The "Growing Through Grief" Series

My Child Has Died!
by John Kennedy Saynor

"Very few parents expect to outlive their children. In the normal course of events, children are supposed to outlive their parents. Parents have dreams and hopes for their children and the children are supposed to live to fulfill their parents' dreams. So for parents an important element of their future dies with the death of a child."

Tip: Hold on to your hope! In the days and weeks immediately following the death or your child, you will think you will never recover. This is not true. Open yourself to other parents who share a similar loss. The effects of this death will remain with you for the rest of your life, but you will find meaning and joy in life again as long as you don't lose hope.