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Home > Events > IN THE ROOM: Moving through Anticipatory Grief
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IN THE ROOM: Moving through Anticipatory Grief

May 25, 2020 7:00 pm

About

Every parent who has received the news that their child has a serious condition or illness knows this feeling: the shock, fear, anger, and profound sadness that is known as Anticipatory Grief.

As author and mom Maria Kefalas so aptly describes it, anticipatory grief is “grief in three time zones simultaneously: your past, your present, your future.” You are grieving the innocence of before, you are grieving in this moment, and you are grieving the life you thought your child and family were going to enjoy together. Understanding this is part of the passage towards finding your balance, coping and strength.

Another helpful notion is that of ‘reframing.’ Reframing is about finding a different way of looking at the situation in order to give it a new meaning or power. This change in perspective can provide some scaffolds upon which to find ways of coping through anticipatory grief. Over time, parents of seriously ill and medically complex children may find reframing central to the story of their family as they adjust their expectations and find joy and hope in unanticipated ways. It is part of their superpower.

 

Video Recap


The Panelists


Rachel Rusch  LCSW, MSW, MA

Rachel Rusch LCSW, MSW, MA

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Bo Bigelow, parent

Bo Bigelow, parent

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Laura Will, parent

Laura Will, parent

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Michele Calahan-Williams, parent

Michele Calahan-Williams, parent

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