This organization, TCF for short, was instrumental in saving my sanity. I remember the first meeting that we attended, just 3 weeks after Alex died. The chapter leader, Patricia, held her arms open, drew me in, and let me cry on her shoulder. This was our first meeting. I have never forgotten her kindness. The second thing I remember is hearing people laugh. I couldn’t understand it at the time, but later came to learn that this seemed a safe place to experience momentary humor. Everyone attending has lost a child, so they knew where my spirit was. I felt like I was in a warm embrace at every meeting I attended. Some of those people have gone on to become the dearest of friends.
Recently, the national conference was held in Portland. It is hosted in different cities each summer. As I walked in, I once again felt this wave of acceptance and comfort. Much of the time now, I am the one offering the comfort. At 15 years it feels right to help the newly bereaved understand that they will not always feel the way they do right now. There is a future. It is a different future than they imagined, but it is there waiting to be redefined. We live on for many reasons and others that we love, but we also live on in memory of our beloved child….mine is Alex.
For those who have a need or knows someone who does, I have posted the national link.
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