Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp—or what’s a heaven for?” ~Robert Browning Melanie Hack Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend Read an excerpt now TV Shows and Clips about the Death of Cindy James

You have to admire Canadian Olympic figure skater Joannie Rochette. Last Sunday her mother, Therese Rochette, died of a heart attack in Vancouver at age 55. But not being a quitter, Joannie competed (two days later) in the first of two events—the women’s short program—and earned the third best score. But the free skate competition, […]

Have you heard the phrase, “With faith, you don’t need to grieve.” Having your personal faith does not insulate you from needing to talk out and explore your thoughts and feelings. To deny your grief is to invite problems to build up inside you. Express your faith, but express your grief as well. Melanie Hack […]

The elderly are often seen as a nuisance to treat in the hospital because (and I’ll quote something I recently heard in emergency after an elderly gentleman was sent there by ambulance from his care facility), “There are other people who stand a better chance than him and are in greater need [pointing to a […]

Those who study the effects of stress on marriages report that the death of a parent can put a great strain on a good marriage (if there is an inability or unwillingness to communicate feelings, one partner is left feeling excluded from the life of the other), so pay particular attention to your spouse. Go […]

Lately I’ve posted Blogs about being with the dying, changes in a dying person, signs of death and death of a parent. I’ve had many responses. Among them is one from a woman named Ellen, who has a daughter of her own. One thing that surprised Ellen was the difference between losing her father and […]

After a parent dies it’s common to think about why someone lived…and why s/he died…and to wonder what gives life meaning—to question your belief system. (It’s OK if you don’t find definitive answers though, because what’s more important is that you allow yourself the opportunity to think and feel things through.) It’s natural to search […]

“To live is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in the suffering.” ~Victor Frankl Melanie Hack Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend Read an excerpt now TV Shows and Clips about the Death of Cindy James

Here’s a myth you may have heard expressed in the following ways: “Everyone dies, and people who have lived a long, full life are expected to die. You’re a grown–up. You shouldn’t be so upset when your parent dies because you knew it was coming.” Or, “Be glad he lived a long, full life.” And […]

How Do I Love Thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being an ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day’s Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. I love […]