by Rebecca Anderson, RN
As a hospice nurse who has experienced parental loss, I draw on my personal experiences with the grief and loss of both my parents to offer guidance to the families I serve at Hospice of the Red River Valley.
[caption id="attachment_3691" align="alignright" width="300"] Rebecca and her mom Terry[/caption]
Just as each life is unique, so was the loss...
Welcoming a new baby into the family is usually a time of exuberance, love and joy. But for Holly Undlin, this event came during a time of extraordinary circumstances and many unknowns as her husband, Matthew, was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer shortly after the arrival of their son, Finn.
A terminal diagnosis meant their family’s plans for the...
by Connie DeKrey
“Dad, may I skate down to the grocery store with Susie, please?”
“Go ask your mother.”
Perhaps for most of us, this was a common exchange when we were growing up. How many questions we must have asked our mothers during the course of a day (let alone throughout the years, and even into adulthood)!
It is possible, especially during...
by Staci Metzger, MSW
Grief is generally thought of as something that happens after the death of a loved one, but what many people don’t realize is grief takes on many forms, and can happen at any time. Grief can occur when witnessing a loved one lose his or her independence, when a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal...
Grieving the loss of a loved one throughout the year, especially during the holiday season and other specials days, can be challenging. Is it possible to mourn and celebrate at the same time? While it is difficult to cope with the pain of loss while others are celebrating, there are resources available to help you navigate the holidays while...
Losing anyone you love is extremely difficult, but it is especially devastating and overwhelming when faced with the loss of a baby. Whether the loss occurs during pregnancy, or after the baby is born, parents and loved ones lose not only the precious little one, but also their hopes and dreams for the future. Such a loss can forever...
When someone you know loses a loved one to death, a common reaction is to send a sympathy card. But once it’s purchased, what do you write inside? Do you have the perfect words of comfort? Will you accidentally say the wrong thing? Writing a sympathy note isn’t easy, but it is important. You can’t make someone’s grief and...
by Dr. Alan Wolfelt
Though you should reach out to others as you do the work of mourning, you should not feel obligated to accept the unhelpful responses you may receive from some people. You are the one who is grieving, and as such, you have certain “rights” no one should try to take away from you.
The following list is...
by Lauryl Ivers, chaplain
Grief touches every part of us. We feel it in relationships with our families, friends, co-workers and in our hearts and minds—even in our bodies.
My mother died under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley a few years ago. The Hospice team was so helpful for me and my family. I am thankful I...
by David Montecuollo, chaplain
“Today is a day that will live in agony!” Though these words many times go unspoken, they are often felt by a person or family who has lost a loved one. No matter the manner or cause of death, there is one commonality among people who lose a loved one, they grieve. In my lifetime, I...
