“When you are a parent who has lost a child. What do you think is the single most important thing to do in the first months/years?”

• “Allow yourself to grieve. It’s so painful but necessary. Do not feel guilty if you laugh or have a moment of joy. It’s what I’ve been thinking about myself when the time comes. Easier said then done I’m sure.”  – Charity
• “Be gentle with yourself. The first years are so hard. I got a lot out of child loss support groups. Do not try to go around or under grief, there is only through.”  – Keri
• “Reach out! I joined a support group cuz it was what ‘I’ needed at that time Because people around me found it very difficult to know what to say or how to react so they pulled back Not cuz they didn’t care but because it was just so painful. I was fortunate enough to join a private support group that we formed a bound for years. I’m so sorry this happened. May you find the strength and support to get through this difficult time,”  – Leigh
• “Everyone grieves differently. I found comfort in being more spiritual … looking out for signs, comforting music, visiting my son’s resting place at the cemetery, looking at his pictures, joining a Compassionate Friends bereavement group helping others in this most unnatural group, and most of all having a reading with a true medium like John Holland. My hubby grieves different than me as it hurts him too much to go to the cemetery or look at our son’s pictures or go to the bereavement groups. My son also grieves differently from me & my hubby. As a sibling even though he misses his brother he has moved on with his life feeling Nick is at peace. Thank God for John Holland’s reading with us who brought through our son with so many validations. This was what we truly needed along with our other son to learn that our Nick is at peace in Heaven & will always be with us watching over us. Even though it’s been almost 14 years since our son’s passing it feels like yesterday. I feel losing a child is the worst grief because you lost a part of yourself and will never be the same.”  – Jan