griefHaven Information

The death of someone we love or care about is a life-altering experience and often changes us on every level. People come to realize that they will never be the same person they were before. Once grief enters our lives, it becomes a part of our livesnot in the same intensity or form as it is in the beginning, but, as we go through life, we find that our grief for that person or over that experience is there, and we see how it changes as we change. This is referred to as creating a new normal or rebuilding life. For instance, for some, in the first year, they are unable to look at a photo of their loved one without feeling pain; yet, as the grief journey continues, they find that the same photos make them smile. One does not get over losing a loved one, but rather eventually learns how to incorporate not only the grief but also the person into that new life, creating a new relationship with him or her that is no longer about his or her body. That takes commitment, self-compassion, education, and grief tools. That is where griefHaven comes in. griefHaven (aka The Erika Whitmore Godwin Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation dedicated to providing grief support and education to those who have loved and lost, those who want to know how to support someone who is grieving, and professionals who work within the arena of death and dying. My name is Susan Whitmore, and I am deeply sorry for your loss. I, too, know the pain of losing someone I love. You see, in 2001, my only child, Erika Whitmore Godwin, 31 years old at the time, was diagnosed with a rare sinus tumor. One year later, despite every effort, Erika died. The painful and difficult journey I began exceeded anything I could have imagined. Only with dedication to my own grief journey, and the love and support of friends, was I able to make it through each day. As I began my personal journey, I discovered there were many support tools, but they were scattered everywhere, and finding them was a painstakingly arduous process. Most of the websites talked ...