Welcome to Grief Hope Network!

Been there, done that.  Got the t-shirt (two, so far).  My father died suddenly of a heart attack when I was 9 years old.  My husband died in 2004 when my son was 4.  There have been many other losses; grandparents, friends and other family members but none have affected me as profoundly as the death of my father in 1972 and my husband after 5 years of marriage.

Growing up in the 70’s, my dad’s death became the ‘elephant in the middle of the living room’ that my mother and 7 siblings never discussed.  The psychological effects of this were finally dealt with in the 90’s when I first began counseling.  So I learned what NOT to do when it came to dealing with the sudden death of my husband, and father to my 4 year-old son.

A few months after my husband’s unexpected departure to heaven, God put it on my heart to create a website to help other people going through the grief process.  But I had some grieving to do first … and create a ‘new normal’ for my son and I … and settle the mounds of financial and legal matters … and try to get used to the whole mother/father/working thing (which still  remains challenging).

Communication is key.  Being able to talk and connect with others who have walked in my shoes has made the world of difference to me and my  son.   I realize that many people aren’t comfortable in sharing some of their deepest emotions with people they barely know in traditional grief support groups.  My hope is that through the many avenues of communication on this site, that members are able to get the emotional (link),  financial (link) and legal (link) support they need to carve out a ‘new normal’.

Feeling a sense of Hope is also critical.  In the early days, I needed to feel a sense of hope that I would survive the loss of my husband and get through each day, week and month until I could begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel.   And so I take one small step for me and 1 giant step for my grieving bretherin.   I ask not ask not what Grief Hope Network  can do for me; but I ask what Grief Hope Network can do for all of its members.  Your suggestions on the services we may offer to support you in the grief process is extremely valuable.  Together we can experience ‘Help for today and Hope for tomorrow’.

Use Grief Hope Network’s online grief support groups to reach out to other members and start your grief recovery journey.
Sincerely,

Judy Davidson
Founding MemberGrief Hope Network