Strength from Survival

 

Listen to the words

And see the tears

Here the pain

And feel the fear

 

I am not the same

Grief has me torn

Emotions flood me

As I continue to mourn

 

I don’t understand it

And don’t like the reason

Grief has strengthened me

To face any season

 

You see the changes

And say I am strong

I know why you say it

But you are wrong

 

I am a better person

I had to survive

Given the choice

I would wish them alive

About the Author

Tanya Lord was a special education teacher when Noah died. After his death she read The Institute of Medicine’s report To Err Is Human and realized that the errors responsible for her son’s death were not unique. This created a desire and determination to better understand and work towards improving health care. Currently she has completed a master’s degree in public health and a PhD in clinical and population health research and is completing a post-doctoral fellowship. Lord shares her personal and professional experiences in presentations and workshops for medical staff and students focusing on the importance of effective communication with patients before and after an error. She also is a co-founder of The Grief Toolbox (www.thegrieftoolbox.com), which offers tools to help those along the grief journey. Lord may be contacted at [email protected]

I'm Grieving, Now What?