Gerald J. Schaefer lost his wife to breast cancer and was left a single parent with two young sons. He has been a large capital Project Manager in the paper, pharmaceutical and utility industry and has a chemical engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin. He is the author of The Widower’s Toolbox: Repairing Your Life After Losing Your Spouse. […]
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Lu Anne De Vries is the mother of four sons and the grandmother of eight grandchildren. Her fifth and youngest child, Mandy was adopted from Korea as an infant. In Dec 2009, at the age of 23, Mandy died in her sleep of an unknown cause. In her book “Bright Hope” Lu Anne shares the early stages of grief and her desire to […]
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Diana Sundwall is the Founder and Executive Director of Infants Remembered In Silence, Inc. (IRIS) – founded in 1987 following the stillbirth of her son Derek in 1985. She is the author of “Sharing the Tears: How family and friends can help following the death of a child” and “Tender Teaching: Incorporating Infants Loss into childbirth classes.” https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2012/07/Dianna-Sundwall_01.mp3Podcast: Play in […]
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Michael Nunley’s father’s diagnosis of terminal cancer was like losing an anchor for the Nunley family. A second blow came when Michael broke the news, that his sister Cyndy had taken her life. Michael shares how the loss of his sister enabled him to craft the song for a Compassionate Friends Candle Lighting bringing him greater healing. Follow Kim’s Blog […]
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Cathy Spear, LICSW, is Director of Camper Services at Circle of Tapawingo, a week-long overnight camp program in Maine for girls who have experienced the death of a parent. Circle was founded in 2002 with 32 campers ages 8-12. This August, Circle will enroll 145 girls, now including a Teen Program, as well as a CIT program for Circle’s own […]
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Linda Triplett is Co-Director of a Minnesota non-profit organization, in memory of her son Adam, which serves the Love Basket Grief Support Outreach, and is the author of “A Mother’s Journal.” Linda’s passion is sharing her story of loss and healing with parents grieving the death of a child. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/files/2012/07/Linda-Triplett_01.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Donna Marie Thompson, PhD is a speaker and best-selling author who through her own personal experiences has helped thousands of people. Her recent book, BOUNCING BACK FROM LOSS teaches how to not only survive but to come back better and faster. Donna Marie has earned a PhD, MBA, and CPA. She is a Certified Professional Coach, a Certified NLP Practitioner, and a Master […]
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Reverend Judith Johnson, PhD is a dynamic visionary and social change agent helping to transform the fear-based culture of death in America. As a non-denominational minister, Judith provides grief counseling and officiates at memorial services. Her passion for facilitating change in the culture of death was fueled by a nine year journey as primary caregiver to her mother. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2012/07/Judith-Johnson_01.mp3Podcast: Play […]
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Chris Donohoe is a San Francisco based singer/songwriter. He has released 3 albums since 2009; WHAT DRIVES YOU, HERMOSILLA His latest project MARCH was inspired by the difficult and profound experience of watching his youngest brother, Terrence, battle Multiple Sclerosis. Chris and his family were with Terrence when he passed away in 2011. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2012/07/Chris-Donohue_01.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Louis E. LaGrand, PhD, has been an expert in the field of bereavement for more than thirty years. He is a Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at the State University of New York and Adjunct Professor of Health Careers at the Eastern Campus of Suffolk Community College in Riverhead, New York. He gives seminars on death-related topics in schools, hospices, and […]
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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.
