|
|
Home Sudden and Violent Death Losing A Child parentsDeath of my son
by Paul V. Johnson
Dear Paul,
This is the first newsletter I have gotten since I subscribed, and I liked it very much. It was helpful as I lost my oldest son when a pleasure boat exploded as he and his friends were enjoying the 4th of July weekend 2000 at the lake and he was bent over the back working on it. Thank god all of his friends were unhurt. He was burnt and fought a good fight for a month and died July 26th,2000. This article was a good one for me because I have a 10-year-old daughter and a 19-year-old son left to deal with the loss, and my strength for them just isn't there sometimes. I think nothing in life is harder than outliving your child, so again thank you, and I am glad I subscribed to this newsletter.
Grieving
Dear Grieving,
I am very sorry to hear of your son's tragic and unexpected death. The death of one's child is one of the most difficult losses we can experience, so I hope you have a group of individuals who are continuing to provide you with the support you need.
It is good to know that you found our newsletter to be of help at this difficult time. I would also suggest that you check our message boards, especially the sections dealing with the death of a child, so that you can benefit from the thoughts of other parents who have gone through the same tragic loss as you. You might also find it helpful to check out the website of Compassionate Friends, an organization developed primarily for parents who have experienced the death of a child. They may have a bereavement support group that meets in your community, and I would encourage you toYou mention your other two children, and I affirm you in your concern for them. Among the best ways of helping them is to get help and support for yourself so that you will be able to assist them in dealing with the loss of their brother. They will be in different places in dealing with his death due to the differences in their ages, but your loving support of each of them will go a long way in helping them deal with this loss.
Thank you for writing and stay in touch with us as you journey through your grief.
Best wishes,
Paul
Paul V. Johnson, MA, is a consultant and trainer for business, industry, and educational institutions on issues related to loss and grief. He was formerly an Associate Professor of Sociology at Bethel College(MN) and Director of Aftercare Services for the Bradshaw Funeral Homes in the Twin Cities area. He has made presentations at the national conferences of major professional caregiving associations and is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling.
|
|
Home
Printer-friendly version
E-mail this article