tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post1722488719563675222..comments2024-02-11T02:09:23.512-08:00Comments on An Inch of Gray: Hop on the Bus, GusAnna Whiston-Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14921348961654008115noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-49243792355798970372016-05-29T02:49:44.209-07:002016-05-29T02:49:44.209-07:00Hi Anna, your words of loss are painful for me to ...Hi Anna, your words of loss are painful for me to read as they are so similar to my own thoughts, though for a slightly different situation. <br />You see my daughter hasn't passed away but in a way she did just over a year ago when aged 10 years old, she was rushed into the emergency department at our district hospital desperately ill with heart complications, suffering from anorexia nervosa - a massively misunderstood genetic illness. It has lost me the beautiful, brave, cheeky monkey I know and left behind an angry parody of her instead. <br />Although she is now weight restored, she suffers from severe depression, anxiety, and other complex mental illness issues and in the process both she, her older sister and I have become isolated, losing family, friends, local community involvement, school friends along with the life she should be experiencing, living and loving at now 11 years old. We are facing years of pain seeing her former friends enjoying their lives, celebrations while fighting to overcome this illness which could potentially be lifelong.<br />I feel bereaved as if I have lost my gorgeous girl and it is so very hard....So I understand your pain - from one grieving mother to another. <br />I am the lucky one though as one day I am hoping for the return of my precious child, slowly with time and hard slog I will get her back - so I'm sending my love and thanks to you for sharing your story as it gives me hope to keep on trying xoxsazzaNZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02006689511650433028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-22165075615065574012013-06-01T15:26:35.579-07:002013-06-01T15:26:35.579-07:00You speak the absolute truth Anna. Beautifully, po...You speak the absolute truth Anna. Beautifully, powerfully. Keep turning over those thoughts, keep playing with those words. You have someone reading who feels the things you feel (I'm sure you have many). Lots of Love, Rachel Rachhttp://www.mummymuddles.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-89684024805799489602013-03-25T17:55:17.795-07:002013-03-25T17:55:17.795-07:00Thank you so much for this. I just lost my mom (6...Thank you so much for this. I just lost my mom (61 years old) a month ago after a nasty 6 month bout with cancer, 3 of which those months were spent in a nursing home. I have two young children at home so yes, I need to function. I need to grocery shop, I need to volunteer at school, everything. But then there are times when I wonder if people are looking at me when I do these things and think, man, she must be fine already. Then I have moments of "pull it together- it could be worse." I couldn't imagine losing a child and I could never have imagined the pain of losing my mom and the fact that my kids will probably never remember her. So thank you for allowing me to feel like it's okay to grieve and it's okay to not have it all together either. Thank you for sharing your life to help me in mine :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04580426878050069081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-7146988764938762392013-03-22T06:38:48.656-07:002013-03-22T06:38:48.656-07:00dear Anna
Two tracks. I get that. You have put elo...dear Anna<br />Two tracks. I get that. You have put eloquently into words something I have known intuitively for a very long time. Thank you so much <br />SallyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-22843131751708529622013-03-20T18:32:14.961-07:002013-03-20T18:32:14.961-07:00I don't worry about you. In fact, I might if y...I don't worry about you. In fact, I might if you didn't show up to write here. You don't seem obsessed. I just pray for you for peace and grace and easier days.Ann Imighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01383249597505013239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-52272463711815189852013-03-20T07:19:05.504-07:002013-03-20T07:19:05.504-07:00Anna-I get it. I lost my mom (way too soon) to br...Anna-I get it. I lost my mom (way too soon) to breast cancer almost 4 years ago. I used my blog to grieve. I still do from time to time but sometimes I feel like maybe, if you only know me from reading my blog, it seems like that is all I am. This was beautifully written and explains so eloquently the need for a safe place to work out the grief. Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05259851204533240651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-91464814592014505342013-03-19T19:50:42.041-07:002013-03-19T19:50:42.041-07:00Anna - I have learned so much from you. Because of...Anna - I have learned so much from you. Because of your candidness I am not afraid to be real with those in my life who may be going through any stage of grief. Acknowledging the grief and the suckiness of the situation somehow seems to open the floodgates. Thank you for words to give to others who hurt. You are a gem.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03841755369028100734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-30102213420504624262013-03-19T06:46:13.741-07:002013-03-19T06:46:13.741-07:00I couldn't read this post on the day it arrive...I couldn't read this post on the day it arrived in my inbox. I began it. Began to weep for your loss and grief and had to close it. <br /><br />That friend who wants you to move on? He/she doesn't understand the "two track existence of life and loss". Only someone who has experienced a profound loss can possibly come close to understanding.<br /><br />My sister in law's sister lost her littlest to leukemia this year. Her blog recently has been about cleansing her list of friends. It's been 4 months and she's already getting comments to 'move on'. It's heartbreaking but her strength is inspiring and the clarity of her posts is helping us to remember the priority of life. Good friends, support and love.<br /><br />Much love and support to you. <br /><br />Happy belated birth day to both you and Jack.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12698639192350525353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-84924031653627288172013-03-18T19:24:53.289-07:002013-03-18T19:24:53.289-07:00I look forward to reading your blog. I too lost my...I look forward to reading your blog. I too lost my 10 yr old daughter almost 2 years ago to cancer. Somedays it feels like yesterday and other days it feels so long ago. I mention her name several times a day to Everyone. I never want her to be forgotten. She will always be my daughter. To read other bereaved mothers stories helps me get through each day knowing that I am not alone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-66311760561694771072013-03-18T18:28:51.659-07:002013-03-18T18:28:51.659-07:00I was only introduced to your blog today and I she...I was only introduced to your blog today and I shed tears reading of Jack's accident. I don't exactly know what to say after reading this post, I only know I had to say something. Your writing is stunningly, achingly beautiful and as I look at the beautiful pictures of your beautiful boy, I cannot help but think of my own two beautiful boys, one 4, one 8. I cannot begin to fathom the depths of your pain but I can see the two tracks of pain and beauty, sadness and joy. Your love shines through. Jack's love shines through. And I don't think it's obsessive at all. It's life, it's beauty, it's love. Thank you for sharing... Laurahttp://www.wheredreamscometoplay.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-10994884117062083752013-03-18T16:58:19.687-07:002013-03-18T16:58:19.687-07:00i don't know if you'll read this far down ...i don't know if you'll read this far down in the comments, but i want to thank you so much for this post - it has uplifted me today in a way you might expect - my grieving mom's heart has had quite a week, and this was like a breath of fresh air to me. wow. <br /><br />here is a blog post i wrote last week about a similar subject - in fact, the five year mark...<br /><br />http://urthmama.blogspot.com/2013/03/five-years.html<br /><br />thanks so much again. <br /><br />xoxo,<br />Erika<br /><br />urthmama.comErikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03863461381473308483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-40204073906461264042013-03-18T09:50:40.844-07:002013-03-18T09:50:40.844-07:00Happy Birthday to Jack! Thinking of Jack especial...Happy Birthday to Jack! Thinking of Jack especially today (and you, Tim and Margaret). I love you, Anna. <br /><br />Ellen JonesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-33351783620792849582013-03-18T09:01:07.231-07:002013-03-18T09:01:07.231-07:00Remembering Jack and all of you on what I'm su...Remembering Jack and all of you on what I'm sure is a most difficult day. God bless.Daynanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-38080405391483125342013-03-18T08:52:11.419-07:002013-03-18T08:52:11.419-07:00Thought of Jack this morning, while watching the s...Thought of Jack this morning, while watching the sun start to peek over the trees outside my kitchen window. A beautiful day to remember a beautiful boy. Wishing him a happy birthday ~ and wishing you and yours strength and happy memories as you remember your sweet boy on his special day.Lauranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-21372852179277589792013-03-18T08:14:06.382-07:002013-03-18T08:14:06.382-07:00Happy Birthday to Jack! I am sure he is having a ...Happy Birthday to Jack! I am sure he is having a big bash in Heaven.<br /><br />~Ashley in Louisianaashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06183409056608249554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-17927973038204973622013-03-18T08:12:42.107-07:002013-03-18T08:12:42.107-07:00I actually wonder how you can function at all afte...I actually wonder how you can function at all after such a tragic loss - not that you obsess too much about the loss on your blog. You are a strong, wise, and compassionate person. Your feelings are there, whether you articulate them or not. By sharing them, you are hopefully helping yourself but also helping others to reach out to you. Thinking about you today with much sadness.Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06614890555110819353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-42279984774344771912013-03-18T08:04:55.163-07:002013-03-18T08:04:55.163-07:00Happy Birthday to your sweet Jack today! I hope y...Happy Birthday to your sweet Jack today! I hope you have a day full of good memories xoKierstinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02099228370722882618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-50971169638281992542013-03-18T07:45:25.801-07:002013-03-18T07:45:25.801-07:00Thinking of you today and wishing Jack a Happy Bir...Thinking of you today and wishing Jack a Happy Birthday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-42819949747360006392013-03-18T07:36:33.670-07:002013-03-18T07:36:33.670-07:00I know that every day contains its own sorrow and ...I know that every day contains its own sorrow and reminders, but I'm especially praying for you on Jack's birthday. He and your family are loved and cared for even by those who never got the pleasure of meeting him.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-53707296721072504092013-03-18T05:35:04.568-07:002013-03-18T05:35:04.568-07:00Remembering Jack near his birthday and hope your f...Remembering Jack near his birthday and hope your family is doing well. I love that all the blue ribbons are refreshed and *everywhere* in the area. we all remember and always will! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-51328868669906501752013-03-17T03:02:36.111-07:002013-03-17T03:02:36.111-07:00We love you and the skill you have expressing your...We love you and the skill you have expressing your feelings. The stories in the comments show you're not alone in feeling this way, you're helping so many peoplew with your honesfy and insight, and that Jack will never be forgotten.Sharmainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09521813773914153418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-32642084841221573912013-03-16T17:48:54.921-07:002013-03-16T17:48:54.921-07:00Where's the *Like* button? Great comments.Where's the *Like* button? Great comments.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-87183018070508384072013-03-15T19:58:46.388-07:002013-03-15T19:58:46.388-07:00Your words are so spot on, so deeply instructive. ...Your words are so spot on, so deeply instructive. I recognize myself as I slowly come to grips with my own two tracks and my own smaller grief. I recognize others and how they must be feeling each and every day. Thank you so much for giving it words. I don't find it at all odd that this is your safe space. I hope it always is. I hope you always trust us with Jack.Listen To Your Mother Spokanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11593923196139413440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-17905258031259464222013-03-15T19:25:03.319-07:002013-03-15T19:25:03.319-07:00Make a new plan, Stan... Love this post. Thank you...Make a new plan, Stan... Love this post. Thank you for opening your heart and sharing with all of blog world!Dbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-8694100361335956182013-03-15T06:57:01.661-07:002013-03-15T06:57:01.661-07:00I don't understand exactly because I haven'...I don't understand exactly because I haven't been through it, but I can understand the two tracks from reading your words and from other friends who have suffered the loss of a child. I always have that in my mind when I'm with someone who is grieving.<br /><br />I want to read every word you write about Jack. I think most people who blog do it to speak their unspoken. {sue}http://www.laundryforsix.comnoreply@blogger.com