Grief has never arrived in an orderly way for me. We are often taught that grief moves through stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. It can sound almost reassuring, as though grief follows a predictable path and, if we keep moving, we will eventually reach the end. But grief has not worked that way […]
When Anger Returns Read More »
Everyone. Everyday. This morning, I realized I was wearing my brother’s sweater. I was standing in front of the mirror getting ready for the day. Nothing unusual. Just the quiet rhythm of a routine I have done a thousand times before. And then, for some reason, it hit me. It is one he got from
My Brother’s Sweater Read More »
The holiday season can be complicated, especially when grief sits close to the surface. This time of year can hold warmth, connection, and moments that feel comforting, but it can also stir memories, tension, loneliness, and emotions that feel heavier than usual. If this season brings more questions than joy, more ache than celebration, you
Moving Through the Holidays with Care Read More »
This blog is a follow up to “When Grief Meets Grief: Navigating Loss Within Loss” He’s gone. We knew this moment was coming. It crept in slowly, painfully, and now it has arrived. Even though we were bracing for it, nothing could truly prepare us. The world feels both quieter and heavier without him
When Love Stays Behind: A Tribute to My Mom After Goodbye Read More »
Four and a half years ago, my world shifted forever when I lost my brother in a way that shattered my heart and changed the shape of my life. I have been learning, sometimes stumbling, through the daily work of living alongside grief. And then, this year, grief returned. My stepfather, someone who had been
When Grief Meets Grief: Navigating Loss Within Loss Read More »
Some days just stop you in your tracks. Today was one of those days, the kind that pulls you right back into the center of your grief without warning. No time to prepare. No heads-up. Just… here we are again. It was a dark, snowy Monday morning, the kind where most people probably wanted to
An Unexpected Gut Punch Read More »
On April 24, 2025, the Impacted Survivors team—Kristina Faulkner, Tina Chevalier, and Michael Vinton—presented their topic, “The Combination No One Wants to Talk About: Murder-Suicides,” to a packed room of attendees. This presentation was part of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s annual Suicide Prevention Conference, held just outside the Boston area. More than 200
Go to the Conference Read More »
Every year around my birthday, which falls toward the end of the month, I get a little weepy. I imagine it’s for many reasons—and no, not the obvious “Oh no! I’m getting older.” Age doesn’t bother me. If anything, I see getting older as a rite of passage. I’m another year wiser, and like aged
After 31 Years, I Still Miss My Grandma Read More »
In the aftermath of my brother’s death, there were so many things that needed to be done. When I was able to finally shake off the shock of what had happened, one of the first things that came naturally to me was to go straight into “work” mode. My priority was getting into his condo
“……I was afraid to dream because my dreams were broken.” My brother died on a Monday afternoon as did his mother in-law, whose life he took that day. From the moment that I got the call from my father, about what had transpired earlier that day, my heart exploded into pieces. It was only
To Dream the Impossible Dream Read More »
