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 Wish It Were a Dream
Imagine one day waking up and having a loved one’s memory of you erased in the blink of an eye. It was a bright and sunny Friday morning in the month of May. She was just a small town ordinary freshman girl getting ready for a casual day of school. When suddenly she heard the most horrific, indescribable sound she had ever heard. In shock, she waited patiently hoping; praying for it to be just her mother yelling at her older brother for his TV being too loud.
By Hannah Blais8 years ago in Families
To Lose a Parent
To lose a parent, at any age, is no easy thing. There is no good time to lose someone you love, someone who raised you, cared for you, and gave you life. But we have no control over these things and, unfortunately, for many people losing a parent while they are still in their formative years is a reality.
By Samantha Reid8 years ago in Families
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.
By Ashley Dinsmore8 years ago in Families
Children'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.
By Christina St-Jean8 years ago in Families
The 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??
By LaKisha Jeter8 years ago in Families
What 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.
By Theresa Harrington8 years ago in Families
Surviving 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?"
By Amethyst Pearson8 years ago in Families
An 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.
By Eoin Campbell8 years ago in Families
