This page features resources provided by several organizations designed to help parents/guardians support children through grief and loss
The following guide helps prepare parents/guardians to support children as they mourn the loss of a loved one.
Provided Courtesy of the Collation to Support Grieving Students
A. Donation is saying yes to help others, and above all, donation is hope.
A. No it does not. When you die, nothing hurts anymore. You can further support your child by sharing your personal or religious beliefs about death.
A. The organ and tissue gifts are recovered by individuals who are highly skilled and trained.
A. I don’t plan on dying for a very, very, very long time. But if I do, someone will always be here to take care of you.
A. Not everyone has the opportunity to donate. For those who can donate, it takes a lot of strength and courage to say ‘yes,’ and to offer gifts to others.
A. We hope that the organ and tissue gifts will last for a very long time. Some last for over 50 years.
A. The decision to be a donor can either be made by the person themselves while they were alive, or when they die, by their family who knew what they would have wanted.
A. It is a personal choice to give a gift.
A. The major religions all support donation, or leave it up to the individual to choose. Most religions consider it a generous act.
Below you will find online resources including videos, eBooks, and an interactive online experience. All have been designed by experts to sensitively address loss of a loved one and feelings of grief and sadness.
Hope's Heroes is an interactive online experience developed by LifeNet Health to help parents/guardians educate children on the heroic act of organ and tissue donation. Prior to introducing a child to the online experience, we recommend that parents/guardians review the PDF document (click here) to access an overview of Hope's Heroes and frequently asked questions.
The Kai’s Journey series begins with The Golden Sweater, which focuses on the newness of loss and getting your bearings in a world without that significant person in your life. This story shows how Kai’s mom also adapts to her new world. Video & ebook provided courtesy of New York Life.
The second book in the series, The Girl with the Locket, centers on a new experience for Kai, a bereavement camp. While he is somewhat anxious about the prospect of meeting new people, it doesn’t take him long to make new friends. Elle is a young girl who struggles to talk about her own loss. Kai reaches out to her and finds that he has something to share with young people who are just like him. Video & ebook provided courtesy of New York Life.
In The Fishless Lake, Kai realizes that some of his memories of his father are slipping away. Kai’s mother remembers one of their family traditions and re-introduces Kai to the annual fishing trip that Kai and his dad took every September. Although they don’t catch any fish, they do capture countless warm memories, shared stories and a way to keep those family traditions alive and evolving as the family grows. Video & ebook provided courtesy of New York Life.