Losing my Papa and Nanny left a deep hole in my heart. The memories we shared together are amazing and yet the grief feels so overwhelming. My relationship with Papa was something I cherished deeply—he wasn’t just my grandfather; he was my best friend. We would play games together for hours, laughing and joking. His hugs were the best part of my day, and we talked about everything, often making up fun stories or little games that would keep us entertained for hours and day. Losing him left me feeling like I lost a piece of myself.
With my Nanny, it was a little different, but still caused a lot of grief. We would cuddle together while reading books, watching Dr. Pol, and sometimes, we’d take long walks side by side. She made the best chocolate cake, and I’ll always remember how sweet it smelled as it baked in the kitchen. Though we weren’t as close as I was with Papa, losing her felt like another layer of grief added to the already heavy burden of losing him. My world truly shattered when she passed away.
After Papa’s death, I was heartbroken, but when my Nanny passed shortly after, it felt like I was drowning. I had already been struggling with the pain of losing my grandpa, and then losing her left me feeling completely lost. My grades started to slip, and I felt disconnected from the world. I lost most of my friends because I couldn’t find myself being happy again. I was too consumed by sadness, guilt, and regret. I felt guilty, like I should’ve done more for them while they were still here. I regretted not having spent more time or said the things I wish I had. Those feelings weighed heavily on me, and I didn’t know how to cope.
The Children’s Grief Center has been a tremendous help to me as I continue to cope with the loss of my grandmother and grandfather. They have provided support in ways I never thought were possible. I attend the Children’s Grief Center twice a month. Each visit begins with a meal, after which Gabby sends us to our groups that are different age ranges . In these rooms, we sometimes read books as a group, discuss our grief, or play games while dealing with our grief. After that, we move to another room where we engage in activities related to grief. These activities focus on preserving our memories, handling emotions, and finding ways to cope with the loss of our loved ones. I truly enjoy going to the Children’s Grief Center because it is an amazing place. I have the opportunity to make new friends and reconnect with old ones. Additionally, I learn various methods for managing grief while having fun with the activities. The grief center has taught me to be myself, help others when they are hurting, and support everyone whenever they need it.
How many of you have lost someone in your life - a family member, a friend, a pet, a teacher? We are all connected by loss. It doesn't matter what we look like, how old we are, how much money we make, or what our grades are. In group, we've all lost someone special to us. Thank you to the Children's Grief Center, for all you do for me, for all of us.
Thank you so much for donating to the Children's Grief Center.
