The loss of a child is something you don’t get over easily, and grieving parents often feel like there is no place to go for support.
That’s something one Castlegar family hopes to change.
When Sorrel and her family moved to Castlegar earlier this year, they discovered a gap in support services for grieving parents. Having been a part of support groups in the past, Sorrel decided that she was far enough along in her own journey of healing that she could be the one to offer support to others, and in the process, find comfort and purpose for herself as well.
And so River’s Place was born. The support group is named for Sorrel’s son River, who died at the age of two from a genetic disease 10 years ago.
“We want to say to people, ‘We have suffered this loss, we know how it feels,’” said Sorrel, whose last name the Castlegar News has agreed to withhold. “This kind of grief doesn’t go away — after 10 years, we are still affected by the loss.”
The support group is geared towards parents who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy, infant or young child, but Sorrel will welcome anyone who feels they can benefit from the group.
“I have this deep feeling in me that will not go away, that I can help other people.”
The group meets twice a month at the Castlegar & District Public Library — on the first Monday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon and on the first Thursday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m.
Sorrel said the atmosphere is casual and people can stay for as long as they want.
“Just stop in for a cup of tea and listen to others and share your story if you want.”
River’s Place strives to offer friendship, understanding, hope and a way forward by creating a place where bereaved parents can come together and support each other.
But Sorrel’s vision extends beyond the support group.
She plans to establish a non-profit organization that will build a home in Castlegar where grieving parents can go for a few days of respite.
Sorrel said that it is often hard for families to leave the hospital or hospice and go straight home where they have to face a child’s empty bedroom, neighbours, family and work.
“It is a way to get away and connect with others who have suffered a similar loss,” she said.
The house would include meeting spaces, an arts room, outdoor play equipment and five bedrooms. Support groups and other activities for grieving families would be offered on site.
Sorrel said there are several housing resources in the province for different family needs, such as Canuck Place and Ronald McDonald House, but that all of them are in the Lower Mainland.
“It’s time we get something here in the Kootenays,” she said.
Fundraising efforts for the home are still a ways off, but Sorrel is already hard at work making contacts and seeking advice.
RELATED: Editorial — Time to lift stigma over pregnancy loss
betsy.kline@castlegarnews.com
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