The changing faces of grief since 09/11

21 years ago the United States witnessed the fall of the twin towers in New York City. As a nation, we were grieving the loss of life that occurred during this event. For years afterward on 09/11 memorials were held for the families that lost loved ones. Tributes were created. This outpouring of grief changed the grief culture in America. Even in the 11 years since my son died, I have seen grief becoming more normalized. In 2011 I did not see the outpouring of grief on Facebook. It is only in recent years on Instagram have I seen where grieving has become acceptable. 09/11/2011 has personal significance to me for it was the first day of my first job as a counselor. Every year as I celebrate my career development and milestones I mourn the loss of innocence that occurred on 09/11. As I recorded the podcast today I discuss the changes I have seen in the grief culture over the last 11 years and the hopes I have for future changes. I made a mistake in the podcast today. It was 21 years ago that I graduated from Chapman University not 22 years ago. 

Bio

I was living the average life. I was married with two children working in a profession that I loved. On June 19. 2011 that life was destroyed and I became another person. My oldest son died unexpectedly. My son did not die from cancer. Chemotherapy killed him. It is a common experience, but I didn’t know that then. I thought that chemotherapy was going to save him. Almost immediately I felt betrayed by my profession because I was a counselor. I should have known how to handle his death. The loneliness started almost immediately. I felt so alone. I stopped sleeping and the people around me began to disappear. I knew I need community. 10 years later I am finally in a place where I am trying to build the community that I so desperately needed when Christopher first died. We can’t change that our children died, but we can help each other through it. Join me in creating a community for grieving mothers to share our stories with each other creating a sacred space for authentic grieving.

It is my mission for the podcast to provide grieving mothers everywhere a safe, sacred space where their grief is accepted. It is through the podcast that the culture of silence that surrounds the grief of the mother will be dismantled, and a culture of support will be created. It is our vision to create a community where we can share our questions, and concerns, and support each other.

I am here and I am listening. I am honored to hear your story.

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