Hello, Shining Light Parents!  We hope that you are doing well and that you are happy and healthy.  Living through this Covid-19 epidemic is not easy, but I feel that it has brought us all even closer through our Zoom meetings.  If you haven't yet done so, please check out our new Helping Parents Heal YouTube channel by clicking here!  Also, be sure to join our Helping Parents Heal Facebook group for information about our Zoom meetings and more!

This month is Mother's Day, please be gentle with yourselves. Sara Ruble will be speaking to Irene Vouvalides' affiliate  by Zoom on Mother's Day.  You can RSVP and join by clicking here. 

We understand and we walk the same path.  We are grateful that you have found us.  This newsletter is a space that allows us to share our amazing children. Thank you for your compassion and for the constant support you provide.  Together, we will help each other heal!

With love and light, 
-Elizabeth Boisson, President and Co-Founder of Helping Parents Heal, Newsletter Editor and Phoenix/Scottsdale Affiliate Leader

Please visit our website, www.helpingparentsheal.org, to find out more, as well as to add your child's tribute, to sign up for our newsletter and to opt-in to support Helping Parents Heal through the Amazon Smiles program.

Celebrating the 2-Year Anniversary of our First Helping Parents Heal Conference!
Rick Wilcoxson has created an amazing slideshow of our First Helping Parents Heal Conference!

Hello, wonderful Parents!

Helping Parents Heal received one of the most beautiful gifts ever from Rick Wilcoxson, our first Helping Parents Heal Conference photographer, who is also a Shining Light Dad of Anthony and Michael and a volunteer, who sent us a slideshow of our First Helping Parents Heal Conference in Scottsdale that he put together in honor of the last day of the conference, that should have taken place in Charleston on April 19th.

As you know, the conference has been postponed, but it will be better than ever! Thank you, dear Rick, for capturing the essence of the Conference in your slideshow and in your summary; this journey that we make together is all about LOVE! Please be sure to read to the end to find the links to our children's slideshow and to a slideshow of pictures of the conference!

A VERY SPECIAL SLIDESHOW, by Rick Wilcoxson

I am a father who has two deceased children. I am a member of the group no one wants to join but am grateful it is here to allow us to support each other through the difficult journey.

I was asked to take photographs to memorialize the first Helping Parents Heal Conference in Phoenix, 2018.

I was determined to do my best to capture each presenter and as many of the attendees as possible. As a photographer, I wanted to get images that represented the entire event. I moved from room to room of simultaneous events trying to catch the essence of each message being shared and when possible, the reaction and emotions of the audience. The painful experience we have in common, the loss of our child, is beyond any other. Still, most important to the organizers of the conference was to help counter that pain with hope and love, offered and shared by presenters and fellow attendees alike. I wanted to capture those emotions.

There were many different presentations and facilitators. Though I enjoy my photography hobby, it felt like work and I got only a small portion of each presentation due to the short stint I had in each room. As a bereaved parent, I didn’t get the results intended by the presenters because I didn’t hear a complete presentation. I did however, get a tremendous amount by observing through my lens. I saw parents in room after room watching and listening intently. I tried to not miss anyone and it seemed I was ‘meeting’ everyone in attendance through my camera. I began to recognize faces again and again, though they did not know me, except perhaps as an annoying guy with a camera. I tried to avoid interfering with presentations and with great understanding, not to violate personal space in such an environment where vulnerability is so possible. I watched the faces of despair turn to laughter and joy as experience and understanding was shared. Tears of love and remembrance were shed as validation of our children’s lives and ever remaining spirit was acknowledged and celebrated.

I wanted to participate in some of the healing for myself. Before meetings started for day three, I went to watch the slideshow of photographs of our children whom had passed. I wanted to ‘meet’ the children of the parents I had been ‘meeting’ over the last few days. This was the highlight of the conference for me.

We parents had selected the photographs of our kids that show our children at their best. This is how we choose to remember them and how we would like the world to see them. I saw so much more in those pictures.

I entered an empty side room for the slideshow with the intent of seeing all the children responsible for attendance of this unique conference. It was very moving; beyond my expectations and in a different way than I expected. I sat on a comfy sofa in the dimly lit room as the first photo came on the screen. I quickly was lost in the image and felt the presence of the subject’s spirit. I don’t recall who the first one was and it didn’t matter. The second was the same, and the third, and every single image until the end.

I saw their smiles. Not just on their faces, in the position of their mouths, but in their eyes. Smiles from ear to ear, head to toe, and in body language. I truly felt like I was sensing their spirit, one after another. These were images captured in a fraction of a second from a specific moment in time in the lives of these beautiful people. Somehow I sensed more. I felt I could sense personality and a piece of their spirit.

I was keenly aware that these people had put time into themselves on the day of the photo as well as every moment up to that point in their worlds. They had spent their lives to that point crafting their own personas. They had looked in their mirrors that morning as they combed their hair, shaved, or put on their make-up. They chose their clothes, styles, and accessories to be the best they could be. They were aware and deliberate as to the way they presented themselves to the world. Their locations, activities, props, and body language showed them as unique individuals full of life and love. Each is unique and there will never be another like them.

Some of these children were too young to make the decisions for themselves and some, like my son, had handicaps that wouldn’t allow him to make those decisions. Even in these children, I felt their spirit. The decisions I described above were inconsequential to them but the deeper, more important sense of their humanness seemed to express itself.

My own emotions changed throughout the show. Initially I started to cry for the loss of these mostly young lives I didn’t even know. I do unfortunately know the feeling of loss very well. Then, the more I became aware of their spirits, I felt joy and could feel the love these people felt. I got lost in it and was smiling through photo after photo. I felt as though I was actually meeting them and I was certain they had purpose. Others knew them and they impacted many other lives with their own. I watched it at least three times when I had to go start taking my own photos.

My quest for the weekend, to try to capture emotion in a photograph, apparently had prepared my senses to evaluate fractions of each moment on other peoples’ faces. I was rewarded with sharing those moments captured by many other photographers unknown to me, and chosen for display by parents unknown to me, and the gift was seeing life and love in a photograph.

I hope we all remember that ‘what happened’ to our child doesn’t really matter. What matters is who our child was and what their lives did to enrich ours and those who loved them.

Thank you Helping Parents Heal for doing just that!

The conference was two years ago. Today was scheduled for the first subsequent conference. Unfortunately this meeting was altered due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. We will not be able to see, hold, and hug each other as we did at the last meeting.

We are learning that physical presence and contact is substantial but is not the most important thing in life. We are ALL connected regardless of geography or either side of the veil. May peace and joy be with you all and may the spirit of those you have loved continue to live through you.

The video of the children as described above can be seen by clicking here.

I have created another slideshow of images from that first conference. It can be seen by clicking here.

A Healing Validation Story from our First Helping Parents Heal ConferenceSherri Albern holds hands with her daughter, Kali/Garrett and his sister Kailee Savoie

As you can imagine, there were many heartwarming stories that came out of our First Helping Parents Heal Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Irene Vouvalides and I were thrilled to hear that so many parents had made connections and had truly felt like they were spending time with their kids. Below is a story that was written by Sherri Albern, a Shining Light Parent, and Kailee Savoie, a Shining Light Sibling volunteer, while watching the slideshow at the conference. 

Sherri Albern’s Story

It was the last day of the first HPH conference.  When Sheri Perl’s session ended, I left my belongings where I’d been sitting, since I planned to attend the next presentation in that same room.   What I didn’t realize was it was a sold out, extra charge class.  By the time I retrieved my things, the other workshops had already started.  Instead of going in late to anything else, I decided to go see the pictures of our children since I hadn’t had the opportunity yet.
 
When I entered the room where the slides were being shown there was one other person there already.  I hesitated briefly, then went up and asked if she minded if I joined her.  She was very welcoming and we struck up a conversation as we watched.  She had lost her brother and was volunteering her time to help with the conference. 
 
I will digress and say that one thing I really miss about my daughter’s physical presence is being able to touch her.  We often held hands while she was on this earth.
 
After a while of talking to this exceptional young lady, we ended up holding hands with each other.  That is how I ended up holding hands with Kailee …as we saw the faces of her beloved brother, Garrett, and my daughter Kali.
 

Kailee Savoie’s Story

Last April, I had the honor and the privilege to volunteer at the first Helping Parent’s Heal Conference. In all honesty, at first I had NO idea what I was getting myself into. My Mom, Laurie, has been a member and I know that it had been an amazing support system for her, but since I was a sibling and not a parent I had not been actively involved in the organization.

I was absolutely blown away by the incredibly powerful, loving, and healing community. The entire weekend was filled with inspiration, hope, connection, and again, LOVE. It was life-changing for me to see how the “club that no one wants to be a part of” was filled with so much joy!

On the last day there, I decided to watch the slide show of all of the kids. I was the only one in there when a woman, Sherri, came and sat down right next to me. We began talking and in that conversation I found out that her daughter was named Kali, too! It was another one of those magical, synchronistic moments that you know, without a doubt, was guided by our loved ones from the other side. I am so grateful and blessed to be a part of this amazing community, meeting amazing people, and sharing these amazing stories!
 
-Written by Sherri Albern and Kailee Savoie, in honor of Kali and Garrett

Please click here to view our beautiful Conference slideshow, created by Rick Wilcoxson! 

Please SUBSCRIBE to our new HPH YOUTUBE CHANNEL!  It's free!
As you all know, our Second Helping Parents Heal Conference was postponed due to Covid-19.  However, all of our amazing Presenters have offered to speak to our group by Zoom!  We have scheduled some wonderful speakers who are all catalogued on our Helping Parents Heal YouTube Channel.  Please be sure to learn more and subscribe today by clicking here! 

The Caring ListenersLinda McCarthy, Ernie Jackson, Glenda Pearson, Suzi Smith, Tracy Soussi, Lisa Laniewski, Tywana & Brian Smith, David Alison, Lynn & Jeff Hollahan, Suzanne Klokkenga, Patti Brennan and Karol Hennessey of the Caring Listeners

Fourteen wonderful Caring Listeners, created by Dr. Mark Pitstick and led by Linda McCarthy, are willing to talk in person, by phone, or on a video-conference call like Skype or Zoom.  They each are bereaved parents who are now shining brightly – most of the time – and want to help others.  Now more than ever, please do not hesitate to call! Please click here to learn more!

Dr. Mark Pitstick and his book 'SoulProof'

Evolved Souls Don’t Need Long Earthly Lives
May 2020
by Mark Pitstick, MA, DC 

To all parents, I am very sorry about the death of your child’s human form.  However, I’m glad you are learning how to heal and transform.  Six key understandings to making that shift are:

     1. Over 99% of who and what your child is still alive in another phase of forever.

     2. Only his earthly body died.  Everything else continues – all the love, energy, humor,
         personality, memory, energetic / subtle body, and much more.  (See article #2
         When a Child Changes Worlds at SoulProof.com)  Really knowing this helps
         you journey from a bereaved to shining light parent / family member. 

     3. She is happy, peaceful, and enthusiastic – and wants you to be that way now.

     4. You will see her when you pass on and can enjoy relationships with her now.  (To learn
        more, see article #9 Visit With ‘Departed’ Loved Ones Now)
 
     5. You can choose to transmute your grief into a spiritually transformative experience that
          powerfully improves your life and blesses others.

     6. You can heal and increase the gifts from his life by lovingly serving others. 
   
Many parents have realized this great news and are living happy and fulfilling lives again.  You can do the same.  It’s not easy and doesn’t happen overnight, but it is possible with small steps day by day.  Here are five action steps . . .

1. Attend local and online Helping Parents Heal meetings
2. Contact The Caring Listeners to talk with at no charge. 
3. Read free Articles for Healing & Transforming at SoulProof.com and take action steps. 
4. Listen to the free Radio Shows at SoulProof.com and our answers to life’s toughest questions, including “Why do children die?”  
5. Lean on others as needed.  Later, when you are doing better, you can help others. 

This month, I will answer two different questions with the same answer . . .
 
Q: I had an abortion.  Now I feel very guilty and hate myself.  I just want to know – will I see my baby again in the afterlife?  I am so sad about all this.  - Ruth
 
Q: I had a miscarriage.  To be honest, there were times when I didn’t really want to have a baby.  Now I blame myself and feel very guilty about it.  Can I still see her someday?  - Lori
 
Dear Ruth and Lori, 
 
I am very sorry for your pain and suffering.  Helping Parents Heal is here for all parents and family members with a child who changed worlds at any time and in any way. 
 
Your words – blame, self-hatred, guilt, sadness – reflect how much you are punishing yourself. 
However, no one is served by that.  To the contrary, negative feelings about yourself hurt you and everyone you encounter.  Lower energy emotions create ripples that others can feel consciously or unconsciously.  Humans learn to crawl, walk, and then run by trial and error.  No one I’ve known – including myself – is free from mistakes.  We all have thought, said, or done things that we later regret. 
 
Some call that sin.  But that word originally meant ‘missing the mark.’  We all have fallen short or could have done better.  The Creator I know – and all the contemporary evidence we have about what the Light is really like – understands that.  As A Course in Miracles taught: God doesn’t forgive, because It never condemned in the first place. 
 
In addition, your lower energy emotions prevent you from feeling the presence of postmaterial (“departed”) loved ones.  The souls who were temporarily your babies are likely trying to contact you.  Their probable messages?

• Please forgive yourself.  I already have.
• Don’t beat yourself up; you’ve done too much already.
• We will see each other again and understand more of life’s big picture
• You deserve to feel peace, joy, love, and other good things NOW. 

From everything I know, yes, you will see him/her in the next phase of life.  The soul of your baby may even be a soulmate who volunteered to participate in that scenario?  Why?  To give you this opportunity to awaken, grow, and serve others in more powerful ways.
 
You are at a new moment right now.  Which path will you choose?  To continue judging and condemning yourself?  Or to forgive yourself and others who played negative roles in your past that led to your behaviors you now regret?  Which fork will you choose?
 
To help both of you heal and transform, I recommend reading articles #1, 2, 25, 29, 46, and 51 and taking appropriate action steps.  
 
-Hugs, love, and blessings,
Mark

Note: I mention my products so you know all the information/strategies needed for healing and transformation.  Let me know if you truly cannot afford them and we’ll send digital copies.
 
Disclaimer: This information is not designed to replace medical or psychological care.  Dr. Pitstick’s recommendations are based on forty-five years of training and experience in hospitals, pastoral counseling settings, mental health centers, and holistic health practice.  Some of his statements are supported by clinical and scientific data while others are based on empirical evidence and his best current understandings.  

Mark Pitstick, MA, DC is an author, counselor with a masters in clinical psychology, holistic chiropractic physician, frequent media guest, and workshop / webinar teacher.  He attended theology school, majoring in pastoral counseling, and trained in suicide prevention.  Mark directs The SoulPhone Foundation and founded Greater Reality Living groups.  His mission is to help you know and show that – no matter what is happening to you or around you – your earthly experience is a totally safe, meaningful, and magnificent adventure amidst forever.  To learn more, visit SoulProof.com.
 
Fellowship and Coincidences 
Ernie and Kristine Jackson

Still Right Here!  

Recently, Kristine and I were out walking.  We live in Phoenix and the desert summer has begun, meaning it is warm enough that we walk as the sun has sunk below the horizon, dusk emerges and the street lights have come on.  I have written about Quinton turning the street lights off as we walked previously, when we had newly returned to the Valley of the Sun, but this hasn’t happened for a while, until the last two weeks of April.

On this particular evening, as we walked I was on the phone, pouring my soul through the mouth piece into the ear piece of another.  That other was hurting, hurting badly and I was doing all I could to help them see their way through it.  You see, this other person has it within them to find their way through their story, but have yet to realize it.  As I poured my soul into the phone, the street lights started going off, one after the other – as we passed directly beneath them, one at a time.

You know the deal, right?  A sign like this is for us and us alone.  Nobody can tell us that it wasn’t Quinton.  As for me, I am discerning enough of signs to question them, but this was different.  One after the other and only going off as we were immediately beneath them; nope, no doubt here – Quinton was with us.  More than that, he was on the call, cheering us on, infusing his energy with ours.  Yes, he too implored, you have it within you to change your story and to find your greatness.  We will always be here holding you, supporting you, cheering you on – we will help you, but you have to make the decision to leave your story in the dust behind you. 

At this point, whenever the connection happens and advice or guidance is given, I know it goes double for me – always.  It is just how it works, for me anyway.  While I sit in gratitude and appreciation on how much I have changed my own little private nonsensical story over the years, I too understand I am still a work in progress.  I have learned to pause, to be still, and to  let whatever drama is in my vicinity (or in my mind) run its course. Okay wait, I am human, like I said, still a work in progress.  Even if I don’t outwardly react, that inward reaction can be debilitating.  This is only shared because; maybe this applies to you to in some way during these challenging times.  And as challenging as these times are, they truly doesn’t compare to when our children transitioned.

Not quite finished, nope.  If that wasn’t enough, not long after, one morning after a long walk, for some reason I opened the top drawer of my desk.  What I discovered were several papers that had come detached from a paper clip.  I took them out and looked at them.  As I shuffled the pages I took in several footballs plays from our offensive playbook from Evergreen High School, a letter from Bob Beaty who became a dear friend after coaching and teaching me in high school, a letter from Bill Lambert who also became a dear friend after doing the same in junior high school, a workout routine from high school, a paper I wrote about Stephen King while in a English course in 1982 and a poem by Ernest Dowson (1867-1900).

That poem is entitled:

Vitae Summa Brevis Spem Non Vetat Incohare Longam

 

They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate:
I think they have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.

They are not long, the days of wine and roses;
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream.

*In the margin I had written “life is short”
 
So many questions cascaded in my mind; “Why had I kept this poem and letters?”, “Why today had I noticed them and read them?”, and the realization that this path with Quinton as my teacher has been there before me with this sheath of papers from 1982 as proof.
 
I hope and pray you know my heart.  I no longer speak nor do I write for me; I only do so for you.  And all of the above applies to you on some level.  There is More, Our children are Still Right Here and this journey, while fleeting, is for your greater good.  Here we learn, through the pain.

God Bless and Namaste, Ernie-Quinton’s Dad 
 
-Ernie Jackson is a Board Member of Helping Parents Heal, a Caring Listener and the proud father of Quinton. His two books, 'Quinton's Messages' and 'Quinton's Legacy,' are available at www.quintonsmessages.com.   

Healing Events with Talented Presenters:

Power of Prayer - Panel with Susanne Wilson!
Susanne Wilson, the Carefree Medium, hosted an uplifting panel about Prayer on April 1st at 1:11, entitled 'The Power of Prayer'.  The panel included Susanne, Reverend Dr. Herb Puryear, Gretchen Bickert, and Rabbi Shai Specht.  Please click here to view! 
 
Doctors and Spirituality, Where Science Meets the Soul
Susanne Wilson, the Carefree Medium, hosted an uplifting panel about Doctors and Spirituality on April 18th.  The panel included Susanne, Dr. Jeff O'Driscoll, Dr. Eben Alexander III, and Eleanor Concepcion (“Connie”) Mariano, MD, FACP. Please click here to view!  

Coronavirus and the Path of Evolution 
Suzanne Giesemann Channeled Sanaya on April 12th
Feel the loving reassurance of Higher Consciousness as this message from across the veil is delivered to help us navigate the COVID-19 crisis with greater peace.  Please click here to view the YouTube video.

Healing Books by Inspiring Shining Light Parents

The Myth of Dying by Linda McCarthy, the Head of the HPH Caring Listeners
Linda and her son, Sean

Having researched the work of brilliant minds in the fields of medicine, law, and science, as well as having had her own personal experiences with near death and being the mother of a son who transitioned while serving in the U.S. Navy, Linda M. McCarthy, Ph.D., believes humans survive physical death, thrive, and reunite.  As a board-certified metaphysicial counselor, Linda's purpose is to provide resources to assist people experiencing grief after the death of a loved one.  Please click here to learn more.

The River by Julie Anderson Dunn
Julie and her son River

The River is a metaphorical tale of a young boy traveling on a journey to the banks of the river's end. A story meant to support the reader to draw their own conclusions and symbolism from messages inserted between the lines of each chapter. The purpose of sharing this little boy's journey is to guide those in a place of grief to supportive thoughts of healing. *All proceeds from this book are donated to non-profit groups who support grieving and cancer families. Please click here to learn more.
 

Affiliate Updates -

In an effort to keep all of our wonderful parents safe during this Covid-19 pandemic, Helping Parents Heal has now switched to Zoom meetings, instead of in-person meetings, for the foreseeable future.  Our Affiliate Directors, Dawn Richards and Mary Bertun, are working as quickly as possible to teach our Affiliate Leaders how to use Zoom.  This has meant postponing our Second Helping Parents Heal Conference, that should have happened from April 16-19, as well.

However, many of our talented presenters are kindly speaking to our group by Zoom.  Please check the 'events' tab on our Helping Parents Heal - Main Facebook page, and on our Helping Parents Heal - Online Facebook page, to find out about upcoming events!

New Affiliate Technology Liaison
Sherry Day and her son, Ethan

Please join me in welcoming Sherry Day, who will be helping Dawn Richards and Mary Bertun to organize Zoom meetings as we move forward. We are so grateful for her time and we are so glad she is a part of our team!

More about Sherry:

My name is Sherry Day (Matthews). My only son Ethan transitioned on October 4th 2017 at 17 years of age. After attending a few support groups that just made me more sad and searching for answers I stumbled across Helping Parents Heal Online on Facebook.

My dad, who I had never dreamed of, came to me in a dream the night that Ethan passed and I needed to understand what it meant and where Ethan was. He said, "don't worry about Ethan, I have him". HPH literally saved my life. I have made some wonderful friends over the last few years discussing hopes, signs and dreams. I hope that I can someday help others as I have been helped here.

-Written by our new Affiliate Technology Liaison, Sherry Day

New Caring Listener! Patti Brennan
Patti Brennan

In 2004 my only child, Rachael, passed from ingesting peanuts. I faced the darkest time of my life then, and it took years for me to recognize she never left, she simply transformed. She sent me signs, but I couldn’t always see them, I suffered from guilt and remorse and that deepened my grief. It wasn’t until I was able to communicate with her, through the guidance of mediums, that I was able to begin healing. I learned to forgive myself and be grateful to still have her in my life. Since then, I’ve developed a relationship with others in my life who’ve passed, as well as my higher power. My husband and my soul mate passed one year ago, but I feel his presence, love, and support. I still experience some dark times, particularly in light of our present global challenge, but I know they are my eternal lifeline to helping my soul grow. I can be reached by email at pattibrennan75@gmail.com or by phone at 508-245-4435.

-Written by our new Caring Listener, Patti Brennan🦋

New Caring Listener! Karol Hennessey
Karol Hennessey

I lost my only child Brendon on June 25, 2018 at the age of 27 to the disease of addiction, specifically acute Fentanyl Poisoning. While my personal experience may be different then someone else's in how my son transitioned, when we loose a child life as we knew it will never be the same! How could it?
The first year after Brendon ran ahead to Heaven, my emotions were all over the place. I had so many unanswered questions, pain, anger and guilt. Someone told me about Helping Parents Heal and it literally saved my life. I will forever be grateful to this beautiful group of people who not only understood my feelings but they embraced me in my darkest days.

Today, I celebrate my sons life. Through his loss I have experienced a profound spiritual awakening that has allowed me to move forward so that I can help others. My son walks with me everyday!!! I have received so many signs since he left and I know he is happy & at peace now. Our children want us to get to a place where we can smile again.
I try to carry this message to other parents who have lost a child. The loss of Brendon made me passionate about helping others. I can be reached via email at Karol.hennessey@gmail.com or by phone at 1-856-371-2945.

Helping Parents Heal - Online
Beth West, Tywana and Brian Smith and Tracy Soussi, our Wonderful Online Affiliate Leaders at our First Conference

Our Amazing Lineup of Online Presenters:We are so grateful!

-Jeff Janssen, Author of 'Life Lessons from Heaven', on April 29th 

-Near Death Experiencer and Shining Light Dad Jeffery Olsen on May 1st

-Sara Ruble, Shining Light Mom, on May 4th

-Debra Martin, Psychic Medium and Healer, on May 6th 

-Susanne Wilson, the Carefree Medium, on May 8th

-Linda McCarthy, the author of 'The Myth of Dying, on May 11th

-Ernie Jackson, author of 'Quinton's Messages' and 'Quinton's Legacy', on May 15th

-Angel Communicator and Mystic Ann Albers on May 17th

-Judith Hancox, specialized in holistic trauma recovery, on May 18th

-Sandra Champlain of 'We Don't Die' Radio, on May 20th

-Kat Baillee, HPH- UK Affiliate Leader and Psychic Medium on May 22nd

Irene Vouvalides is holding a Chat Room on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
Irene and her beautiful daughter Carly

Please join Irene Vouvalides every Tuesday and Thursday at 2 pm PT/AZ, 3 pm Mountain, 4 pm Central and 5 pm EST for a wonderful opportunity to connect with other parents in her Chat Room.  Please contact Irene here for the Zoom link! 

Please also view our recent presenters on our YouTube Channel or on our Helping Parents Heal FB under 'videos', where all of the videos are available!
from left to right, David Kessler, Paul Denniston, David Router, Jeffery Olsen, Dr. Jeff O'Driscoll, Melinda Kushner, Elizabeth Boisson, Maureen Hancock, Mark Anthony, Christine Salter, Lisa Wilcoxson, Ingrid Honkala, PhD, Karen Newell and Dr. Eben Alexander, Dr. Mark Pitstick, Michelle Clare, Drs. Heidi and Gloria Horsley and Jamie Clark

Please also join our Facebook group here to sign up for the upcoming Zoom conference meetings. They can be attended by anyone, anywhere in the world with Internet service! They hope to see you there.

Helping Fathers Heal 
Dylan and Mike Edwards

Mike Edwards of Helping Fathers Heal continues to hold weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 8 pm Central!  Please contact Mike for more information and the Zoom link here.

Helping Parents Heal - UK
Kat Baillee, Shining Light Mum and UK Affiliate Leader

Please join Kat Baillie every last Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm UK time, 5:30 pm EST, 4:30 pm Central, 3:30 pm Mountain and 2:30 pm AZ/PT for an uplifting Zoom meeting!  Please click here to contact Kat and learn more.  

Helping Parents Heal - Tampa 
Marla Grant, Amy Diehl and Cathy Zimmerman of the Tampa Affiliate 

In the midst of fear and grief generated by a worldwide pandemic, it can be easy for HPH parents who have experienced the passing of a child, to get caught up in the torrent of emotions that are swirling around us. That makes it more important than ever for us to keep our doors open, even if it has to be done virtually. On Wednesday, April 1, 23 members of Tampa’s HPH group met online for the first time for an evening of conversation and healing. The meeting began with Leader Marla Grant sharing an introduction to the powerful process of The Grief Recovery Method, a program to help folks process step by step, unresolved emotional grief they may be struggling with. After that, we moved on to sharing of our ongoing challenges and triumphs in this journey through child loss.

Those of us further along in the process shared some of the tools we’ve found helpful so that those whose loss is more recent will know that brighter days can lie ahead for them. Elaine Molyneux shared about learning to compartmentalize her grief by putting it in a “backpack of grief” which she sets aside so she can get through the day effectively, then can put on when she is ready and feels the call to be immersed in that pain, something we can all relate to.

Cheryl Luxmoore Flynn talked about using the free 21-day Oprah/Deepak Chopra meditation program to help us stay centered, and writing a daily gratitude list to remind us of the good in our lives. And Cathy Zimmerman reminded us that we are allowed to set aside guilt around our child’s death; that there is no way we can protect our child from the world even if, as she puts it, “we wrap them in bubble wrap and hide them in a closet”. This was an evening of truly experiencing life being lived…

We were happy to welcome several new faces who had not been able to make it to our in-person meetings, as well as Sally Stacey who is a new regional group leader for South Florida in the Boca Raton area. And, we want to thank Tava Wilson, one of the early Tampa group members who is now co-leading the Madison, Wisconsin on-line group with Mary Bertun, for joining us and helping to smooth the way for our first on-line meeting. It was great to welcome her back.

Our Tampa group Co-Leaders are currently working on plans for our next Zoom meeting to be held in late April. This is a challenging time for all of us worldwide, and we send our love to all those families and individuals who’ve lost loved ones during these unprecedented times. We know, that love, compassion and empathy will see us through as we help not only those who have lost a loved one, but all those who are currently experiencing other profound losses associated with the pandemic.

-Written by Marla Grant, Helping Parents Heal - Tampa Co-Affiliate Leader

Helping Parents Heal - Pinellas County
The members of Helping Parents Heal - The Villages

Thanks to the moms who were at the Pinellas (FL) Zoom meeting in April! Lo Anne Mayer was amazing, and so are all of you. For more info you can get her book on Amazon, Celestial Conversations. Or go to her website at celestialconversations.com. She has a wonderful meditation on that site. Happy connecting with your children!

-Written by our HPH Pinellas County Affiliate Leader, Laura Grimme McCullough

Helping Parents Heal - Parents of Children with Special Needs
Beth Bobier and Mia / Ann Van Orsdel

Lisa Wilcoxson and the Helping Parents Heal - Parents of Children with Special Needs Affiliate group welcomed Evidential Medium Ann Van Orsdel in April for free Online readings and it was a wonderful, healing event!  Beth Bobier was fortunate to receive a reading from her daughter Mia: Ann brought through so many wonderful validations from Mia. She is the second medium who has brought up muppets and Mia was obsessed with Elmo and Sesame Street her whole life - we were so sick of hearing Elmo sing all the time but she would get so excited so of course it was always on! She also said that she doesn’t often bring up past lives but that Mia was making her feel that we had known each other in past lives and that when she was born it was as though we already knew each other. I had heard from a medium when Mia was 6 that she had taken care of me before in another life now roles were reversed so we could both experience the opposite in this life. I had never thought about reincarnation prior to that but it explained so much for me so to have Ann say that again was amazing and I know why I had that different level of connection with her. I had always had a homesick feeling growing up that was gone instantly when she was born and of course is now back again.  But so comforting to know we have this connection that will never end. 

Helping Parents Heal - Parents of Children with Osteosarcoma
Carly Hughes, Irene's Daughter, Irene's Star

I was honored to speak to the Healing Hearts group started by Christiane Robbins for parents whose children have passed from Osteosarcoma.

My daughter passed from a different cancer but I spoke of my journey and my daughter’s.
I made new friends during the Zoom meeting and it once again confirmed the bond parents form when sharing their stories. We heal when we reach out and share. You can make a difference when you open your own heart and touch another’s.

I was gifted by them with this beautiful stained glass ornament which I will lovingly place in my home where I can look at it and remember it’s all about love...
This is an excerpt from the card I received and it reminds us all to help others by sharing our experience and remembering everything we do in this life is about love....
“I know several of the Moms commented on the comforting power of your words....We are honored you shared your strength with us and your commitment to help us become Shining Light Parents.”

-Written by our Helping Parents Heal - Hilton Head/Bluffton Affiliate Leader, Irene Vouvalides

An Article by Beth D'Angelo, Shining Light Mom

The Journey

“The day my child died, part of me died, too”.
I recently read this post on Facebook and immediately recognized the familiar emotions of I once held onto as a life line. Part of me died when he did. That was my truth. The sentence was the way I moved and held my grief. It is where I was for a long time.
 
This statement kept me in my much needed container. The grief was unbearable, dark and suffocating. What tangled me up more than anything was the fact that I was powerless to change the outcome. I thought the most important role as a parent was to keep their children safe. If this is true, I failed as a mother. My grief container held false narratives I told myself; “If only - I should have - Why didn’t I - How come - My fault -I failed - I wasn’t - I hadn’t - I didn’t”.
 
Loosening up the tightly wrapped container was a very slow process and there were times I fought to keep the wrapping in place. It was my belief, that life made a decision and I would not let it take away my broken heart without a fight. Some would say there are no guidebooks through a significant loss, however there is a navigational system that is in place. This system is the irrevocable connection of love a mother or father has to their child. My son was present to help me out of the tangled mess, however slowly and methodically it was. We learned together that grief was manageable.
 
Today, I find myself in a place that I never imagined possible. I clearly remember looking into the future through tearful eyes, knowing that there was a light somewhere but not wanting to move towards it. What once was a room of despair and darkness, became a room of hope. I had to create a door to walk in and out of. Then, the-awareness that I didn’t need a barrier so I removed the door and just allowed an-opening to be in place. What I noticed was my loss was still intact and I was-surrounded by breathing room. Separation had eased up by allowing walls, and barriers to be replaced with openness and space.

-Written by Beth D'Angelo and her beautiful son in spirit, Sean

The Amazon Smile Program - Help us help more Parents!
Please designate Helping Parents Heal Inc as your preferred charity on the Amazon Smile program. This will allow 0.5% of eligible purchases on Amazon to help fund our 2020 conference.

Just log in, type in 'Amazon Smile' into the search bar at the top of the page, and then choose 'Helping Parents Heal Inc' as your preferred charity. Then, when you log on to Amazon, remember to do so at: smile.amazon.com. And THANK YOU!   
Mission Statement of Helping Parents Heal: Our mission is to help bereaved parents, giving them support and resources to aid in the healing process. We will go a step beyond other groups by allowing the open discussion of spiritual experiences and evidence for the Afterlife in a non-dogmatic way. In other words, we will welcome everyone regardless of their religious (or non-religious) background and allow for a very open type of dialog. We receive all and do not judge people or their children on the basis of life choices. -Mark Ireland, Cofounder, Helping Parents Heal

Board Members and Officers of Helping Parents Heal: 
Elizabeth Boisson - President & Co-F0under/ elizabeth@helpingparentsheal.org
Irene Vouvalides - Vice President and Conference Chair/ ivouvalides@aol.com
Mark Ireland - Co-Founder & Chairman of the Board / irelandmarks@yahoo.com
Doryce Norwood / cherishthemforever@gmail.com
Ernie Jackson / stonejak4@hotmail.com
Jason Durham - Chief Information Officer / jason@helpingparentsheal.org
Brian Smith / onlyhuman141@gmail.com
Jeff Hollahan / jeff-hollahan@cox.net

Treasurer: Theresa Wettstein/ pathwaysacctg@gmail.com
Secretary: Laurie Savoie / laurie6385@gmail.com
Admin: Celia Edwards / cdedwards@cox.net
Affiliate Directors: Dawn Richards and Mary Bertun / HPHALDirector@gmail.com

You can read the bios and see photos of each of the affiliate leaders on the Groups page of our website: www.helpingparentsheal.org.

Note: Information in the Helping Parents Heal newsletter is provided for the sole purpose of assisting you in finding resources (information, meetings, books, etc.) to aid in the bereavement process. This newsletter is not intended to endorse, sponsor or encourage your use of any of the information or services listed, whether from members or other individuals. Rather, our intent is simply to inform you of the vast amount of resources available for your consideration. We urge you to independently research and consider the value of any particular resource for yourself. Further, while we take steps to ensure the accuracy of the information posted, especially relative to linked media, we accept no liability for the content. Helping Parents Heal is a non-profit Corporation