“I go to my bedroom and pick up the box. My heart immediately recognizes its weight. My hands know every edge and corner of this container that holds all that’s physically left of the man I thought I’d grow old with.”
‘I set the box of ashes on the couch. She gathered her blanket close, the first time she’d sit next to her Daddy without weeping.’: Widow shares heartfelt moment with daughter after losing husband
We Don’t Die When Grief Consumes Us (Even If We Think We Might)—We Live To Keep Our Loved Ones Hearts Alive, Forever
“He wasn’t supposed to die. He was so young. Smart. Full of life. He couldn’t leave us. I waited for his bike to come home, to hear its noise ringing in the street. But our home was silent. And inside me, it wasn’t.”
‘I’m never going to be who I was before he died. Nor do I want to. And that’s OKAY.’: Woman shares recovery story after grieving husband’s death, ‘I know he’s happy for us’
“Someone told me I’d grieve FOREVER, so that’s what I believed.”
‘Instead of planning our wedding, my fiancé was called to the ICU at 4 a.m.’: Young woman loses father, fights Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
“I was found cowering, fetal position, in the space between the washer and dryer. My legs, once strong from years of softball, no longer supported my own weight.”
‘Your dad is gone.’ I didn’t break down or cry. For the first time in months, I felt relieved.’: Woman urges ‘take advantage of time’ after losing father 10 days after cancer diagnosis
“That last night, I said my goodbyes to him for what felt like the tenth time and prayed endlessly for his suffering to be put to rest.”
‘I can’t see.’ He could no longer drive to get Valentine’s flowers, so he walked instead. 6 blocks post-transplant, blurry vision. ‘I wanted you to feel special.’: Widow recounts powerful 49-year love story
“Some ladies recently told me, ‘Velma, you had a relationship all women dream of. We’ve never seen it. Not many people get it, but you did.’ It’s true. Even though he’s gone, he gave me enough love to last two lifetimes.”
‘Daddy won’t wake up!’ My world turned upside-down. How was I supposed to raise 3 kids alone?’: Widow starts bereavement support group, ‘We’ve helped thousands survive the nightmare of grief’
“One morning, Larry found a lump in his arm. He cried out, ‘I feel like I’m going to die!’ At 42 years old, I didn’t want to be a widow. How would I ever live without him?”
‘We decorated your hospital room instead of your nursery. What To Expect When You’re Expecting missed the chapter about you.’: Mom shares touching tribute to Congenital Heart Disease warrior
“Newborn photos were replaced by pre-heart surgery snapshots. Your first haircut was a side shave, needed to place an IV. Every day of your short life, you taught us how to love.”
‘Mommy, why are you crying?’ How do you explain to a 3-year-old her daddy has passed? I had just shattered her life forever.’: Widow shares grief journey, ‘We’ll make you proud every day’
“I opened the door to two police officers, our baby in my arms. They took off their hats and the world started spinning. It couldn’t be real.”
‘Would you consider all 3?’ I was now sole custodian of a 1, 2 and 3-year-old and three teens. We didn’t think twice.’: Woman becomes foster mom after losing son, ‘My babies saved me’
“We were asked to house the baby girl so she could be with her siblings. We were ADAMANT about the ‘temporary’ part. There were dressers in the living room, playpens, cribs and toys everywhere.”
