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Tag: #suicideawareness

Lobster heart— #griefheart number 236

Lobster heart

Charles loved lobster and one of his favorite restaurants was Red Lobster. It wasn’t until he was a teenager that he came to appreciate it. Both of us were a little freaked out that we’d see the live crustaceans at the entrance that would soon be someone’s dinner.

He didn’t need the salad or vegetables. He was a purist you know, not wanting to confuse his stomach with plant-based foods. The shock to his system would have been too much!

I remember the battles we had as a family trying to find a place the whole family wanted to … Read more...

Cheese Whiz heart— #griefheart number 234

Cheese Whiz heart

Hearts are everywhere. Even in the Cheese Whiz.

Charles loved cheese. Cheese sticks, cheese squares, cheese sandwiches, cheese quesadillas, Cheese-its, and Cheese Whiz–which he’d squirt directly into his mouth. I never bought Cheese Whiz by the way. But once he was 16, I could not prevent Cheese-Whiz purchases. His favorite cheese? Pepper jack which I bought in little squares.

Although I miss my youngest son, I don’t miss the smoke detector going off at 2am because he was cooking a cheese sandwich and fell asleep while it got black in the toaster oven.

What is the #griefheart project?

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Into the light heart— #griefheart number 233

Into the light heart

Two teens at the beach. Two teens touched by the story of Charles. Two teens on spring break send me this heart. How sweet is that?

Thank you Sam and Alex. Thank you for taking mental illness and suicide prevention out of the shadows and into the light.

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.

The grieving runner
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Celery heart— #griefheart number 227

Charles loved wings at Buffalo Wild Wings. Hated the celery that came with them. Hated just about any vegetable and made fun of me for liking celery.

I remember when someone told me that if Charles had a better diet it might help with his depression. I definitely agree. Despite raising him with the right foods in the house, Charles had the worst diet ever and he was far too stubborn to change it. He was a grazer who liked to eat at 1am. Whenever I have celery, it reminds me of the wings he loved and the celery he … Read more...

Reporters looking for people that fit this criteria

suicide prevention

Reporting guidelines from AFSP are here.

For stories on the topic of suicide awareness and suicide screening, two local Richmond VA reporters are looking for people that fit this criteria.

1. For the subject of suicide screening, one is interested in talking with a family member of someone who took his/her life not long after visiting PCP or pediatrician. Three months would be the criteria. This is in Richmond Virginia and surrounding areas. We are not looking to accuse a medical practice or doctor. The focus is to emphasize that studies show that 80% of those who take their … 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...

Banana heart – #griefheart number 177

Jill sent me this one and immediately it reminded me of this picture of Charles. My lively comedian. Still shocks me that such a happy, social child suffered from depression and died by suicide.

He had so much potential, so much talent and most importantly he made others feel like they mattered. No one did that like Charles. He made me feel like I mattered as a mother.

charles-banana

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 

… Read more...

Island heart – #griefheart number 172

This one sent to me by Pixie. If you look closely at the trees, you’ll see the heart in there. Tucked away in the trees. Isolated and lost. A suicide loss often leaves you feeling that way. If you let it take you down, it will. If you suffer in silence, it will smother you.

We can honor our loved ones that died by suicide and their struggles. We can talk about them and remember them. Even after the greatest loss of my life, my son’s suicide, I do believe those who are suffering can find hope and healing. Mental … Read more...

Bandaged heart – #griefheart number 171

I saw this at CVS today and it made me think of how my heart is bandaged together, how some days I am just holding it together since Charles’ suicide.

On this particular trip to the drugstore, I see a young African American man holding a baby girl about 6 weeks old. She is scrunched up and cuddled on her daddy’s chest sleeping while he is picking up a couple of items.

While I am standing in line, I can see him outside the window as he puts his bag in the car and takes a selfie of the baby … Read more...

Pickled heart – #griefheart number 170

This one sent to me by Alex and it immediately sparked a memory.

Charles would always ask them at any fast food place to “hold the pickle.” His favorite was the Chick-fil-A sandwich with no pickle. And he’d open it and check his sandwich to see if they followed his directions. He was pickle prejudiced.

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

Grief: Going all ‘hallmark’ on you

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Falling heart – #griefheart number 168

I was walking the dog today and saw the leaves turning and it made me think about the fact that I am witnessing another season change which makes me feel just a little farther from my child that died by suicide.

The world keeps turning, lives keep moving forward but his has stopped and that concept is so hard to accept sometimes.

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

Video: Forgive me momma

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Taco Bell heart – #griefheart number 166

Charles favorite restaurant was Taco Bell. And his job there was the only real one he ever had. Customers loved him and it made him feel good. He would often hand out his CDs there, too. Not sure if management knew that one. But young customers would come back and tell him they loved his music.

Charles always told me Mexican food made him ill. When I pointed out that Taco Bell was a Mexican restaurant he’d tell me it was not. Nothing there made him ill apparently. Since Charles’ suicide, I still can’t drive past at Taco Bell without … Read more...

Love you this much – #griefheart number 165

Love you this much
Love you this much

This incredible work of art is by me, a non-illustrator.  If I could have stretched the arms to the edges of the universe, I would have. This is how much I still love my child. Until he died by suicide, I had no idea how much you could love someone that was no longer alive.

But that’s what grief is. The price you pay for having loved someone with all your heart.

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...

Candy heart – #griefheart number 164

Everybody who knew Charles knew how much he loved candy! When he went to a friends house, first place he went was their candy stash. Walmart had the best prices on candy according to Charles and he’d go here before going to the movies.

I remember going places and waiting forever for him to make his mind up and make his candy selection! I didn’t buy him candy. He had to buy it with his own money. Somehow I thought it would slow him down.

Sweet memories of my son that died by suicide. I wish my sweetheart was still … Read more...

John Terrell’s heart – #griefheart 164

John Terrell's Heart
John Terrell’s Heart

“My job as an artist is to express feeling within a pattern, large or small.” —John Terrell

This #griefheart is original art by John Terrell who suffered from bipolar disorder and died by suicide. It was shared by his family for this project to honor his memory and his art.

A “Retrospective of John’s Art” will be at Artspace Gallery in Richmond, October 28 – November 20, 2016. Proceeds will go to NAMI, Full Circle Counseling Services, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for whom his father Buddy is hosting the International Suicide Survival Day event.

What

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