken because she deserved a chance at life just like anyone eles, I’m so glad I didn’t listen to the people who said it was a waste of time to carry her to term. It was a blessing getting to know her for the 9 months she was being developed in my body and the 23 days I had with her were amazing and it made everything I went through in my pregnancy worth it. If my story can help anyone decide to make the choice to continue there pregnancythen everything we went through was worth it.
By Krystalyn Trammel5 years ago in Families
The Visit
Alone I sit. It’s dark outside, there’s a slight chill in the air. When I feel the cold air brush against my skin, it reminds me of my physical senses, my ability to feel the invisible. To feel a force I cannot see with my own eyes. As I stare out into the vast space of empty fields and far away mountain ranges, my mind expands to try and understand the substance to this life which is unseen. I’ve accomplished so much in my years, I met the one who I considered to be my forever. My soul mate. My twin flame. We had 3 beautiful children together. And as the years passed us by, we watched our 3 boys grow into young men. We provided them with a comfortable home and good home cooked meals. One by one they each thrived, finished school, and one by one they started their own families, bringing us the most beautiful gift in the world; my grandchildren.
By Kayla Ryan5 years ago in Families
"Night Owl"
I never was one for sleep. That is I was never one for going to bed early. To my fathers perpetual dismay, I was a self proclaimed night owl. A fitting colloquialism since the average barn owl is a nocturnal predator. For the longest time I was proud of it, saying foolish things like, "I get my best work done at night." I made it a point to say things like that whenever I could, especially when Dad was within ear shot.
By Fabricating Fiction5 years ago in Families
Little Mouse
Little Mouse had had a very hard day. They were hungry and wet and cold, and they were sitting next to the very still body of their very good friend Littler Mouse. Littler Mouse had been very still for a very long time now. They had skittered much slower after they had been hurt by Angry Mouse. Their fur had got redder and redder as they skittered and skittered, and then when there was too much red there was no more skittering at all. Little Mouse very much enjoyed going on mouse-sized adventures with Littler Mouse but now they worried that there would be no more adventures, because Littler Mouse was not skittering anymore. Skittering was a very important part of adventures, because there were many things to skitter to and away from. Maybe if they had skittered away from Angry Mouse faster, Littler Mouse would not be so red, and they would still be skittering together now.
By Matt Batchelor5 years ago in Families
The owl of hope
I am sitting silently by the window, watching the sunset, feeling the leaves fall, and listening to the songs of sundown that the wind is whistling. My nerves have calmed since them gunshots earlier and my hand has finally stopped shakin. I never knew I would be the one to take care of such things. But life has plans for all of us. Thankfully the ringing in my ear has been gone for a couple of hours, and I am finally feeling more at peace. I was well aware that farm life is not easy and sacrifices must be made, but these feelings? Well I don’t remember signing up for those too. That done feels like too much, and life out here already ain’t easy.
By Helen Del toro5 years ago in Families
...It's the Thought that Counts
We’d been at the hospital all day. Dad’s dizzy spells had been diagnosed as 4 or 5 brain tumours (the doctors weren’t sure if one of the shadows on the scans was one large tumour or 2 smaller ones), inoperable. The “experimental” laser treatment had proven its exact predicted worth: “It won’t cure your father, but it may give him an extra couple of months”. That was 6 months prior, and those extra couple of months were well & truly up. We’d been told not to upset him at any cost as that could cause haemorrhaging on the brain and at worst/best instant death. And so began our journey of walking on eggshells, navigating his constant mood swings and his demanding of our time, patience and unconditional love. We’d tell ourselves that despite how unfair he may have been in any moment there’s always someone else worse off and we weren’t the ones having to face that “terminal” diagnosis.
By Joseph Murray5 years ago in Families
A sister's grief
My younger brother died unexpectedly on Mother’s Day 2020. My mom called me before I got to the hospital and told me he was gone but that I had to keep it together and stay strong for his wife. Mom wasn’t crying when she told me and her words didn’t sink in, despite having heard them clearly.
By Kayla Boyd 5 years ago in Families
Legacy
My Aunt Bea was resolute at my uncle’s funeral. Her black skirt suit pressed and showed no trace of lint with a lilac kerchief in every pocket. She didn’t wear any of the broaches my Uncle Bob had gotten her, nor did she go into the room for the wake. Instead she stayed with my brother and I, in the deep green sitting room downstairs, you could just see the white banister that lead to the viewing room from the couch we were all cuddled on.
By Audrey Larkin5 years ago in Families
Hollow Ashes
I didn’t mourn my father the day he was buried. I had too many feelings to sort and process before I could be sure of what I felt. What was I supposed to feel? Should I be sad I lost a father? Or should I be glad I was rid of my abuser? I was numb as I watched my Uncle Lee pierce the brown soil with his shovel over and over until the hole was deep enough and just wide enough for the box of ashes.
By Brandi Ashley 5 years ago in Families
Life After Fana
Her little grin let me know that she knew she wasn't supposed to run towards the bridge that led over the crick. Her little face was bright and full of joy, reddened by a day of hard play in the summer sun. She looked back at us, and with a mischievous giggle she took off towards the bridge.
By Aya The Human5 years ago in Families
When Time is Irrelevant
It seemed so cruel for him to die on such a beautiful blue day. My heart would have been more at ease had the clouds gathered in a fit of gray anger and roared out rain. I prayed, not for my grandfather to die in peace, but for a terrible storm. If veins of lightning ripped across the sky, I might have had something to distract me from knowing this was the last time I would lay mortal eyes on my grandfather.
By A.X.Partida5 years ago in Families
