GriefSPEAK: Happy belated Birthday, America! – Mari Nardolillo Dias

A grief-stricken American flag is gracefully floating in the water.

by Dr. Mari Nardolillo Dias “…What’s that I smell in the air? The American Dream” (Miss Saigon) Happy Birthday to America! (She, her, hers). America turned 247 years old this week amidst torrential rains. I can hear the belated fireworks now, several days later.  Many feel she has survived but is currently in the intensive care…

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GriefSPEAK: Faith conquers all, including grief – Mari Nardolillo Dias

Stained glass art - stained glass art fine art print.

by Dr. Mari Nardolillo Dias, contributing writer on grief and grieving From the desk of Deborah Manzo McDonald: “My son JoJo died 7 years ago from an accidental overdose. How do you measure a year? 525,600 minutes? How can it be 7 years without him? Three million, six hundred seventy-nine thousand two hundred minutes? Counting those minutes…

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GriefSPEAK: Does knowing the details ease our grief – Mari Nardolillo Dias

A close up image of blue water in the ocean.

by Dr. Mari Nardolillo Dias, contributing writer Grievers often need an explanation of a sudden death. The belief (although perhaps irrational, in many situations) is based on that “knowing of the details” will ease the numbness, the surreality. Help them exhale. Manage their grief. The woman who believes that the “knowing” all the details of…

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GriefSPEAK: Empty Arms – Mari Nardolillo Dias

A blurry image of people sitting in a waiting room.

by Dr. Mari Nardolillo Dias, contributing writer Kara came home from Women and Infants Hospital with empty arms. Her pregnancy with her baby girl, Martha, seemed normal, according to ultrasounds. She was at thirty weeks when her OB thought Kara looked dehydrated and pale. He sent her to a local hospital who didn’t see anything…

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GriefSPEAK: A sign of comfort – Mari Nardolillo Dias

A person using a smartphone in front of a crowd.

by Mari Nardolillo Dias, contributing writer on grief and grieving JoJo died at the age of 36, a successful attorney and a lover of humanity, he passed from an accidental overdose on September 14, 2016 at 11pm, just short of his 37thbirthday. His mom, Deb, was numb with the pain of losing her first born…

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