Selected Tweets, March 21-27

From Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week,

On Care Giving and Hospice:
On Spirituality:
On Understanding, Managing Grief: 
On Pet Loss:       

National College Student Grief Awareness Week - April 18-24, 2010

This announcement comes to us from Staci Barfield, Executive Director of National Students of AMF:

The United States Census Bureau estimates that 18.4 million students enrolled in American colleges in 2009. And we know that 25% of college students are within twelve months of having experienced the loss of a loved one. So that means more than 4.5 million college students are grieving during a time in their lives that is already academically, socially, and developmentally challenging.

Whether you are grieving, know someone who is, or just want to help spread the word about how together we cope with grief, you are invited to take part in National College Student Grief Awareness Week, April 18 to 24, 2010.

Goals for the week are to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of coping with the illness or death of a loved one during college, and to spread the word about National Students of AMF.

The mission of National Students of AMF is to support college students grieving the illness or death of a loved one.

To learn more about the organization or how you can get involved, visit www.studentsofamf.org or call 919.803.6728.  Contact Executive Director Staci Barfield via e-mail at staci@studentsofamf.org.

Selected Tweets, March 14 - March 20

From Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week
On Understanding, Managing Grief:
On Suicide Loss:
On Living with a Disability:
On Hospice Care:
  On Pet Loss:  

Continuing Education: Forthcoming Conferences and Webinars

Conferences:
ADEC Webinars (The Association for Death Education and Counseling):

Selected Tweets, March 7 - March 13


From Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week
On Hospice Care:
 On Caregiving:
On Child Loss, Sibling Grief:
 On Suicide Loss:
On Understanding, Managing Grief:

Selected Tweets, February 28 - March 6

Selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

@AliveHospice: Hospice chaplain provides spiritual support even when patient is unconscious, http://bit.ly/bKkZW2

 @ElderCareRN: Muhammad Ali's devoted wife Lonnie and three others share their remarkable caregiving stories http://bit.ly/bOZwo

@georgiaslegacy: Role shift for teen & therapy dog since Riley diagnosed with cancer, http://bit.ly/c2F0EK
 
@DianaSebzda: NHPCO (@HospiceAction) now has its own channel on YouTube! http://tinyurl.com/ydoj58n

Yay!! Guided Imagery Is Winging Its Way To Our Troops in Iraq & Afghanistan! http://bit.ly/9hbwJX

From One Who Knows RT @KSBuckley: Ten Ways to Comfort a Grieving Heart: http://bit.ly/awfvuB 

@hospice_news: Palliative Care Grand Rounds Now Up!! http://bit.ly/909Yk3 

@afspnational: How to Spot the Warning Signs of Suicide: http://bit.ly/bpATqh
 
 @afspnational: In honor of #worldbookday here is a list of books on coping after a suicide http://bit.ly/19BBHM 

@lesmorgan: Best books for dementia caregivers http://bit.ly/aIrt1h 

CNN: Online groups help parents who've lost kids to suicide http://bit.ly/bJXnWN
 
@peternity If something happens to you, what happens to your pet(s)? Plan ahead http://tinyurl.com/yaldopb 

Excellent read:How far is too far to go for a sick pet? http://bit.ly/dtn4jm 

@DrMartyBecker: My good friend @DrOz on the tragedy at Sea World http://bit.ly/do0b2W 

@Selfhealingexpr: Memorializing a Cherished Pet by @griefhealing. Very touching: http://bit.ly/HySVs 

@openculture: Opera in the Fruit & Veggie Market This made my day.... http://bit.ly/a3Lir5
 
@ksbuckley Gratitude In Grief: Are you Pecking at the Kick Plate of Life? http://bit.ly/d48kAF
 

For Widows, Widowers and Single Parents

Single Dads Town - Bill McLeod's Web site is designed to support single parents through the often challenging job of raising children without a partner.  Having lost his wife (first to alcohol, then to divorce, and finally to death) Bill is a dedicated father of two children who has turned his challenging experiences of loss and transition into an effort to assist other single dads (and moms) to become successful parents. Bill says he created his Web site for three reasons: to support single parents across the country as they face the challenges, fears and joys of single parenthood; to inspire and motivate parents to be excellent role models for their children; and to provide a source of services, advice and resources to help single parents organize and balance their lives.  The site includes a Blog hosted by a team of "expert" weekly guest bloggers, enabling visitors to hear from other single parents, as well as an e-mail newsletter.  In addition, Bill hosts a weekly radio program on Saturday mornings on CBS Radio, Helping Single Parents Succeed.

Today's Widow   After a great 21-year marriage, Robin Craig lost her 43-year-old husband suddenly and unexpectedly.  Shortly thereafter she heard her own voice telling her that she had to help other widows, and with her blog she aims to do just that. Her various blog entries offer insights "to widows, widowers, those who are married to prepare them for losing a spouse, and singles contemplating marriage. Those who are divorced will benefit, as well, because they too have lost their spouses."  Robin says she is "today's widow surviving in today's world, and I am honored to have the opportunity to share and learn with you as we travel the bumpy road called 'widowhood.' The episodes of life afford a time for growth and an opportunity to reevaluate our position in it. We must ultimately decide if we are on the correct path and alter it if we are not." Four years into her widowhood, today Robin is a successful TV producer with two national daytime Emmys to her credit.  Her message to all, she says, "is to be the very best you can be no matter what life brings."

Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation (SSLF) is an inclusive, non-denominational organization working to provide a national network of support for anyone grieving the loss of someone they love, with a special emphasis on those whose spouse or partner has died.  Its focus is on hope and healing, offering its members the needed tools and resources to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the death of a loved one.  This special community offers a variety of outstanding, peer-based online programs for those who have suffered the loss of a spouse, partner or significant other, including the following:
  • Widow Match - An on-line based support group that matches widows of similar circumstances for supportive e-mail correspondence. Matches will generally be within ten years of each other in age, will have lost their husbands within six months of each other, and are in the same situation regarding having children.
  • Widow’s Voice Blog - Seven widowed people share their unique view on widowed life -- every day of the week. Visit us for a daily dose of hope and understanding.
  • Grief Chats - This YouTube-based program features short film clips on topics related to losing a loved one. Written and read by SSLF founder and director Michele Neff Hernandez, each real-life story begins with loss and ends with hope. In this clip, the first in the series, Michelle introduces the program:

Recommended Web Sites and Blogs

    For Bereaved Parents:
    Hello Grief: A Place to Share and Learn about Grief - Powered by Comfort Zone Camp and made possible by a generous donation from New York Life, this helpful and informative Web Site is for parents, teens, mentors, friends and everyone else.  Features include community support in the form of a discussion forum, helpful articles and stories, and links to helpful resources:  “Hello Grief provides information and resources about grief in order to break through the current culture of avoidance that surrounds death and loss. Instead, Hello Grief addresses bereavement head-on for those who are helping others cope, as well as those who need support on their own personal journey with grief. In a world that doesn't get it, we do.”

    Partnership for Parents - An online resource for parents of seriously ill children,  this site also includes Sharing Wisdom, a number of articles written by bereaved parents from all walks of life, most of whom lost children to serious illnesses.

    The Loss of a Child - A mother whose adult son died suddenly at age 37 shares her personal grief journey, offers insights and resources, and introduces her book, Living, Loving, and Losing a Son.
     
    Gratitude in Grief - This extraordinary blog journal was created by freelance writer Kelly Buckley to document her journey following the tragic loss of her 23-year old son Stephen on July 4, 2009. Kelly is a gifted writer whose posts are filled with wisdom, resilience and hope:  “One thing has helped me breathe, and that is finding at least one little thing to be grateful for each day, in spite of the pain.”  Kelly’s blog is based on her newly published book of the same name, Gratitude in Grief. Her hope is that her writings will help others find their "one little thing" as well.

    GrievingDads.com - After losing two babies to death in the span of two years, bereaved father Kelly Farley “made a promise to Katie, Noah and myself that once I was strong enough, I would reach out to other dads who’ve lost a child and help them come to terms with their loss and to help them find their way.” He developed his Web site as a way “to reach out to all bereaved dads and to provide a conduit to share their stories.”  In addition to raising awareness of the impact of child loss on fathers, Kelly’s ultimate goal is to create a book that represents a cross-section of bereaved fathers.  “I want anyone who picks up this book to be able to relate with someone else’s story so that they don’t feel so alone in their journey through grief.  To let them know that other dads have traveled this path or are currently on the same path.”  Bereaved dads interested in participating in his online survey will find more information here: Share Your Story

    For Bereaved Spouses:
    Journey Through Grief - Developed by Janelle Shantz Hertzler, a wife and mother whose husband was killed by a drunk driver in 2005, this site offers several well-written articles about the normal grief process. It is packed with creative ideas and practical suggestions to help others work through grief – by using memory books, journaling, poetry reading and writing, and much more.  Janelle is the author of the forthcoming book Seasons of Solace: A Story of Healing through Photos and Poems.

    After-Words - Here blogger LeighSW offers a useful road map of basic actions that need to be taken during the first few months after the death of a loved one.

    For the Chronically and Terminally Ill and Those Who Care for Them:
    Dying: A Book of Comfort – Author Pat McNees describes her Web site as an expansion of her book by the same title, which offers healing words on loss and grief, not only for the chronically and terminally ill but also for those who love and care for them.  A wealth of useful information is included on her site, from managing life for the elderly and disabled to the healing powers of recording life stories and writing ethical wills.  (Pat's beautiful book, Dying: A Book of Comfort is available as a paperback from Amazon, but if you decide to order it directly from the author, you'll receive the Guild hardcover edition which, according to the author, is nicer for gift-giving and costs less.)

    For Survivors of Suicide:
    The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) invites those who have lost a loved one to suicide to join their e-survivor network. Members learn about new resources and initiatives and play a role in mobilizing support for research and education. As a tool for communication and for action, the e-Network addresses topics of interest to survivors and empowers those who wish to become advocates for suicide prevention.  Click here to sign up for Survivor E-network E-mails, and here to learn more about the AFSP’s Suicide Prevention Survivor Outreach Program

    Numbers to call
    if you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts:
    • Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK
    • Suicide & Crisis Hotline 1-800-999-9999

    Selected Tweets, February 21 to 27

    The best tweets and re-tweets from GriefHealing's Twitter stream this week:

    Selected Tweets, February 14 to 20

    Listed below are tweets (and re-tweets) selected from GriefHealing’s Twitter stream this week. (You can follow Grief Healing on Twitter @griefhealing)
    • Helpful article by Harriet Hodgson,Writing Affirmations Can Help With Grief http://bit.ly/dmHZYo