When someone has died, please continue to say their name.

Tools for finding hope along the journey: Tell people to say their names

It is always a bit strange to hear people say…”We didn’t want to bring (name) up, we thought we might remind you (or upset you” It is like they think because the tears aren’t flowing that we have forgotten that our love one has died. That when the name is mentioned it all comes flooding back. We can educate people about the reality of what is like for us. The heartache when the person appears to have been forgotten. The tears are what flow inside us all the time, just not always on the outside. Teach others to speak their names, it will help us heal.
 
 
 
Artwork by Tanya Lord
About the Artist

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]