..Hey there! Thank you for stopping by and checking out LifeNet Health's page! We love visitors!!!
This page was created by Emily as a joint project with LifeNet Health. LifeNet Health is a Virginia based non-profit organization that supports families affected by organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Emily is a member of a donor family. She lost her brother Will, who was 19 years old, on May 2, 2005. He was able to give the gift of life and save several lives by being an organ donor.
Through Emily's personal experience and LifeNet Health's experience working with grieving families, we recognize that our culture doesn't always allow people to grieve and heal on their own terms and timeframe. We also recognize that our society does not always understand the process of grief and the feelings that are often associated with it. Grief is different for everyone and ultimately we strive to reconcile with our loss and heal our spirit.
Although people may mean well, we often find that co-workers, sturdents, friends, and even members of our own family are uncomfortable with loss and death. People may not know what to say to a person who is grieving. Many don't want to sound cliche and say, "I'm sorry for your loss" or "I'm here if you need anything", so some just say nothing at all. It is hard to know what a grieving person needs at any given moment. People want to be sensitive and respectful, but it often creates an uncomfortable situation.
Sometimes a grieving person feels alone in their grief, as if no one could possibly understand what they are going through and dealing with. While a person experiences their intense grief, they feel the void of their loved one and them no longer being physically in their life. A common feeling is that the world has continued to move on as usual as if nothing has happened. Inside the grieving person may feel a deep sense of loss and emptiness as well. Often, just knowing that you are NOT alone, someone else DOES understand and empathize with you, helps in working through grief.
We want to create a safe and supportive place here where people can feel free to express themselves and share their experiences and stories.
