To those who have lost loved ones.

[carjunkieanon]

Pretty much this exact time five years ago we were in an obstetricians room hearing the news that our overdue first child had died in the womb.

Absolutely devastating. Five years on, we're still grieving, but the blow has softened.

No-one 'moves on' from a loved one, you just learn to live without them. We've had three boys since then, and have one more on the way, but none have replaced the boy we lost.

I joined AULRO a few months after Cam's death, spent hours reading the forums as a means of distracting myself.

I haven't kept track of exactly how many people from this forum have lost loved ones in the last five years, but it seems like a lot. Kids, parents, partners, grandparents etc.

Just wanted to give a shout out to all our loved ones to say that they're not forgotten.

Rick

[NavyDiver]

Hearts bleed forever mate. That is due to love. Some bits of sadness need also to be celebrated, clearly you love and loss meets that bit mate

[akelly]

Extremely well said. Thanks for sharing and no, they wont be forgotten.

[Sue]

I am so sorry for your loss.. death leaves a heartache no one can heal.

I spent a few years doing charity work for a company called Heartfelt (Heartfelt is a volunteer organisation of professional photographers from all over Australia dedicated to giving the gift of photographic memories to families that have experienced stillbirths, premature births, or have children with serious and terminal illnesses. All service are free of charge) and in that time I saw so many shattered families, broken dreams and angels who truly had wings.. Sadly work commitments have placed this (for me) on hold but I hope to return to it soon. No one will ever replace the son you have lost, other children fill you full of love and are equally treasured and adored but they are not a replacement, and I think that most people understand that.

They Say There is a Reason

They say there is a reason,
They say that time will heal,
But neither time nor reason,
Will change the way I feel,
For no-one knows the heartache,
That lies behind our smiles,
No-one knows how many times,
We have broken down and cried,
We want to tell you something,
So there won't be any doubt,
You're so wonderful to think of,
But so hard to be without.

~Author Unknown

[JDNSW]

Well said. Next Sunday it will be thirteen years since I lost my wife. After all this time very occasionally a day passes without thinking of her. And there is the grand daughter we lost four years ago five days after birth.

John

[numpty]

Nicely put.

In November it will be 32 years since my youngest brother and 4 mates were tragically killed. In 2007 my Mum passed away, 2008 my sister succumbed to cancer and in 2009 my dad died. It can be a struggle sometimes to accept.

My thoughts are with all who have lost loved ones.

[RichardK]

Well said. Time may dull the pain but it will always be there and the scar remains.
We lost our daughter 2 years ago in November to swine flu

[scarry]

Very well said

Some things will never ever be forgotten.

Lost my Dad in '84,he was to young to go........

Lost both my wifes parents last year....

Lost a few friends over the years

There is hardly a day goes past without thinking about at least one of them.

[Ausfree]

Lost my first wife in 1974 to asthma!! It still hurts!!:( she was only 27!!

[digger]

In the WEST TCE Cemetery, ADELAIDE there was a large area that was for many many years used for the burial of stillborn or early months age children.
Due to their ago these were not marked or even originally consecrated grounds but they are now.

There is now a beautiful memorial there, it is a statue/sculpture of a bay tree, and on the ground around it is a contemplation area that is made up of 1000's of bay leaves (in metal) each of these is engraved with names/details in memorial to these children by relatives etc...

Originally hearing about this project I thought it would be a very average concept but it is well done and when I looked at it I saw it was being well frequented and I found it to be a beautiful thing.

The reason a bay tree was selected was because a bay leaf remains unchanged when it falls from the tree unlike so many other leaves etc..

I dont have a website address etc I hope someone may be able to help with that.


I like some of the epitaths on tombstones of old as they very nicely sum up the sentiments etc that are so hard to catch in these situations..but
I always have felt incredibly sad whenever Ive had cause to visit a childrens cemetery section, its so personal and the feeling of loss is almost crushing

As long as someone is loved and remembered they are never completely gone.

Cheers

[olbod]

They Say There is a Reason[/B]

They say there is a reason,
They say that time will heal,
But neither time nor reason,
Will change the way I feel,
For no-one knows the heartache,
That lies behind our smiles,
No-one knows how many times,
We have broken down and cried,
We want to tell you something,
So there won't be any doubt,
You're so wonderful to think of,
But so hard to be without.

~Author Unknown

I like that.
I firmly believe that at the end of the day, I will be reunited with my soul mate. I just need to wait patiently without causing any fuss.
Waiting tho is sometimes more trouble than it is worth.

Cheers, I think.

Robert.

[wagoo]

Heart felt sorrow for your loss Rick. No, our lost loved ones will never be forgotten, and I desperately hope you are right when you say we eventually learn to live without them. Trouble is, I'm a painfully slow learner.
Robert (Olbod), in the past 4 months since I lost my wife I have been doing a great deal of internet research relating to the possibility of being reunited with her when it's my turn to go. Although I am still a bit sceptical, it would seem that there are many thousands of people more educated and intelligent than myself who firmly believe in the afterlife and claim to have documented scientific proof that it is a reality. Hope they're right too.
Bill.

[clubagreenie]

I lost a fiancée in '91 in between 2 Christmas holidays and her parents because of their religious beliefs took her back home (eastern Europe) and I didn't know anything of it for 6 months until It was investigated as a full missing persons event.

Then in '93 i was with colleagues in a situation and out of 18 of us, only 2 of us got out and the other didn't make it all the way home. 16 people in about 3 hours gone.

[Sue]

Waiting tho is sometimes more trouble than it is worth.



*hugs*... enjoy your life while you can, as we have seen by this thread (and from personal experience) life is too short... There is no shame in loving life even if you have lost a loved one.. and I am sure that your soul mate would want nothing less for you. *more hugs* :)

[jerryd]

I can't believe it's five years ago that these four children lost their lives in a tragic accident.

Accident (http://www.thegreshlets.com/html/accident.html)

I planted a tree for each of them in a special place on our block, I've watched them bloom and grow and often sit and think about these kids,

It makes you realize how fragile life really is.

[olbod]

Sue.
Ta.
I like hugs.

Robert.

[Barefoot Dave]

We've had a rough year.
With everything happening, I keep reminding myself that things could be much worse.
I read this thread this a heavy heart for those who are bereaved.

Today I lost my Dad.
We had a strained relationship, and there is much left unsaid.

Hug them, Love them and say the things that need saying.
Dave.

[stevo68]

Good thread.........I'm coming up for 12 months next month since I lost my dad who I was very close to. His passing still haunts me as I virtually watched him die. I think about him every day and to start with found it very hard to cope with it all. To say its been a tough year is an understatement. Thankfully I have a great family and an awesome cirlce of mates who have stood by me and helped me through it all. For me this was my first major loss and it certaily puts a different perspective on life. My thoughts also go out to those who have lost their loved ones....

Regards

Stevo