Post by Still Standing Contributor Lindsey Henke of Still Breathing and PALS
I am sorry my grief inconveniences you. That you feel you need to treat me differently now that my daughter is dead.
I am sorry it makes you uncomfortable to think about the possibility of the death of a child.
Even speaking death’s name in the same sentence as your child might make you think he will come knocking at your door.
I am sorry that I am not the same person I was before she died.
Believe it or not, I am okay with that.
There is a flame that burns in me now where once only a spark lived.
That flame is the torch of love I carry for her and I don’t plan to let anyone put it out.
I am sorry I mention her name, and you don’t know what to say.
That seems to be your problem, not mine.
For her name is music to my ears and brings peace to my grieving heart.
I’m sorry you don’t understand the reason I must carry my grief with me.
It’s a reminder that I have loved deeply and grieve the joys that once were and will never be.
I’m sorry you can’t just sit with me and listen for a while.
And that is what I need. I need you to just “be.”
I need you to be comfortable with my grief because it’s not going away.
I don’t plan on letting it leave.
I am sure you don’t plan on letting the love you hold for your child walk out the door with them the moment they go to college.
I am sorry I haven’t found “closure.”
I have a secret for you: there isn’t any.
Closure doesn’t exist.
And that’s okay.
Because the grief I carry for her is love, and would you toss aside the love you have for your child because it made someone else uncomfortable?
I didn’t think so.
Really what I meant to say is…
I’m sorry that I’m not sorry.
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I was inspired to write this piece after listening to a TED Talk by Nancy Berns, a sociologist who studies grief and the concept of closure. In her work, she has found that the idea of closure from grief does not exist.
We learn to integrate the loss of our loved one into our life, hence the idea of a “new normal.”
She has also experienced the death of a child due to stillbirth. I only wish I could eloquently explain how joy and grief are entwined as she does.
Brenda Jordan
This expresses how I feel so perfectly. I lost my son Aaron 12;months ago 23 Rd December 2018.
I wish I could get a copy of this . Is that possible?
Thank you for writing this
My loss is not the same, as I lost my mom in October 2017, she was only 59, but this is exactly how I feel. I am tired of people telling me to get closure and move on. In my head I say WTF. Would they, if in this position, feel the same way? I highly doubt it. That you for yhus article, it hit home and made me feel like I am not the only one out there feeling this way. Lots of love yo you and I am so very sorry for your loss.
Thank you for this, I am so grateful to be excepted to this group.