Did you know Animals offer a unique connection that supports us in grief?
We will help you find the healing power of presence, a gentle companionship, that transcends words.
Finding Solace In Our Four-legged Friends
We will explore how our furry friends provide support when we need it most. Learn more.
Healing Power of Presence
Being present can be challenging when we are at our best. In times of grief, the simplest idea of having a pet beside us and their sweet presence can remind us we are not alone.
Unconditional Support Without Judgement
Our animal companions offer love without conditions or judgement. In those dark moments they provide a safe space to express ourselves. No questions asked, they only offer their beautiful hearts.
Routine and Stability
Grief can throw our routines into chaos. Pets thrive on consistency. Caring for them, feeding, walking, grooming can give us a sense of purpose that can be deeply grounding.
Connection and Compassion
Pets can be the bridge during tough conversations. They can make it possible to reach out and talk about our feelings. Whether it is a cat on your lap enjoying your soft touch, or the warmth of your dogs nuzzle, We are reminded we are not alone in the grief journey.
My Story with Grief and Animals
In May 2024, while waking up at the cottage, I received a message to "write my story."
A whisper that was clear and repeated twice.
I knew right away what story it was. A story I had held in the shadows for over 34 years. After walks in the forest with my dog and observing the peace and quiet, I would come home and sit at my laptop. The words would just spill out onto the screen. As I wrote the story of the loss of my infant son, so many years ago, many other memories of grief would flood to the surface. It was then that I also realized what an important role the animals in my life played in my grief process. It was a transformational discovery that has led me to creating this website.
From my heart to yours!
I have spent 38 years in education. It always made sense to merge my passion for education and animals together. From "Introduce Your Pet Day" to "Frankie the Turtle Living in the Classroom" to "Animal Assisted Interventions" the loving souls of animals could support any student with struggles of any kind. As I journey down this next road of supporting women experiencing the profound grief of pregnancy loss and infant death, merging animals again makes perfect sense.
CUForTTes
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Book Reviews
Such a powerfully raw story of strength, heartbreak, love, loss, pain, grace, blessings and grief.
Lori you bared your soul like no other, your words made me feel like I was there with you by your side. I couldn’t put your book down until I read it to the back cover
.How have I known you for so long and I had no idea the sorrow you must have felt and what you and your family had endured during this time
.I know it took a lot of strength to share your family’s story of the loss of your sweet boy and I’m sure it was very difficult to relive that time. My hope for you is that it was also therapeutic to share with others that may have a similar experience
.I have always admired your zest for life and how you embrace everyone you come into contact with. You have a love for people and all creatures big and small
.I’m so proud to call you my very dear friend.
Laura Hemsworth
I did not put down Until Next Time Once I began. It is a beautifully written book which immediately pulls you into a journey which is heartbreakingly sad while at the same time uplifting. It offers a healing narrative for anyone who has experienced the loss of a child, no matter the age. Its recognition and inclusion of a father’s perspective is a unique and important feature. The presence of family members affirms their role in creating a softer landing for a mother in her intense relationship with grief. This story offers a gentle and unique perspective on what it means to be a mother to a child that she could only hold for such a short time.
Chris Bailey
This well-crafted volume is very personal, and designed to be so. It speaks to people whom the author has never met, but knows that they too have been through the most grim experience imaginable, loss of a child. The narrative speaks of a long-held silence and how the eventual telling came about. The line from Macbeth applies here: "Give sorrow words. The grief that does not speak whispers the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break." In other words, grief itself is telling the over-burdened heart that it must be heard, for the sake of the suffering individual and for those listening as well. This is all told here, though, in a manner which poignantly expresses heartbreak while at the same time offering encouragement and hope. The You Are Not Alone theme is just as important as the recounting of the episode, and it shows. The degree of sadness which she experienced long ago is severe, yet the very fact that she can find comfort in the future possibilities of life, and project the same to her spellbound reader, is the key to the book. Don't miss.