|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Member Testimonials |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Bereaved
Families provides a wide range of services and programs to
help family members in need following the death of a child
or a sibling. The experience for every member is unique, but
most find sources of support, hope and encouragement through
our programs, workshops, events and newsletters.
Below
is what some of our mothers, fathers,
and young people have to say... |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Mothers |
|
|
| |
"Bereaved
Families has provided me with a multitude of supportive people
to surround myself with. Even though I have great difficulty
opening up and sharing my emotions, I still always feel welcome.
It's so nice to be personally greeted and be able to mingle
without fear of judgment or intrusion. The only way I am able
to attend meetings is with the knowledge that I am accepted
and understood, but also that my 'boundaries' are respected.
Bereaved Families has shown me the world is not an entirely
cold place and that I can survive my tragedy. I can and will
survive."
"The
death of a child is something you never get over. To help
ease the pain, it is good to talk with others who listen
and understand the hurt you feel. After a while, friends
and family don't want you to talk about it. I must talk
about our son in order to accept and survive in this life
without him."
"It
was very helpful to share with other couples in our support
group - to be able to listen and cry together." |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
"It
was good to talk with other couples who had experienced what
we had. The shared experience of sitting together and talking
about our loss was very helpful to me as a dad."
"It helped me realize that I was not alone in my grief.
It made me see that my life was not really over and there
is happiness after a terrible ordeal. The Grief Support Group
was an experience unto myself and others that you cannot experience
anywhere else. It is where you can open up your heart and
no one tells you you're crazy or says to get on with your
life. It is a place where if two men hug each other, no one
thinks you're different. It is a place where you find out
what you're going through is the same as other people."
"We
had no family that would give us support. I benefited from
the Grief Support Groups as I felt I wasn't handling grief
properly and it was good to talk to other people who had
experienced the same feelings as I had." |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
"I
liked that there was no pressure to show your feelings until
you were ready."
"I liked the part where we got to share our stories.
You got to tell it like it was and have someone actually listen
to you and understand."
"Although I was surrounded by my family and friends,
I felt totally alone until my mom introduced me to a few of
the other siblings at Bereaved Families. I attended the Young
Griever Group, and shared my story. Listening to others and
gaining more support didn't take away the pain, but it did
make it a little more bearable. I will always know there are
others out there who are walking in similar shoes."
"It
was three years ago when my brother passed away and I found
myself looking for a safe and undersanding place to turn
for help. I found that safe place at Bereaved Families as
I met other siblings who had similar experiences. At many
times a bereaved sibling can feel alone and goes through
experiences that their parents, family and friends just
do not understand. Taking part in the sibling workshops
helped me in the greiving process and I would encourage
anyone to come and meet the other siblings who are there
to listen and to talk to."
|
|
|
|
|
