'How do you get through this?': Parents on the grief of losing a child

Parents are grappling with the heart-wrenching grief of losing their child, as laid out in articles detailing their experiences. When Lauren Westwood, a 15-year-old from Mount Duneed, Victoria, fell ill during an overseas school trip, her condition worsened upon her return home. A glioblastoma brain cancer diagnosis was delivered to the family, with doctors predicting a grim prognosis of three to five years left for Lauren.

The devastating news left her mother, Kerri, questioning how to break the tragic news to her teenage daughter.

Lauren passed away in July 2020, 21 months after her diagnosis, leaving behind a family grappling with profound loss. Grief researcher and psychologist, Lauren Breen, emphasizes that the death of a child is a profound loss that defies natural expectations and can have far-reaching consequences on a person's mental health, relationships, work, and sense of identity.

Bereaved parents may face a myriad of emotions, including sadness, anger, numbness, and overwhelming feelings, often co-existing at different times. The support of understanding peers can be a crucial source of healing for parents navigating this difficult journey.

For Tonya Shoobridge, whose 21-year-old daughter Madeline died unexpectedly, the grief process has focused on building resilience and seeking positives in daily life. The hardest moments often coincide with anniversaries, birthdays, and Christmas, making these times particularly challenging. To cope, Tonya has sought solace in connecting with other bereaved parents, who share a deep understanding of the pain and can offer much-needed support.

Sharing stories, creating memories, and finding ways to honor their child's memory through acts of kindness and charity provide a sense of purpose and comfort for Tonya and other parents navigating the arduous path of grief.