Death of A Loved One

Kate – My story

Kate tells her story of being away when her brother died of an opioid overdose

Matt – Crying

Matt talks about men and crying. Matt continues to grieve the death of his birth mother.

Karyn and Aidan – Our story

Karyn and Aidan – Karyn tells the story leading up to John’s death during the pandemic

Donna B – “Tools for a year of firsts”

Donna discusses how to look after yourself. Donna continues to grieve the death her son during service in Afghanistan.

Shawn – “Loss of a Sister”

Shawn talks about his guilt and the loss of his sister.

Jessica’s Reflections as an Adult Grieving Child

Parents or trusted adults are people children often turn to for support, but my circle of trusted adults was shrinking. My peers were focused on what to wear on civvies day (a day where we didn’t have to wear a uniform), while I was focused on just surviving.

Kate – Advice to my younger self

Kate explains things being authentic and honest to herself has been very valuable

Kim – You can get through this

Kim talks about the difference between her Dad and her Mum’s death

Cheryl and Mike – “Why get counseling”

Cheryl and Mike talk about the benefits of counselling. They continue to grieve the death their daughter in a car accident.

Keeping Records

I pulled the photos out of their envelope one at a time, turning over each one to carefully record the date, place, and people in the photo. Sometimes, I included comments. “Apple picking in Hamilton with Pop Pop, Fall, 2023. You loved the wagon ride!”. I slipped each picture into an empty pocket in my son’s photo album.

Craig – There is No Right Way to Grieve

Craig talks about his experience with grief and how there is no right or wrong way to grieve. He shares his thoughts on how to allow yourself to do what you need to do to heal, even if it doesn’t seem like “self-care.” This video is a reminder that everyone grieves differently and that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing.

Jane – Loneliness while processing grief

Jane talks about grieving without her extended family because of the pandemic and how that’s impacted things like scattering ashes and having celebrations of life.