| Editor
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· Pat Sirni
Associate Editor
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· Angela Dyer
Newsletter Staff
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· Lori Petersen
GROWW Officers
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· Anne D’Ambrosio,
Executive Director
GROWW Staff
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· Libby Morningstar,
Director of Branches
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· Pat Sirni,
Grief Recovery Room Manager
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· Rachel Frank,
WebMistress
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· Phil D’Ambrosio,
Director of Security
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Message
from the Executive Director - Anne D’Ambrosio
Happy March to all my friends: Happy St. Patrick’s Day too. Happy
Easter too, to those of you who celebrate it. It seems Easter
is early: I sure hope spring is too. I know I’m ready for it.
For some reason, once March comes I just can’t jump out of bed
as early as usual. Maybe when we spring ahead I’ll get my spunk
back - I sure hope so. I’m too tired to get everything done these
days. Spring is a time of rebirth and growth. The flowers start
the bloom. We get sad because of the change of seasons, but I
believe spring turns out much better then fall and winter. When
fall arrives, we know it will start getting darker and colder,
so by this time of year I’m looking forward to the daylight at
night.
I start thinking summer is around the corner and dang, I better
get back on my diet AGAIN! Middle age is the pits for me, physically
anyway. My body just refused to have anything that resembles a
curve unless a BIG circle counts. And I am NOT into circles unless
I’m sitting at a round table talking and visiting with friends
and family.
Every spring I try to do one new thing, although it seems it
is dieting every year lately but that’s ok. It make’s me feel
better to lose some weight and feel better. At least I’m trying
(sometimes). Springtime always helps my mood, and I love to hear
the birds and see the flowers. It also means the Michigan Gathering
is getting closer. Almost time to go visit my friends and meet
some new friends.
Make some plans for spring - something you like to do. It may
be a hard decision to try something alone, but maybe you can find
a buddy who wants to do the same thing. It’s worth it to ask.
My article is short this month because I’m heading out of town
to go surprise my Mom for her birthday, so I’m sending this early.
I have learned as all of you are how short life can be, so I do
try to enjoy every day to the fullest.
I received a link from Carla Blowey, a friend I’ve made online
who has written a book “Dreaming Kevin”, she also has a chat @
Dreams4Healing Chat on www.after-death.com/chat second Monday
of every month, 9 pm EST.
Carla has recently published her first online newsletter and
I told her I would include the link in this month’s newsletter,
good Luck with it Carla. You’ve done a great job once again
http://www.dreamingkevin.com/NewsletterSpring05.htm
Until next month, Good Grief
AnneGD
Message from the Director
of Branches - Libby Morningstar
Good March to everyone. As promised, I wanted to give you an
update on the different Chat rooms/Messages boards that GROWW
has to offer those seeking support in their time of sadness. GROWW
was created for the purpose of offering peer support to those
who had experienced the death of a beloved one. We are not professionals,
but members first and volunteers second -because we have been
where you are now. GROWW is about offering that necessary support
when you need it and hope for the future that it is a doable task.
Most people who come to chat have found Grief Recovery, this is
our main chatroom and you will see many different types of loss.
You may enter other chatrooms/message boards either by using the
drop down menu on the main page, or as I always like, the Chat
Index and Site Map. I am providing the latest information I have
on meeting times. They can change if our volunteers need to adjust
their schedule. Take some time to look at the different branches.
You just will be totally amazed at what you find. For example,
did you know we have the following branches (all times are EST):
Angels of Addiction - for parents who had children die due to
substance abuse, chat times offered are Tuesday and Thursday 8:00pm
- 10:00 pm. Enabled Angels - for those who have experienced a
death and are dealing with the emotional/alcohol/drug abuse, chat
time is Friday 9:30pm - 10:30pm. Faith Angels - for those questioning
their faith whatever it may be, and how it affects you now in
grief, chat time Tuesday 9:30pm - 11:00pm. GROWW for Widows -
those experiencing the death of a spouse or significant other,
chat time is every evening 7:00pm - midnight. Tender Angels -
for our younger widow/widowers under the age of 50, with chat
time Tuesday 9:00pm - 10:30pm, or Golden Angels - for our widow/widowers
over the age of 50, with chat time Thursday 8:00pm - 10:00pm.
Guiding Angels - for those who have had the death of a parent
or grandparent, chat times Wednesday 8:00pm - 9:00 pm and Thursday
9:00pm - 10:00pm. Guiding for Youth - for children to the age
of 18 who have experienced a death of a loved one, chat time Thursday
8:00pm - 9:00pm. Heavenly Angels - for the death of a child, chat
time everyday from 9:30pm - 11:30pm, with the exception that Tuesday
evenings are not hosted. Kindred Angels – for the loss of a sibling
or friend, Message Board only at this time. Reluctant Angels -
death due to suicide, chat times Sunday 7:30pm - 10:00pm and Tuesday/Thursday
8:00pm - 10:00pm. Rainbow Angels - a safe and caring place of
support for gays and lesbians who have lost their life partner
or other family members. Chat times Thursday 8:30pm - 10:30pm
and Sunday 7:00pm - 9:00pm. Stormy Angels - on the very difficult
subject of rape/molestation and dealing with grief in the process,
chat time Wednesday 9:30pm - 11:00pm. Unexpected Angels - for
those experiencing the very sudden death of a loved one, chat
times Monday 9:00pm - 11:00pm and Friday 11:00pm – midnight. Timeless
Angels – for those who have lost a loved one to a long term illness,
Message Board only at this time. These are our most active rooms.
We do have others that have message boards you may wish to use,
so check them out.
Take the time to explore GROWW. I think you will find as many
who have come before you, that we have a way of becoming an addiction
- but a good one. We have a wonderful resource section, as well
as, for those who shop online, a great connection in "HelpGROWW"
that in turn helps GROWW by providing necessary funding to continue
into the future. Just to make sure there is no misunderstanding,
GROWW is a total volunteer organization. NO ONE receives any payment
for their services including staff. Any help you could offer to
keep the site running is always appreciated and is a great TAX
deduction as we are a federal approved program.
Phil’s Corner - Phil D’Ambrosio
Hi Guyz, I don’t know about you but I’m a little nervous about
the group that’s following us. You know who I mean future Mensa
candidates that man the cash registers at the supermarkets, the
servers at your favorite restaurant and the next generation of
Rocket scientists that serve us our daily dose of fast food.
A few weeks ago I drove through McDonalds and placed an order.
While I was waiting for a total, a voice asked me, “Is that was
for here or to go?” I kid you not. I can’t tell ya the number
of times I’ve been in the supermarket and given the cashier the
“change” - you know the total is $6.35 and you give them $10.35.
I’ve been asked by some managers to not do that. In fact some
cashiers shut their lights off and take their break when they
see me approaching. Can you imagine if they had to actually read
the little stickers with the price on it then have to punch the
numbers in manually? Whatever you do, please make sure that every
item you want to purchase has those mini zebra stripes on the
label and they are intact!! I dropped my guard one day and forgot
to check a can of fruit cocktail: it was missing a piece of the
bar code. Well, I was in the express lane,, and the looks of the
folks behind me kinda hinted that it would be in my best interest
to forego the fruit cocktail since replacing the can with one
that had a readable bar code would defeat the purpose of the express
lane.
Before finishing my article, I took a break and went to get the
van washed while Anne was visiting her folks. As I was waiting
in line, I was watching the 2 guyz prepping the cars before they
run them through the wash. I don’t know why but I took the remote
off the key chain and put it in my pocket. I went inside paid
and was waiting in the front, when I noticed no cars were coming
through the wash. I walked back and saw the 2 prep guyz standing
there scratching their heads. I saw one of the try to open the
door, but to no avail. I walked over to them took the remote out
and unlocked the doors. One of ‘em turned around and said, “Cool
dude”. He asked if I always carry an extra remote. I told him
only recently “dude.” Isolated incident? - I’m not so sure anymore.
See ya next month.
Guest Column: submitted
by Nan
Doctors Say Loss Can Cause a Broken Heart
By LINDA A. JOHNSON
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Confirming the wisdom of the poets and philosophers, doctors say
the sudden death of a loved one really can cause a broken heart.
In fact, they have dubbed the condition "broken heart syndrome."
In a study published just in time for Valentine's Day, doctors
reported how a tragic or shocking event can stun the heart and
produce classic heart attack-like symptoms, including chest pain,
shortness of breath and fluid in the lungs. Unlike a heart attack,
the condition is reversible. Patients often are hospitalized but
typically recover within days after little more than bed rest
and fluids, and suffer no permanent damage to their hearts.
In their study, published in Thursday's New England Journal of
Medicine, doctors at Johns Hopkins University gave a name to the
condition, demonstrated through sophisticated heart tests how
it differs from a heart attack, and offered an explanation for
what causes it. For centuries, doctors have known that emotional
shocks can trigger heart attacks and sudden deaths. Broken heart
syndrome, technically known as stress cardiomyopathy, is a different
phenomenon. The Johns Hopkins doctors documented how a days-long
surge of adrenaline and other stress hormones can cause a decline
in the heart's pumping capacity. The researchers theorized that
the hormones probably cause tiny heart blood vessels to contract,
but other explanations are possible.
Until now, doctors "were trying to explain it away, but the
pieces never quite fit," said Dr. Hunter Champion, an assistant
professor. "By our ability to recognize it, we've saved people
from getting unnecessary (heart) procedures."
Champion and colleagues treated 19 emergency room patients with
the syndrome between 1999 and 2003. For reasons that are not entirely
clear, nearly all of them were postmenopausal women. Many were
grieving over the death of a husband, parent or child. Other triggers
included a surprise party, car accident, armed robbery, fierce
argument, court appearance and fear of public speaking. MRIs and
other tests showed they had not suffered heart attacks.
Other doctors have since told Champion that they have seen the
same thing, and researchers in Japan and Minnesota have reported
similar cases. "This is probably something that happens all
the time," but most people do not seek treatment, Champion
said.
Dr. Daniel Shindler, director of the echocardiography lab at Robert
Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, N.J., said it apparently
happened to his wife last week, when she was upset over her sister's
death. The wife, who also is a doctor, sensed abnormalities in
her heart. Testing showed abnormal rhythms, but she is fine now.
Shindler said the researchers' conclusions make sense, given the
well-known link between the brain and heart, and offer the first
explanation he has heard for the phenomenon.
Dr. Sidney Smith, former American Heart Association president
and director of University of North Carolina's Center for Cardiovascular
Science and Medicine, said the study will lead more ER and heart
doctors to consider the syndrome when examining patients with
chest pain. "We'll definitely be paying more attention now
than before" to patients who are grieving, Shindler said.
On the Net: _http://www.nejm.org_ (http://www.nejm.org/)
Poetry by Members:
We’d like your poetry! Please submit any poems to newsletter@groww.org
Host Interview by Pat Sirni – (PatS): GRHostFloyd
Floyd is one of our newer hosts, starting to host in the main
room just last month. He is well known to our members who spend
time in GR.
A Pennsylvania native, Floyd now resides in Tonawanda NY with
his daughter, Crista and grandson, Mark, who is 10. He also has
two other daughters, Kim who lives in North Carolina with her
husband and two children, and Alicia lives in Niagara Falls, NY
with her husband and two young daughters.
Sharon, Floyd's wife of 26 years, passed away in February of last
year, due to complications from emphysema. She had just celebrated
her 50th birthday. He found Groww via an internet search for grief
chat rooms shortly after her death.
Retired from the construction industry, Floyd enjoys camping and
traveling. He especially enjoys meeting his friends from Groww
and attended his first gathering, in Michigan, last summer. He
says he is looking forward to this year’s gathering.
Like so many of us, Floyd credits Groww and his family with helping
him to survive his loss. His advice to those who are new with
us, is to keep coming to Groww for the love and understanding
needed to make it through.
Welcome to Groww hosting Floyd!
Recipe of the month:
Blue Cheese Dressing
1qt Mayonnaise
8oz. cream cheese
1pt. sour cream
1 clove garlic
½ tsp. lemon juice
¾ tsp. salt
3 tsp. Worcheshire sauce
4oz. blue cheese
Mix at room temperature and set in fridge for 3-4 hours.
If you would like to submit a recipe or poem for publication in
this newsletter, please send your submission to newsletter@groww.org
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