If you have recently lost your child from this earth, we know there is just no way to put into words the swirling emotions, the suffocating darkness and the crushing pain.
Our guess is that people were so wonderfully supportive for the first few days and even a few weeks. But at some point, everyone else’s life has gone back to normal, and you just want to scream at them, because your life is still at a screeching halt.
We get it.
If you have faced a deep loss before, grieving the death of your child may seem so much worse, and you think you are going crazy.
If you have never lost someone close before, you probably realize you have no grid for your grief, but you must be going crazy.
Either way, you may have times where you 
find you are literally forgetting to breathe, and have to remind yourself to take a breath. Your body is out of whack; your mind is full and empty at the same time. Your sleep is off. Often times you can’t stop crying, and it might even seem like everything around you looks gray and colorless. You can forget things, even as simple as how to peel an orange or find yourself panicking because you suddenly forgot how to get home from the store you have shopped at for ten years. You don’t know how you can go on living, and probably don’t want to, which makes no sense to your mind if you are happily married or have other children still here. You are barely in survival mode, and don’t think it is possible to get out of the darkness, much less to a place of wanting to live without your child, and impossible to have a life with purpose and meaning ever again.
Let me assure you, all of this is normal. Once again, those of us who have traveled this road ahead of you have felt all of that ourselves.
People who have not faced the loss of a child may tell you that you need to move on, that you need to get past it, or that you need to find a way to have closure. These are all people who don’t want to see you in so much pain, and they mean well, but to say it bluntly, they don’t know what they’re talking about.
- Your child will always be a part of you, so you won’t be “moving on.”
- Only having the precious memories of your child instead of your child makes it impossible to “get past it.”
- Having your future taken from you in the love and legacy of your child means there will not be “closure.”
HOWEVER….
It is possible to have hope in 
the midst of your intense pain.
It is possible to have light break through the darkness.
It is possible to laugh and have joy in your life in a new way.
It is possible to live a life of meaning and purpose again.
Not only is it possible, but it is probable, if you stay connected with bereaved parents who are living in that place.
Here at Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope), you will find this is a safe place for all of your emotions, all of your questions, your anger, and everything else that comes with grieving the death of your child. We are not just here for you, but we are here to walk with you, for as long as it takes for you to come out the other side with all of those things listed above that we ourselves have found.
And this will not be in spite of the loss of your child, but in honor of the life of your child.
It will probably take longer than you want it to. That’s okay. You have had an amputation. A part of your very being has been cut off. Give yourself lots and lots of grace and allow yourself lots and lots of time (even if those around you don’t). You can eventually learn to live with that piece of you missing, but there will be constant reminders and new situations causing you to stumble for the rest of your life. (Some of us call them grief attacks.)
Sometimes you will be forced to give in to your limitations of grief. Sometimes you will learn how to work around it. And yes, there will be times you will be able to soar above it. There is no right or wrong way. It is whatever way works for you at that moment in time.
But for now, just rest, knowing that you are surrounded by bereaved parents who have been right where you are, and that you have our hearts, our love and our prayers.
We also want you to know:
- You must go through this; there is no way around it.
- There is no timetable.
- There are no “grief stages” you have to work your way through.
- Moving forward does not mean you are leaving your child behind.
- Anything under five years for the death of one’s child is considered fresh grief.
- The death of one’s child is considered a trauma, and what you are feeling and thinking is normal.
- You will survive.
- You are not alone!
We understand, and will walk with you, 
to help you find your way out of the darkness and into a place of light and a life with meaning and purpose once again, BECAUSE of your child’s life, not in spite of their death. It won’t be easy, but hang on to the hope that it can be done.
Please be sure to visit our Wall of Remembrance, and have your child added!
GPS Hope exists to walk with grieving parents through the suffocating darkness of child-loss to a place of hope, light and purpose.
We also support families, friends and coworkers who want to know how to support these parents both short and long-term.
• If you are a bereaved parent, we encourage you to connect with us on Facebook.
• If you are not a bereaved parent but want to support those who are, or want to follow us as we give hope to these precious parents, please connect with us at Friends of GPS Hope on Facebook.
• Subscribe to Laura’s YouTube channel.
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