A new year. 2021, and our first Blog Topic for this year. It is also our 100th blog topic since we first published the blog in June 2019. We have come a long way since publishing our first official Blog post: What’s Next on 4th June 2019….
Please see: Hope and Grief, Hope and Coronavirus which covers:
- Introduction/Our Story
- Quotes on Hope and Grief
- Hope and Grief
- Quotes on Coronavirus and hope
- Coronavirus and hope
- Our Final Thoughts/YouTube Video
© Copyright 2019 Grief Probate Journey Blog *PLEASE NOTE THIS INFORMATION IS SOURCED FROM UK and AMERICAN WEBSITES* It is also based on our own experience. *We are not experts in this field, we are speaking purely on our own experience with information sought from the internet to give further examples. *
1. Introduction/Our Story
A new year. 2021, and our first Blog Topic for this year. It is also our 100th blog topic since we first published the blog in June 2019. We have come a long way since publishing our first official Blog post: What’s Next on 4th June 2019.
What 2021 has in store for us, we do not know. 2020 was challenging, overwhelming, testing, uncertain to name just a few. The Pandemic changed the world and the way of life as we once knew it.
My sister and I to an extent feel as though our world has turned upside down twice. From the day our Dad was hospitalised In September 2016 to this very day our life has never ever been the same.
We felt isolated, as though we were living our lives in a bubble. Our life was also changed heavily by the diagnosis that our Dad was given when he was admitted to hospital in September 2016. He was diagnosed with Infective Endocarditis. This is a profoundly serious life-threatening Heart Condition. Unfortunately, our Dad contracted various infections because of this diagnosis. (we also have a topic on Infective Endocarditis).
Whilst in the hospital he had to be barrier protected. This meant:
- He had to be isolated and in a room by himself
- Hands had to be washed before and after entering the room
- Aprons and Gloves had to be worn upon entering the room
This is just a few of the guidlines that had been put in place that should have been abided by each time entering the room our Dad was in in the hospital.
This also meant that as a family:
- My sister was not able to visit as much as she would have liked to as she had two young children and was told by the hospital staff they shouldnt have been on the ward.
- Aside from mobility being a problem, for our mum, because of the conditions she had, she was advised by the hospital she should not visit often
- I did not go to my sister’s house much (to protect the children) as I was at the hospital seven days a week.
When the pandemic occurred last year and we had to live by rules such as:
- Wearing a mask
- Social distancing
- Self isolation
All these things triggered memories from the time of our Dads stay in hospital and all the things we had to do came flooding back.
As a family both through our grief and the current worldwide pandemic, we have been through a lot within a short space of time in the past four years.
2020 was a year of profound difference for the world. It has been life changing to say the least. Despite the surreal and difficult times we faced we managed to have made it through to see a New Year.
A year of:
- Highs
- Lows
- Loses
- Unity
- Togetherness
- Separation
Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost someone prior to, or during the pandemic last year. Grieving as well as living through a worldwide pandemic is a lot to take on and deal with.
Upon these reflections we felt this would be a good topic to ener into this New Year.
Please see Hope and Grief:
2. Quotes on Hope and Grief
3. Hope and Grief
3.1 Hope in grief
“Many people discover that there is hope after a death or loss. Death or loss takes away, but grief can give back. It is possible to recover from grief with new strengths and a new direction. By acting on our grief, we may eventually find peace and purpose”.
3.2 Hope Again
“Hope Again – Young people coping with bereavement and living after loss. A website from Cruse Bereavement”.
3.3 The Importance of Hope – Center for Loss & Life Transition
“14 Dec 2016 — When you sit in the wound of your grief, you surrender to it in recognition that the only way to the other side of the pain and hopelessness is”…
3.4 Grief Is Hope – stunned by Grief
“1 Feb 2012 — But here’s where the hope comes in! … Grief is the way we get from pain to a fulfilling life again. When we choose to grieve, we are choosing hope, because we’ve decided to take the necessary steps to move through the pain (over time) and start living again. Grieving does not happen automatically”.
3.5 Open to Hope, Support for Dealing with Death, Grief, Loss
“Giving a Voice to Grief and Recovery. Open to Hope ® is a non-profit with the mission of helping people find hope after loss. We invite you to read, listen and”…
3.6 Death, Grief and Hope – Church Army
“21 Apr 2020 — Death, Grief & Hope. These free resources look to tell the truth about what happens when someone dies and how we can understand our”…
3.7 Hope in Grief – Bruce. L Hartman
“14 Sept 2018 — HOPE IN GRIEF. Loss is a part of life, and sadly, the older we get, the more loss we must endure. Whether through the death of a loved one, the “..
3.8 Dealing with Grief and Finding Hope – Life After Loss
“Death always brings sorrow and grief to the ones who are left behind. And during these difficult times of dealing with grief we must remember that as humans we”…
3.9 Facing Loss: When Hope and Grief Co-Exist – Whats Your Grief
“5 Sept 2019 — We knew my mother would die, but we really hoped that she wouldn’t, and so we were forced to uncomfortably live with grief and hope at the”…
3.10 Finding Hope in the Darkness of Grief |Family Life®
“Finding Hope in the Darkness of Grief. No matter how unexpected or predictable, death shakes us to the core. The pain is inescapable”.
4. Quotes on Coronavirus and Hope
5. Coronavirus and Hope
5.1 Help and Hope – Responding to Coronavirus – Hope Together
“HOPE Together is a catalyst bringing churches together to transform communities in villages, towns and cities. Our vision is a praying, growing Church, that”….
5.2 Feeling hopeless? These are things you can do to create and maintain hope
“There are things you can do to create and maintain hope in a post-coronavirus world”. (June 16, 2020 10.20pm EDT. Patrick O’Leary, Amy Young, Jennifer Boddy) …
5.3 Stories of hope, resilience and inspiration during the coronavirus pandemic
“8 Jul 2020 — India. Coronavirus Lockdown: Boon or Bane “Treat lock down as Boon rather than Bane. This is a golden opportunity to have a great time with” …
5.4 Children in coronavirus lockdown spread hope around the world
“19 May 2020 — During the current coronavirus crisis, children are finding ways to bring hope and healing to those around them”.
5.5 9 Mindfulness Exercises to help you manage COVID stress
“From the pandemic that brought you the terms “social distancing” and “Zoom fatigue,” here’s another one to add to your vocabulary: Covid stress”….
5.6 Why Grieving is harder in lockdown and how you can find help | Royal Trinity
“15 May 2020 — This can make our own private grief feel even more intense and inescapable. Also, if the death you are grieving has been during lockdown, you”…
5.7 Coronavirus, bereavement and grief | Cruse Bereavement Care
“During the global coronavirus pandemic we are facing a tragic loss of life, often under very difficult circumstances. Being bereaved can be a lonely time, and”…
5.8 Grief and Coronavirus Lockdown | Sue Ryder
“If your loved one’s funeral has taken place during lockdown, you may not have been able to attend, or may have been there with only a few others, and have had to”…
5.9 Coping with grief during the coronavirus pandemic | Patient
“11 Jun 2020 — And during lockdown, it has potential to be even more gruelling than it would be under normal circumstances. Whether your loved one died of”…
5.10 Coping with Bereavement and Coronavirus | Age UK
“26 Nov 2020 — You may also be grieving for someone that died before the pandemic. Maybe there’s been a anniversary during lockdown, or this has been”…
5.11 ‘The Isolation makes grieving during lockdown harder – Marie Curie’
“15 Apr 2020 — Gary’s partner Tina died in February, not long before the arrival of coronavirus social distancing measures. He says every little thing hits harder”…
5.12 Bereavement advice and support during coronavirus (Covid-19) – NHS
“Bereavement advice and support during coronavirus. Most people experience grief when they lose someone important to them. It affects everyone differently”.
5.13 Advice for coping with bereavement and grief during lockdown
“23 Apr 2020 — A counsellor gives her advice for coping with bereavement and grief during lockdown. Grieving can be an isolating experience, so it’s important”…
6. Our Final Thoughts/YouTube Video
My sister and I have said in past blog posts, that in life we can never know how things will go from day to day. 2020 has been major proof of this. For the lows that we experienced worldwide we can only hope that things can only get better.
As a family we hope to make further progress in our plight to get the justice our Dad so rightfully deserves.
We hope that we can start to heal in our grief. We aim to move forward with hope and optimism.
We will always try our absolute best to remain positive, recognising and being thankful for our blessings, and not losing hope of better days and times to come.
Grief Probate Journey 