Category: #griefheart

These are the #griefheart pictures representing my grief journey

Everlasting love — #griefheart number 202

Everlasting love

This one was sent to me by a childhood friend, Leigh. She saw it and sent it because it reminded her of the #griefheart project.

“The permanence of this stone heart is just as the love between you and Charles–everlasting.”

Losing a child to suicide makes connecting hard because so many avoid you all together. It is comforting to have so many reach out and care. I’m sharing this with all of you moms and dads who’ve lost a child. You truly do love them forever.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all … Read more...

Corn hole heart— #griefheart number 201

Corn hole heart

In Georgia with family today and everyone is playing games. Charles loved, loved, loved games. He didn’t even have to be good at them to love them. This is one of the corn hole boards.

He would have enjoyed it so much– being with family and playing games, in and out of the grandparent’s hot tub and eating and joking with his cousins. So much joy and so much sadness at the same time.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by … Read more...

Holiday heart— #griefheart number 200

Holiday heart

If you have suffered the loss of a child, my heart goes out to you today especially. Holidays, birthdays and life events are the hardest.

Thankful for the family I have today. Missing the piece of my heart that represents the one who is not. Loving you always Charles.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by#griefheart category.

What I miss most about Charles
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Sachet heart— #griefheart number 199

My Dad won a prize at the assisted living facility. What’s so funny is that he won a basket of Mary Kay products. Not exactly something you think your Dad would get excited about. Quite frankly he didn’t much care about the prize itself, just the process of winning. My mom didn’t have the heart to give it away to someone else.

I saw this sachet heart in the basket and thought about how funny Charles would have found this whole scenario–the jokes he would’ve told afterwards about Grandbobby winning a basket of women’s lotions and shower products. And this … Read more...

Remembrance heart— #griefheart number 198

Remembrance heart

My friend Shirley Ramsey, the Virginia Chapter President of American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, runs a support group for suicide loss survivors. They lit these candles in honor of their loved ones for the holidays– remembering them forever.

As long as I live,
You will live.
As long as I live,
You will be remembered.
As long as I live,
You will be loved.

Thank you SOSL-RVA (Survivors Of Suicide Loss, Richmond VA)

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by… Read more...

Kicked in the heart — #griefheart number 197

Kicked in the heart

So many times I feel like my heart has been stomped on. It literally feels like a kick in the chest. Fortunately, it does rebound. I still have a lot of love to give and I have faith that I will figure out this journey.

For all the others out there suffering from the loss of a loved one by suicide, you know the feeling. Thanks for being here. Thanks for your support. And thanks for your sharing. It has made a difference.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all … Read more...

Christopher’s Angel heart — #griefheart number 196

Christopher’s heart

This #griefheart is in memory of Christopher Sims who died by suicide February 9, 2014 when he was only 14. He was a student at Godwin Mills High in Henrico, Virginia.

Christopher was a twin and his mother sent me this picture to use for this project. His twin brother Alexander turned tragedy into hope by starting a project called Christopher’s Angels in his brother’s memory. So it’s only fitting that we see a heart in the clouds in the sky at his school.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far … Read more...

Andi’s sweet heart — #griefheart number 195

Andi made a very special #griefheart for me. What could be more suitable for suicide awareness than a custom made graphic with a heart? I, too, am glad Andi is alive. She is giving back and supporting others. She is a suicide attempt survivor and suffers from borderline personality disorder and PTSD as a result of bullying.

Definitely share this! Thank you Andi. I think this might have to go on my resource page!

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by… Read more...

Conversation heart — #griefheart number 194

Conversation heart

Since I became a mental health advocate in 2010, I have been promoting conversation about mental illness and addiction–the main causes of suicide. There was little of it despite my efforts but I see things changing. Unfortunately it was not before my son, Charles, died by suicide in 2015. Talking about suicide does not give people the idea but in fact it does just the opposite. Keep the conversation going because talk saves lives.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by #griefheart category… Read more...

Notes of love — #griefheart number 193

Notes of love

My friend Laurie saw this and well, it was a notebook with hearts. I’m a writer. So it’s perfect. For all my posts from the heart. Maybe this means I will find Charles’ other notebooks.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by #griefheart category.

Suicide screening at a pediatric practice is a first
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How sweet is art heart — #griefheart number 192

When I started this project, I wanted more people to memorialize their loved ones that died by suicide. I don’t get as many of those as I would have thought. But I got this today.

From Maryse at Full Circle Grief Center where they run support groups, one of them for suicide loss survivors. “Inspired by you, we laid painted CDs on which group members sketched a symbol or words to remember their loved one and then formed into the shape of heart.”

I thought this was so sweet and I was so touched. This group meant a lot to … Read more...

#noeagleleftbehind — #griefheart number 191

#noeagleleftbehind
#noeagleleftbehind

This is in honor of the teens at Godwin High School and Leigh Dunavant, the Principal and Facilitator of the group #noeagleleftbehind, who have embraced conversation about mental illness and suicide prevention. They are a group dedicated to creating events, activities and programs at the school long term for this cause.

I loved that they were innovative in their thinking and open with their conversation. Tosha and I were invited as part of Beacon Tree Foundation, where I am currently President, to tell my story of Charles’ life and suicide and introduce the social media program I developed in Charles’ memory. … Read more...

Recovery heart – #griefheart number 190

A neighbor donated their car to Sherry, who has been in recovery for a year. When she sent me the picture, I saw that she was wearing a heart on her shirt.

It made me think about my own recovery from the loss of my son–how hard it’s been, how I have started to heal emotionally.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all #griefhearts so far on pinterest or on this blog by#griefheart category.

Get updates to this project by subscribing

Would you ask someone with a heart condition to

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Eggshell heart — #griefheart number 189

When Charles died, my heart was crushed like eggshells. Emotional healing takes a lot of time and this journey really isn’t anything like I expected at the beginning.

I had no idea what grief was all about. It’s just not something people talk about. But I’ve made up for that! I consistently expose the world to my grueling, naked grief. I appreciate your taking this journey with me, holding me up when I need it, sharing your own painful journeys and being a part of this village.

What is the #griefheart project?

I explain my #griefheart project here.

See all … Read more...

Fragile heart — #griefheart number 188

Fragile heart
Fragile heart

Cousin Kate sent me this. And the moment I saw this camellia heart it reminded me how fragile a person Charles was. My friend Chris was telling my oldest about how resilient addicts are. And that’s true. You hear the stories of what they have endured– homelessness, being run over, multiple overdoses. When they tell the stories, you can’t believe they are standing in front of you as normal looking human beings once they have found recovery.

Charles didn’t have resilience and I wish I could have shared mine with him but depression took it away. In its place he had … Read more...