Pet Loss: Involving Children in the Euthanasia Decision

As an adult or child, experiencing grief means to 'feel,' not just to 'understand.' Anyone old enough to love is old enough to grieve. Even before children are able to talk, they grieve when someone loved dies. And these feelings about the death become a part of their lives forever. ~ Alan D. Wolfelt

A reader writes: Last month our family dog was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. Soon after, my husband and I spoke with our now 7-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter about our dog's cancer. We shared that she would not get better from it and that she would go to heaven. Our dog is in increasing, uncontrollable pain now, and I expect we will euthanize her soon. I read an excerpt of yours regarding preparing children for pet loss. You recommend involving the children in the decision of euthanasia and being present when it occurs. Do you recommend this for children that are our kids' ages?

Caregiving and Hospice, August 5 - August 11, 2018

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

When Is The Right Time For Hospice Care? http://j.mp/2KOoTKE « Forbes

Meditation App Benefits Hospice and Palliative Care Clinicians, http://j.mp/2KHZXEw « Oncology Nursing News

Dog with cancer helps hospice director spread the word to keep living after terminal diagnosis, http://j.mp/2MBovk9 « Idaho State Journal

Understanding and Managing Grief, August 5 - August 11, 2018

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Do Whatever it Takes to Get Through This, http://j.mp/2KJDnuV « Second Firsts

It's Not Guilt, It's Sadness, http://j.mp/2KFU4rb « Soaring Spirits International

Grief and the Healing Property of Time, http://j.mp/2KHRktu « Pallimed

Voices of Experience: Becoming Starlight

Aristotle taught that stars are made of a different matter than the four earthly elements ~ a quintessence ~ that also happens to be what the human psyche is made of. Which is why man’s spirit corresponds to the stars. Perhaps that’s not a very scientific view, but I do like the idea that there’s a little starlight in each of us.  ~ Lisa Kleypas

Soon after completing her graduate studies in psychology, Dr. Sharon Prentice longed to discover “the why’s” about her own intimate experience with death in the form of a Shared Death Experience (SDE), and that of others who had experienced something “weird, unbelievable, odd” at the time of the death of a loved one.  By sharing her own story, she hopes to replace fear with hope, and take away the vulnerability that is intrinsic in sharing these experiences: "When vulnerability morphs into strength, Starlight wins!" The following excerpt comes from her book, Becoming Starlight: A Shared Death Journey from Darkness to Light, and is reprinted here with her permission.

Caregiving and Hospice, July 29 - August 4, 2018

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Why Me? The Calling to Become an End of Life Doula by Emily Risner, http://j.mp/2KeN703 « Conscious Dying Institute

Ninjutsu for the Hospice Patient, http://j.mp/2uWwm59 « Pallimed

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Understanding and Managing Grief, July 29 - August 4, 2018

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Grief Massage Therapy Sessions Help Clients Cope, http://j.mp/2ODkf57 « The Amateur's Guide To Death and Dying

I (Still) Go To Therapy, http://j.mp/2MhIPqs « Soaring Spirits International

Is Everyone Grieving or Is It Just Me? http://j.mp/2McTpPK « Victoria Noe

Coping with Pet Loss, July 29 - August 4, 2018

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Killer whale holding dead calf afloat is showing human-like grief, expert says, http://j.mp/2LTvs2R « CBC News

End of Life Photo Session with Cooper, http://j.mp/2M2dAQb « Columbus Ohio Pet and Dog Photography

For dying cats and dogs, a last, loving goodbye, http://j.mp/2M4O39a « MPR News

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

In Grief: When A Friend’s Mourning Pattern Seems Strange

Never judge another knight without first knowing the strength and cunning of the dragons he fights.  ~ Richelle E. Goodrich

A reader writes: I was wondering if you could tell me how you would best suggest telling children about a sibling that has passed before they were born. I have a friend who had a son die at 1 year. The other children who came after him were told of his death but not much else about him. The friend did not think this was the best way to deal with this but he was overruled by his wife.

Understanding and Managing Grief, July 22 - July 28, 2018

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

What to Say at a Funeral or in a Card, http://j.mp/2LDHspa « What to Say When Someone Dies

Remembering Charlie: Why Children's Palliative Care Is About Never Giving Up, http://j.mp/2LIgAB8 « HuffPost

In Grief: When Sorrow Is Delayed, http://j.mp/2LEXgod « Grief Healing

In Grief: When Sorrow Is Delayed

My grief lies all within, and these external manners of lament are merely shadows to the unseen grief that swells with silence in the tortured soul.  ~ William Shakespeare

A reader writes: Hello I lost my mum 3 yrs ago, she died suddenly of a heart attack at 41 yrs. I was 19 at the time and had suffered the loss of a friend 7 months prior to mum’s death, as well as the separation with the father of my 14 month old son. After mum died my son, younger sister and i had to move 5 times that year until we were granted government housing. After that, life just kept going and so did i. I feel i have a lot of delayed grief which i wish desperately not to keep bottled up. If you could help me out by sending me some helpful info i would be so very grateful.