From Deseret News archives:
'Garden' helps support children in mourning
Provo center assists in coping with painful loss
"I know we'll be brothers forever," Calen says, "But he still keeps dying."
Based on the sentiments of the other youngsters sitting in a circle with him one girl barks like a dog when talking about a baby brother lost to SIDS Calen's difficulty with understanding death isn't unusual for his age.
"Kids this age need to learn what death really means," explained Edward Gimble, who oversees the youngest group of children attending Canary Garden Utah County's first and only grief support center geared to helping children cope with death.
"They have to learn the difference between living and dying," Gimble said, "because people don't talk about death in this culture."
At Canary Garden's weekly Monday meetings, death is all they talk about. Despite the morbid topic, however, 13-year-old Heather Bolton said the center is full of positive energy and hope.
Eight-year-old Breana Powers giggles as she leafs through a collection of photographs showcasing herself, her dog and her mother before sharing her story with the 6- to 8-year-old group.
"This is my mom getting married," says the bubbly redhead. "She died because she was really, really sad, and my grandpa died from cancer."
Just as each of the 16 children currently attending Canary Garden has a different story, each child has a different reaction which can range from anger to sadness. Founder Vivian Olsen said that support groups give children an outlet for those emotions while helping them to let go of the pain but not the person's memory.
"Grief is natural and normal, and each person's process is normal for them," she explained. "This death is part of their personal story, and part of why they come here is to tell their story to other people so that this event becomes woven into their life experience."
Comments
- Transactions 6:45 p.m.
- W.V. man charged with sexual abuse 6:36 p.m.
- Artest says he drank during games 6:34 p.m.
- KRCL celebrates 30th birthday 6:14 p.m.
- Sporty gift ideas 6:07 p.m.
- Reactions to Tiger Woods saga 5:53 p.m.
- World Cup bid sets sales target of 5m 5:51 p.m.
- Sloan gets 1-year extension 5:50 p.m.
- Students talk live to astronaut 5:48 p.m.
- FLDS ask for new trust manager 5:45 p.m.
- Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
- Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
- Mitchell compared to Ervil LeBaron
- Utahns growing tired of Bennett
- BCS just keeps dirty laundry on spin
- Teen girl killed in Kaysville crash
- Orem pair getting a rep for crime
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- Simple candies for the holidays
- MWC awaits bowl destinations
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
913 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
483 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
404 - Max Hall issues apology
391 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
358 - Utes won't respond to Hall
277 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
242 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
224 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
173 - Religion in politics is tiresome
154
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
As the TV cameras Tuesday night scanned the West Point audience during...
LDS Church publisher Deseret Book has some specials for the holidays.
Remember, Jazz fans, Miles is still young. He would be a rookie if he had...
if you believe abortion is your right, i guess that's fine. i believe...
Why is this news? Who cares what Woods does off the golf course.
Publicity is OK as long as it is in their self interest, but as soon as their...
To those criticizing the LDS church as being deceptive because of LDS...
Is it just me or does it seem a little hypocritical of Ute fans to jump all...
Once again Hatch is distorting the facts for his own political gain. How...
Privacy??? Hold it...you came into my home and sold my kids underwear,...
CJ still should have a chance to prove himself. As someone else noted he is...
ha every student knew but whoever did it needs to get caught kuz they kept...




You can be the first to comment on this story.