The Compassionate Friends
Leesburg Chapter
Oct/Nov 2009
Dear Leesburg TCF Members,
My daughter Bridget and I will be temporarily doing the newsletter. We hope that someone will step forward to fill this valuable position as newsletter editor.
Words can’t express our appreciation to Theresa Heitz for being the newsletter editor for 5 years. She volunteered to do this very early in her grief journey and it helped her and all of us in the healing process. Theresa has a real gift of expressing the sorrow and pain of bereaved parents and putting the wordless into words. Thank you, Theresa for reaching out to help so many bereaved parents in honor of your precious son, Adam.
-Bev Elero
A Warm Welcome to Our New Members:
Debbie Plamondon
Mother of Kayleigh Plamondon
Donna & Robert St. Pierre
Parents of Robert Whiddon
Carla & Mike Fraser
Parents of Mallory Ann Fraser
On National Survivors of Suicide Day, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, simultaneous conferences for survivors
of suicide loss will take place in the local cities listed below. If you are interested in attending or would like
more information please use the contact numbers listed.
Frederick, MD Jennifer Cantrell 240-422-6657
Woodbridge, VAVictoria L. Graham 703-221-1144
For those survivors of suicide loss who find it difficult to attend in person, the 90-minute broadcast will also be available on the AFSP website from 1-2:30 p.m. EST, with a live online chat immediately following the program. http://www.afsp.org
We Fell Down but God Lifted Us Up
It was October 2001 & the beautifully colored leaves were falling down.
That was when our beautiful, handsome son fell down.
He had fallen into a deep depression & prescription drug addiction.
He was falling further & further away from us, but we couldn’t catch him.
Then he fell into the water & he fell away from this life on earth by suicide.
When our son fell to death that is when I fell down to life as I knew it.
I fell into a deep depression.
I fell into the plight of grief.
I fell into the unwanted role of being a bereaved mom.
I fell into loneliness, heartache & suffering.
My hopes & dreams for our son fell away.
My happiness & joy in this life fell out of reach.
My faith in God to answer all of the prayers I prayed for our son fell to the ground in shattered pieces.
I kept falling lower & lower until one day I looked up to heaven & cried out to God in desperation.
That is when the ascent began & hope started to take root in my heart.
God showed me in his word & in my heart that Brian fell but he caught him in his everlasting arms. He reached down from on high & lifted Brian out of deep waters & and rescued him because He loved him.
God lifted me up by revealing to me that Brian was safe in his eternal arms in heaven. I was lifted up by realizing the truth that God sent his only Son, Jesus to die on the cross for us so that we could be lifted up to heaven & eternal life.
I was lifted up by trusting in God even though I didn’t understand why our son died by suicide. I was lifted up by Jesus and knowing that he would never leave or forsake me. I was lifted up by looking at life with an eternal perspective. I was lifted up by reading the Bible, God’s love letter to me. I was lifted up by the precious gifts God has given me – my beloved husband, daughter & son.
I was lifted up by the prayers of others. I was lifted up by loving, kind & compassionate family & friends. I was lifted up by attending mass & knowing that I am surrounded by all the saints and angels. I was lifted up by visiting beautiful churches with stained glass windows. I was lifted up by Mary’s incredible witness of God’s grace and love through the great suffering and heartache she endured. I was lifted up by beautiful music & songs that touched my heart. I was lifted up by laying down my
burdens (guilt, anger, pain & sorrow) & giving them up to God.
I was lifted up by God’s special signs to me – butterflies, angels, sunsets, rainbows, roses & dreams. I was lifted up by walking and taking in the beauty of nature. I was lifted up by our cute little dog, Bonnie. I was lifted up by reading books written by bereaved parents. I was lifted up by forgiving all of those who did not know how to help me. I was lifted up by watching funny shows & movies and learning how to laugh again.
I was lifted up by attending TCF meetings & conferences & telling my story & sharing my feelings with bereaved parents.
I was lifted up by reaching out to other bereaved parents. I was lifted up by helping others through leading grief groups, depression groups & the TCF Chapter of Leesburg.
God has lifted me up higher than I could ever have imagined since our son, Brian fell to death. He has given me comfort, peace, love, hope & healing within my heart.
We fell down but God lifted us up. He lifted Brian up to heaven and someday he will lift me up to our eternal home, forever.
There will be no more death, tears, pain, or sadness; only eternal joy.
-Beverly Elero
In loving memory of Brian Patrick
12/30-10/29
Editors Note: Thank you for sharing your personal poems, articles or thoughts about your child, sibling or grandchild. Please send your original work to: bkelero@gmail.com
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