I am a grieving mother. My son died. I know he is physically gone from this world. Yet I assure you he is not gone. Let me also say; he is not "looking down, watching over us." Don't tell me he "will always be in our hearts." He is not in some faraway place waiting for us to be reunited. He is right here in the same room where I stand. When I say that, it is not in the sense of remembering him or keeping his memory alive. Nor is it wishful thinking. I promise you it is no grief ... Read More about My Son Died, But He Is Still Here
Search Results for: melissa russell
Pets in Grief – How Walking our Dog Became My Life Preserver
I think any animal lover would agree how special our pets are. They love us unconditionally. And ask so little in return for their unconditional love and companionship. This is especially true of pets in grief, especially when the pet's owner is experiencing a period of profound grief. After losing my son Aiden, my dog's companionship and our daily walks saved me. My Constant Companion During those dark months after losing Aiden, I know our dog felt our pain. Before losing Aiden, he was ... Read More about Pets in Grief – How Walking our Dog Became My Life Preserver
Signs From Heaven: Receiving Signs From My Baby Who Died
Over the years since losing Aiden, I have received many signs from him. Signs that I know deep in my heart, are not coincidences or quirks, but true signs sent from my sweet boy. Some of the signs I have always felt came from Aiden are heart shaped rocks and feathers. I had never before in my life noticed a heart shaped rock, but since losing Aiden, I find them everywhere. So blatantly obvious that I can’t help but notice them. I also find many tiny, beautiful white feathers that I know are ... Read More about Signs From Heaven: Receiving Signs From My Baby Who Died
Goodnight Moon
We have always made an effort to include Aiden’s memory in our daily lives. We want our two children who were born after Aiden to know him and feel connected to their big brother. We speak of him often and find ways to include him in our daily lives and important events. It brings me peace to know that Aiden is remembered, not just by me, but by our whole family. I often find the most meaningful ways that Aiden is included in our lives are the little things that pop up, probably unnoticed ... Read More about Goodnight Moon
To the Heart Holders
When I was deep in the throes of grief, I needed to talk about losing Aiden. I needed to have the same conversation over and over again because I needed to talk and talk and talk to begin healing. It was the only way I could start to process the trauma of losing him. I needed to say out loud how unfair it was that he died, how brutal it was watching him die, how much I missed him, how I wished things could be different, how sad I was, how angry I was, how lost I was. These conversations were ... Read More about To the Heart Holders
The Puzzle of Grief
My life before losing Aiden was like a puzzle where the pieces were coming together to form the picture I had always imagined for my life. I had finished university, earning two degrees that interested me. I had a loving and supportive family who I was grateful for. I had a close group of friends who I loved and had fun with. I had travelled to some amazing places. I had married the man I loved. We bought our first house, it was cute and cozy and our first home together. We got a cute little dog ... Read More about The Puzzle of Grief
Seeing Double
When our son Aiden was born in 2010, he was almost an exact clone of my husband as a baby. My husband’s own father even confused a picture of my husband as a baby with Aiden. Aiden lived for only 19 days, so we never got to see how his features changed beyond the newborn stage. Our third child, Gavin, was born this July. We are grateful beyond belief that he is here, healthy and thriving. Although not quite as much a clone of his daddy as Aiden was, he definitely looks a lot like my ... Read More about Seeing Double