Bereavement
Resources for coping with grief and loss
Some Thoughts …
The death of a child is a devastating experience for all parents. The death of a special needs child adds the unique aspect that the parent’s identity is often tied to the child due to being the child’s primary caregiver. Compassionate Friends describes it this way, “It can create a crisis of identity and direction that provides another layer to the grief already felt.” An important step in the journey is to find other parents who have lost a special needs child. There is a special bond when another parent can share in the unique experience of losing a special needs child.
Please reach out to us if you would like to meet with other parents who lost their KCNT1 warrior, or fill out our form below.
“You will never stop grieving for your child. Grief is the price we pay for loving so intensely and that we love continues on beyond this physical world. It is possible to continue to miss your child while at the same time treasuring and honoring your child’s life instead of focusing on the loss. Keeping the memory of your child alive and allowing that memory to live through you is an attainable goal.”
– Kalila Smith, CGT, NLP
Farewell, My Forever Child by Kalila Smith, CGT NLP. A great book written by a special needs parent who lost a child.
More Books Are Available from this wonderful resource.
- Self Care – which will be incredibly hard during this time is vitally important. Allow your body to rest and get more sleep. You will be more tired during this time, and you should listen to your body. Take vitamins. Remember to eat and make healthy food choices. You need fuel for your body. Your body needs to heal, and you need to give it adequate rest and fuel to do that. Exercise-dance, yoga, meditation. Writing and journaling can be helpful.
- Everyone grieves at their own rate. Take your time and process your feelings. Give yourself some grace.
- Share your story with others. Share with friends and family. Join support groups. It is okay to tell others that you are not looking for advice, but you are looking for a listening ear.
- Take care of your physical and mental health. Grief can manifest itself in physical and emotional aspects of your life. Be willing to talk to your family doctor about any stages of grief or manifestations that you are struggling to process. One of the best ways to process grief is talking with someone where you feel safe to share exactly how you feel. Someone you can share the raw emotions you are experiencing. Seek a mental health professional who works specifically with grief counseling.
- Give yourself permission to laugh again. Your body cannot take constant stress. It is okay to laugh again.
- Ways to memorialize a child: Social media page, website, collection of photographs or videos, poems, journals, fundraisers. Release balloons or butterflies. Have an event with friends and family. Decorate gravesite-some people will do this on holidays or birthdays as well. Dedicate a garden to the loved one. Have their name etched into a memorial rock, brick, or fountain. Make a donation in their name.
Support Resources
for Grieving Parents
for Grieving Children
for Supporting the Bereaved
Global Resources
United States Resources
Canada Resources
Join our support network.
We are beginning quarterly meetups with bereaved family members. Casual,
no agenda. Just connect and share. Reach out if you’d like an invitation.
