Multi Faceted Grief

I have been thinking about grief this past week since Murphy crossed the rainbow bridge. Each death is a different form of grief.

I feel as if I have been more exposed to grief from others given that I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 39. My cancer diagnosis led me to becoming an advocate after I moved to Boise. I lobbied on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC for 3 years with the National Breast Cancer Coalition. It was an eye opening experience for me, especially politics.

Once I came home to Idaho, I helped other women in my Wood River Valley community that needed ride for chemo or radiation. Moving to Boise opened up my sphere when I was on the board of directors for Expedition Inspiration, which was an honor of a lifetime. I knew the founder, Laura Evans, very well. The loss of a woman that was larger than life and inspired me to become an advocate is something I will always be grateful for.

As I have aged, so has my sphere of friends. I was at many bedsides to offer a glimpse of what was to come to dying friends who were afraid. I would be, too. It was a privilege to be at my parent’s bedside when they passed. It was traumatic when Paul died from cardiac arrest just 10 years ago. I was heartbroken last week from losing Murphy.

As I reread what I wrote, I realized I have turned grief into action. After Paul died, I blogged about grief for almost a year. Now that I am faced with this sadness again, I have chosen to focus on my creative side with projects that I have been wanting to tackle. And, get this: I get to still help people! Stay tuned…

#grief #death #advocacy #cancer #breastcancer