Vicky Bates

After 18 years of marriage and career, we decided to adopt two babies. My oldest had many health issues which after 10 years led to a fatal anaphylactic shock. I believe that my spiritual beliefs helped me understand that the tragedies we face challenge us to confront our pain and slowly work through it. That is what I did through helping with hospice and watching the process of transition for the dying and seeing that even in the hardest times the gentle kindness of humor is a necessary tool.

Articles:

Mother’s Day Flowers Keep Showing Up

The Mother’s Day flowers still arrive every Saturday afternoon from the local florist shop. Before I had children, my mother always sent flowers to me because, she said, she wouldn’t […]

We Can’t Get Through Grief with Logic

Time heals what reason cannot. — Seneca We think in terms of time and much is said about it after a loss. “He was so young to run out of […]

Son is Present in the Birds

My interest in animals started at an early age. My mom, having been raised on a farm, was a regular Dr. Doolittle. We always seemed to have a dog or […]

From the Fires Come Unexpected Gifts

A few years back, we had a forest fire here in the Sawtooth Mountains. The first evening, we collectively came out and stood on hillsides to watch in horror and awe […]

Winter on the Wane, Spring Hope is Coming

The calendar reads early February, and the days are getting longer. At this time of year, the daylight increases by 3 minutes each twenty-four hours; that comforts me, even though […]

Loss of Child Makes Mom Appreciate Life Even More

There was a study in Denmark that said people who lost children were 18% more likely to get cancer. They think it is the stress of loss. I was one […]

What It’s Like to Lose a Child

“Trust that you can learn from each challenge, regardless of how disturbing or painful. That is a God-given right inside of you. Invoke your right to learn from everything.” – […]

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.