‘Compassionate Friends’ offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

The holiday is celebrated as an opportunity to get together with family, but not all have the privilege.

Rodin encouraged those who have lived with loss to share with a like-minded group.

“I remember back years ago when my son died and the first sharing meeting I walked into, it gave me hope to see that because I thought, ‘this is the end of the world’,” she said.

“To see others who have survived the loss, it’s good,” she added.

“Sometimes friends and family get tired of hearing you talk about your child and about your loss and how it’s making you feeling, whereas us in this group, we understand.”

Rodin said that what works for one person might not work for the other.

The group creates a rapport, and comes up with a so-called ‘plan B’ for each individual.

This allows for alternative routines, such as celebrating Christmas in a different way.

“Christmas isn’t what you see in the movies and the songs and everything,” she said.

“You’ve got somebody that should be sitting at your table that isn’t sitting at your table.”

Rodin said that when her son had passed, a family Christmas had been planned, but fell through upon the tragedy.

She went to her plan B and celebrated at someone else’s place, and lit a candle for where her son would’ve joined them.

As for the support group, she said that loss could be related to health issues, suicide, overdose, or natural causes — everyone is welcome.

“What I always say is that you will mourn for however amount of time, but you’ll grieve for a lifetime. That’s just the way I feel with it,” she said.

“So, are there steps to grief? I don’t believe so, because you might be going good for a long time, and then all of a sudden, things aren’t so good anymore.”

Rodin said that no one can force anyone to talk about anything, but a peer support group allows for a comfortable setting that encourages sharing your story.

The group meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Saamis Memorial Funeral Chapel. Its next meeting will be Dec. 12.

by Jayk Sterkenburg

‘Compassionate Friends’ offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

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