Healing

JD Hawkins was a beloved high school teacher and coach in New Mexico when one of his student athletes fulfilled the dream that every coach hopes for them—he was recruited to play football at the collegiate level. JD and the school community cheered this young man on as he went through the recruitment process. But…

How can thinking about your legacy bring more meaning to your life now? Most of us probably don’t think we need to consider our legacies until we’re older, wiser, and have accomplished many of the things we dream of in life. We think of a legacy as a gift or inheritance, or something extraordinary that…

We are honored to share the story of our visit to True Bethel Baptist Church in Buffalo, NY. As we distributed more than 300 hand-painted hearts in support of the community’s grief after the terrible shooting at Tops Market, we heard many stories of the choices people made to honor their loved ones, lean on…

When things seem so out of control, what do we do?  This is the question that everyone who experiences loss must face, and as Judy Pedersen found while leading a grief support group, the first step can come from the most unexpected places. One young mom came in who had recently lost her husband. They…

When something painful happens that is outside our control, like the death of a loved one, a terrible accident, or a global pandemic, we often start to rethink our understanding of the world and how we function in it. If we live in such an unpredictable and often unfair place, how can we control what…

Holidays and special celebrations—whether the kind that leave stores decorated for months, the ones that your family finds special significance in, or personal celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries—can be one of the most unpredictable and difficult times of the year for grievers. Here are some tips for coping with holiday grief, including Kenneth Doka’s “3…

When thirteen-year-old Santiago Abut unexpectedly passed away, his heartbroken family found themselves navigating the different ways they each coped. His sister, Caroline, was only five when Santi died. She had dozens of questions and needed information. Santi’s father channeled his emotions into finding grief support resources for his daughters.  Every family who loses someone they…

Since 2017, The Santiago Abut Foundation has generously supported Hearts of Hope’s mission through grants that bring healing art programs to children in underprivileged communities that would otherwise not be able to take part in our painting events. Thanks to the grant: 6,216 ceramic hearts have been created, painted, and gifted to those in need…

Asking for Help After Unimaginable Loss Caroline Abut was five years old when, one day in March, she was ushered out of the bedroom she shared with her older brother Santi by a series of medical professionals and police. As she waited at her neighbor’s house for news of what was going on, all she…

It is common to feel anger and guilt while going through any type of grief, but that doesn’t make those emotions any less complicated. Sometimes, holding onto resentment can get in the way of feeling the full range of emotions that accompany loss—and get in the way of healing from some of that pain. Forgiving…