We are alone. And we worry about that. We worry we will die alone. We buried our life partner. And now we worry about who will bury us? Who will walk our dogs, who will feed our cats when we’re gone?
Read More
We are alone. And we worry about that. We worry we will die alone. We buried our life partner. And now we worry about who will bury us? Who will walk our dogs, who will feed our cats when we’re gone?
Read More
We are alone. And we worry about that. We worry we will die alone. We buried our life partner. And now we worry about who will bury us? Who will walk our dogs, who will feed our cats when we’re gone?
Read More
Lorraine Ash, 46, author of Life Touches Life: A Mother’s Story of Stillbirth and Healing, has been a full-time journalist since 1982, the year she earned her master’s degree at Fordham University in the Bronx. A native New Jerseyan, she began her newspaper career in her home state and has remained there, currently writing for the Daily Record in Parsippany, New Jersey. Her feature articles and series, particularly on women’s issues as well as physical and mental health, have won national, state, and regional awards and appeared in daily newspapers across the country. Lorraine, a member of The International Women’s […]
Read More
The mental fog that had sheltered me emotionally during those first four months after my husband?s death is slowly, and painfully, beginning to clear. Coincidently, this occurs just as the world around me appears to need me to get out and on with my life. And so, I?m finding that this is an important time in my mourning because with my newfound awareness comes the need to take a stand, to ?own? my grieving
Read More
You?re home now. A short while ago you stood over a hole in the earth. You blew a kiss, tossed a rose, sprinkled a shovelful of dirt over a casket, and said goodbye to your husband, your soul mate, the best friend you ever had. As you move about greeting hungry strangers, someone whispers that the woman wandering about with mayonnaise on her chin is your mother?s sister?s next door neighbor?s cousin?s dog?s pet sitter. It is a scene right out of Star Wars, the one in the bar, and you feel trapped
Read More
I am Krystal’s eldest sister (Kina Long-Rewis), and this is the victim impact statement that I read to the judge (at the sentencing hearing): – – – – – To The Honorable Judge Dearing, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to share how the death of my sister, Krystal Long-Duss, has affected my life. I will try my best to find the words that properly describe the pain I am feeling for the tremendous loss of my little sister. For over eighteen months now; I have tried so hard to make sense of this situation, but I […]
Read More
Dear Heidi, You may use anything that I have sent you on your blog. I am honored that you would like to use it. If you can wait a day or two, Kina said she would resend her Victim Impact Statement to me. I can then send it to you. When she sent it to me the pictures were in color. I do not know why they are now in black and white. I would like you to see them in color also. Did you open the attachment with my Victim Impact Statement on one of my previous emails? I […]
Read More
Wow Jo Ann: What a powerful and moving e-mail. Thank-you so much for sharing so much of yourself and your daughter Krystal with me. I can’t even imagine the pain you’ve been through in losing your daughter. My heart goes out to you as a mother, as well as Krystal’s children, and sisters’. I can relate to what Krystal went through to get her wonderful boys, and I am so sorry that she is not hear to enjoy them as they grow up. After my 8 yr. old son was born I tried for yrs. to have another child, after […]
Read More
Honorable Judge Dearing, My name is Jo Ann Webb. I am Krystal Duss’ mother. How can I give you a glimpse of the unspeakable, unthinkable, unimaginable despair, pain, suffering and deep grief of having my child killed by a drunk driver? December 9, 2003 seemed like a typical day. I went to work. I teach at a public high school. Krystal and I usually talked on the phone several times a day. She’d call just to say, “hi.” I’d call to see how her day was going and tell her that I loved her. On December 9, Krystal called to […]
Read More
Open to Hope is an online community offering inspirational stories of loss, hope and recovery. We believe hope is the bridge between loss and recovery.
