On September 17, 2021, my beloved younger daughter lost her valiant battle with addiction. I have many poems, prayers, and writings that I have not yet shared, but want to offer now.
The picture below is Dana’s personal manifesto she wrote in one of her many rehab facilities.
Dana was, and continues to be,
a light in this world.
Some heartbreaks change us forever.
The death of a child is one of them.
No matter how many years pass, there are moments when grief still catches us by surprise. A song. A photograph. A birthday. A Mother’s Day. An empty chair. A memory that suddenly takes our breath away.
And somehow, we continue.
One breath at a time.
One prayer at a time.
One moment at a time.
As I approach another year without my beloved daughter Dana physically here, I feel called to gather with others who understand this kind of loss — the kind that lives quietly beside us while we try to continue with everyday life.
On Thursday, May 14th at noon CDT, I’ll be going LIVE for a heartfelt conversation called:
Dana’s Light:
How to Survive the Death of Your Child
This is not about “getting over it.” It is about surviving it.
Living with it.
Loving through it.
And helping each other carry what sometimes feels impossible to carry alone.
We will talk about grief, love, faith, anger, exhaustion, memories, spiritual connection, and the strange experience of belonging to a club we never wanted to join.
There may be tears.
There may be laughter.
There may even be moments of unexpected peace.
Because grieving parents somehow learn how to hold heartbreak and gratitude in the very same hand.
You do not need to come with answers.
You do not need to be “doing well.”
You do not need to hide your sadness or protect anyone from your truth.
You only need to come as you are.
I hope you’ll join us.
With love,
Linda
For more writings about Dana’s Light, go here.
If you know someone who has lost a child,
please share this invitation with them gently.
Sometimes the greatest healing begins simply by hearing:
“Me too.”
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