Testimonials
Do you have a testimonial that you
would like to share about your experience with the The GriefCare
Place? Please let us know; send us an e-mail at griefcareplace@att.net.
We'll review your testimonial and post it within a couple of
days on this web page for others to read. We can leave your name anonymous if you
prefer. Thanks!
"With a heavy, broken heart when my husband died, I walked
into the door of the Until Healing Comes group meeting
sponsored by The GriefCare Place. I knew I was in the right
place because I was able to breathe, there were people there
just like me, hurting, confused, scared and feeling so alone.
All the emotions of grieving were foreign to me and I could
not believe how intense the pain was. I knew I had to do this
for me for my mental health.
I went to all the meetings of Until Healing Comes, as well as
the Widows meeting and gradually was able to understand and
grieve in a healthy way. We did not just come together to cry
and tell our story, but learned how to bring new meaning to
our life. Over 2 years have passed since my husband's death
and I can say that I am steady, able to think and reason
clearly, make 'big' decisions on my own and function in my
'new normal' life. It will never be the same, I know that,
but, I look forward to what's ahead. I have no idea what that
tomorrow will look like; I just deal with today because that's
all we have, a griever knows that all too well.
Thank you to all who went before me and helped me along and to
my friend, Lou-Ann Redmon, Founder and Director of The
GriefCare Place, for following the tugging on your heart to
help all us emotionally crippled people that would over the
years walk through the door."
- Anonymous, Widow
“The
understanding, the support and encouragement of the
volunteers, staff and those in the support group have made the
grief journey bearable. It was comforting to know that my
emotional experiences were normal and that I was not losing my
mind.”
-
B.O., Adult Daughter
“The
class helped me realize that it’s okay to cry. My favorite
part of all the sessions was at the very last class. We all
wrote a note to our loved one we lost; I wrote mine to my
grandpa. Then, we stapled them to balloons, and let them go
outside, so that they would get to heaven. This class helped
me a lot.”
-
C., Girl Age 11
“I
was so thankful to find a place that I could connect with
other parents that had suffered such a devastating loss. I’m so thankful for all the caring people at
The GriefCare Place. They gave me hope when I never thought I would have it
again. I felt safe, surrounded by caring, loving people
that showed me the courage to go on without my child.”
-
C.H., Mother
“We learned how to laugh once again and
most of my ‘new life’ is a direct result of attending
those meetings. I was helped immensely – I have now become a
helper.”
- E.N., Widow
“At
The GriefCare Place I experienced a loving, gentle guidance
that helped me get through the grief process. I learned I
always wouldn’t feel so sad; that over time healing would
come. Indeed it does.”
-
Anonymous
“The
help offered by Lou-Ann Redmon and her associates has been
very rewarding, and I might add, life saving to me. I pray for
their continuing guidance and am very pleased to recommend
them to all who are in the process of recovery.”
-
R.P., Widower
“The
grief center brought light into my darkness by letting me be
able to express my feelings without feeling restricted. I was
able to go to Teen Time and share my experiences with those
who could understand my circumstance. Thank you Teen Time for
being there when I needed to talk about my father’s
death.”
-
J.T., Teenage Girl
“There is such a sense of caring with
everyone associated with The GriefCare Place that it is hard
to describe. I can only encourage any one experiencing the
loss of a loved one to go and attend the meetings. It will not
fail to help you in such a terrible time; we don’t have to
suffer alone.”
- Anonymous, Widow
“It
was a safe place to show all your emotions, and say what you
wanted to say. The leadership staff at The GriefCare Place
works very hard at showing you there is a light at the end of
the tunnel. It was a long tunnel for me; I would not have made
it without their help, but I eventually found it and I cannot
thank them enough for their time, patience and dedication to
our parents group.”
-
M.F., Mother
“It
is a place where we can express our loneliness, anger, pain
and sadness and know that others understand. And it is
the only place I have left feeling hopeful that in the future
I will be able to feel ‘normal’ again and enjoy the
memories of him and laugh again with the four beautiful
children we share.”
-
C.S., Widow
“They
understood how I felt. They allowed me to grieve in my own way
and in my own time frame. Always understanding, always
listening, never telling me what I should or shouldn’t do. Because The GriefCare Place was there for me, I have been
able to go on with life.”
-
D.D., Widower
“The
wealth of information that The GriefCare Place
provides offers much comfort and assurance that life can be
good again.”
-
M.T.
“I
loved it! You could really share your feelings and see that
you’re not the only one that is in a difficult situation, or
suffering from a loss. You get a lot of friends that feel how
you feel. You learn how to grieve and solve your problems, and
have lots of fun!”
-
D., Girl Age 12
“Thank
you for being a place those grieving can always turn to, the
one we can always count on, The GriefCare Place.”
-
B.M., Widow
“I really
didn’t think I needed a support group. I had been stronger
than I ever thought possible the first 3 to 4 months after my
husband’s death. But, at the suggestion of a neighbor and a
small blurb in the Stow
newspaper, I asked a friend who was also recently widowed to
go with me to this class called Until Healing Comes.
We
knew before the end of that first evening that we were really
glad we had come. You can tell that a lot of thought has gone
into the structure of the classes and, even though the program
has been around for some time, you know that LouAnn,
Christina, and the volunteers are truly interested in helping
each one of us — no matter how many times they’ve done it.
Each topic covered plays an essential role in what we are
experiencing as we heal physically, emotionally and
spiritually. And as the weeks progressed, we could see that we
were indeed moving in a positive direction.
I’m
not sure if I would feel as complete as I do today if it
weren’t for The GriefCare Place
and this program. Knowing that my thoughts, my actions, my
fears, the wide range of emotions are all normal has been an
enormous relief. Even though I knew it intellectually, I
needed to be with others feeling the same thing to affirm that
it is okay. There is great comfort in hearing someone else
express what’s going on in your mind… and it’s great to
make new friends who share this common bond. It definitely
helps open the door to the next chapter of our lives and lets
the light come in. Because of it, we’re all one step closer
to crossing the threshold.”
-
K.H., Widow
“When
our son was killed in an automobile accident, The GriefCare
Place was recommended to us by our friend, Rev. Paul
Sartarelli. He said that it would help us in the grief
process. This we have found to be true. The programs that
Carole Hegedus and Kim present give us comfort and solace. In
our opinion, they are second to none. We greatly appreciate
the time, effort, and money that it takes The GriefCare Place to
initiate these programs.”
-
M.M., Mother
“My
name is Larry Large. My son, Sgt. Bryan W. Large U.S. Army 82nd
Airborne, Medic, was killed in action in Haqlaniyait,
Iraq
on Oct. 3, 2005. This was my son’s 3rd combat
tour. Even though as a father and veteran I had thought and
worried about
Bryan, nothing could prepare myself or my family for the struggle
with daily life since Oct. 3, 2005. I attend the monthly
meetings, and talk with other parents who have lost children.
Gone is gone, no matter how it happened. The pain of losing my
son will never go away, but talking with others who are in the
same place you are helps. I wonder sometimes, what I would
have done if I didn’t have these meetings to look forward
to. Together we help each other. Life is only as lonely as you
let it be. Thank you.”
-
Larry W. Large, Father
“I
am a changed and healing woman as a direct result of your
groups. I was depressed and desperate when I arrived on your
doorstep. All of my training in grief counseling was
ineffective in curing myself. What you have to offer is
priceless. You are a competent and gifted counselor and the
world is a better place for having you here. You have
dedicated your life in the best suited fashion. It is an honor
to know you. Thank you, Lou-Ann, for showing me the
light.”
-
Julie Gonzalez Woodward, Widow
