Meet Your Hosts - GROWW - Grief Recovery Online

AKA GFWHostAnneGD

**AGELESS** Georgia. I lost my husband Michael from complications due to stomach cancer on Feb. 27, 1997. He was 3 weeks shy of his 44th birthday. He was diagnosed 3 weeks after his 42nd birthday and tried with all his might to beat it, but the cancer beat him in the end. He crashed once after the initial surgery and saw the "light" but he said he couldn't go at that time (maybe because I was yelling at him that he couldn't leave us yet!). He stayed with us for 9 months after that knowing that we needed him in any way, shape or form. Finally, I told him it was ok to go find peace and be pain-free, and that we would be ok. It wasn't easy to let him go, but I knew I had to. The hardest part was trying to explain to a 5-year-old that Daddy was going to die. It's been 4 years now and life sure has changed. We have been blessed a second time, met a fellow widower right here thru GROWW, married 10/15/99. Now I have 3 kids, 3 cats and a dog! I will always try to give back as much as I get from GROWW, it saved my sanity and I have made some of the best friends I've ever had here. " With an open heart and an open mind ANYTHING is possible".

GROWW Executive Director, Host for Grief Recovery, Manager for GROWW for Widowed

Cathy, CatTowner@aol.com ~ Cat

My husband Tim died on 10/9/96, exactly 1 week after his 46th birthday. He flipped a tractor on top of himself and my daughter who had just turned 8 three weeks before found him. She went to tattle that her 11 yr old brother had hit her and found him. She went and got my son so they both saw it. My mother died of lung cancer the day before my daughters 5th birthday. Father died when I was 2. I am a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and both kids are also Black Belts. I work for a small finance company in Michigan. I bought my computer 2 weeks after my husband died and found a wonderful woman named Judy first thing in a WW room. I dont know what I would have done without the people I found on my puter, they were the only thing that kept me going, besides my children. I know that I can never repay what Judy and my friends online have given to me but I will do my best to try.

Host for Grief Recovery, Host for GROWW for Widowed, Co-Manager for Unexpected Angels

Libby ~ Libby@groww.org

I lost my husband and best friend of almost 25 years, John, on 3/15/97. We started our journey in February 0f 1995 when his doctor first feared that John could have ALS. It was later confirmed that John had a rare neurological disorder called OPCA which basically means that his brainstem was dying. Through our years together we were blessed with two great kids, Jenny and Aaron. John was able to meet Jenny's future husband and get to know him before he passed away. Jenny was married two months after he died. He was also able to see our son graduate from high school in 1995. Before John's death, I was never online. But in the summer of 1998 I found GROWW and GFWO and must say I'm addicted. I realized that we have such a bond that unless you have experienced death of a spouse you cannot truly understand. I have been blessed with so many good friends through GFWO and was able to meet lots this year at the Poconos. I know in my heart that John is in a better place and that while we may not agree, everything happens to us for reason. I truly believe that my reason is to give back the kindness and understanding what I have been given each day.

, Host for GROWW for Widowed, Host for Grief Recovery

Rachel@groww.org ~ Rachel

I live in Vermont on a country road with the trees and wildlife surrounding me. Charlie died suddenly, on 11/8/98, from a heart attack after responding to a car fire as deputy chief of our small local vol. fire dept. He was 56 and had no prior history of health problems. There is no doubt in my mind that emergency personnel, on the scene, did everything they could to save him but it was not to be. Our family consists of my son, his 2 sons and a grandaughter that was the light of his life. I am very fortunate as his sons remain close. My son is currently in the coast guard. I found GROWW in May of 99 and the support here was unbelievable. It is here that I have learned to laugh again and my hope is that I can make this path we must travel a little less difficult for others.

GROWW Message Board Manager, Host for GROWW for Widowed, Host for Grief Recovery

singer_rcp@yahoo.com . GRHostSinger (Bob)

I lost my wife Nancy of 20 years to internal bleeding brought on by radiation treatment for Hodgkin's Disease 20 years before. She departed this world on Dec. 9, 1999. We had 20 years of glorious life with each other, raising 2 daughters 26 and 19. She was also a minister (Deacon) in our church, working as a children's minister and parish administrator. I discovered GROWW shortly after her passing, and the loving support of everyone here has helped me through a lot of long crying and trying times. I can only hope that I can contribute some of love and understanding back, by being a host.

Host for Grief Recovery

Harold, aka GRHostHal ~ hdlambert@bellsouth.net

Milan, Tennessee. I lost the love of my life, my wife of 25 years, Carol, on
April 20, 2000 without warning to respiratory failure. She was 50 years old.
She passed away at home in bed while my daughter and I were at work. Angela came home and found her, went screaming out of the house, our neighbor heard her, called 911, and then notified me at work. Needless to say, I was stunned.
My life had changed suddenly, and now I was alone. The next six months I didn't want anything to do with anybody; I just wanted to be left alone with my thoughts. As the holidays approached in November of 2000, I went on line in search of some help in dealing with what I was feeling, that is when I found GROWW. It has been a lifesaver for me. From the first day I went into the widowed chat room, I felt an understanding that no one here could give me, because they had not experienced the death of a loved one, while the people in GROWW had experienced the same thing I had. We had a common bond. I have been here ever since, trying to give back what was given to me.
As my grief recovery lengthened, I became involved with a very caring ladyfriend, and I have since remarried. I consider myself to be an extremely lucky man, for I now have had two wonderful women in my life. I will never forget Carol, she was my first love, and I cherish the memories we had together. I have a website in honor of Carol that all are welcome to visit; it is a memorial to a very special lady in my life.

http://www.home.bellsouth.net/p/pwp-clm

I am proud to have been nominated as a host for GROWW. I only hope that as a host I can give back that understanding and compassion that all new people in grief need.

Host for Grief Recovery, Host for GROWW for Widowed

Barby - GRHostBarby

My husband, Pete, died 12/30/97 of pancreatic cancer that had been diagnosed 7 months earlier. We had been married for 19 years. I have one son (1970) and one daughter (1972) from a prior marriage. The children were 8 and 6 when Pete and I married and became a blended family of his standard schnauzers, my golden retrievers and my children. I live in Santa Fe, New Mexico with three dogs and one cat. I learned of GROWW from ((( MY Anne))) in March of 1998, and have been here pretty much ever since. I have been to several gatherings, and urge you attend one if you can. It's a wonderful way to put a face with a "voice," the bonds become even further deepened, and we have a terrific time. At each gathering I have attended someone from outside GROWW has remarked that we are one of the happiest groups he/she has ever seen, and asks what sort of group we are. The answer, of course, tends to leave them speechless. I have met some of my dearest lifetime friends in GROWW. Whether robed or not, each of us is a GROWW host, as each of us is a member, and it's awesome to watch a "newbie," in spite of the pain, start to LOL (which generally takes them by surprise) and then begin to reach out to others with love, compassion and concern. It is human resiliency and loving kindness at its very best. I am honored to wear the robes of a host in the hope that I can return some of the love and understanding I have received in GROWW.

Host for Grief Recovery, GROWW for Widowed, Rainbow Angels

GRHostGinM

I'm Gin. I live in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with my husband, Jim (who is a real sweetheart) and, currently, four dogs - Avec, Nutter, Scardo and Bunzi.
We have a daughter, Corinne, who is married and lived in Rhode Island.

Although I had lost my 6 grandparents previously, my first hard losses were in 2002. I lost a friend to cancer, my uncle to heart problems, my son, Scott - 24, in a car accident and my father to old age. These were all in a year period.

I have to admit, it took me a long time to seek out a place like Groww - it wasn't until summer of 2005 that I was ready. It was pretty much love at first key stroke. Oh, just to know you weren't alone. There was nothing wrong with you. There were others who actually understood!! Just to know that my feelings, thoughts, fears were "normal" and I wasn't losing my mind was such a relief. You can actually feel the compassion. This was my first, and only, chat room. I never felt the need to look further.

I am honored to be a Host and to give back some of what I received from Groww. It is wonderful to see the changes in new members as they return over and over - to see the friendships that are formed - to see the forward strides they make. The camaraderie, through laughter AND tears, is just so sweet.

Groww is indeed a family and I am honored to be part of that family.

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Gin

Manager for Grief Recovery

Cary ~ GRHostCary

Ventura, CA,

I lost my husband and dear friend of 42 years on September 10, 2005. Nick suffered from heart and kidney failure. What was once an active man who spent many years coaching his children in sports, now faced his last 5 years hooked up to dialysis and oxygen machines. He faced each setback with such dignity and optimism. I learned so much from him. We were blessed with 2 children, 6 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

I happened to find GROWW about 3 months into my grief journey. The days and weeks were filled with many tears, but I met so many wonderful people in GROWW who new exactly what I was experiencing. I was able to be myself and not hide what I was truly feeling. Now, it is time to give back~ give back the compassion and love that I received.

I am honored to be part of the GROWW family.

Host for GROWW for Widowed, Host for Golden Angels, Host for Grief Recovery

Spotts ~ GRHostSueP

I lost my husband Jeff of 22 years on May 15, 2006. He became ill on Saturday, with what we thought was food poisoning or the flu. He was sick all weekend, on Monday morning I took him to the ER, what he had was an infection that went septic. Everything his heart was pumping was filled with poison that attacked his whole body. He was gone by noon that day...less than 48 hours from onset to death.

I found GROWW 2 months into my journey, and am so glad I did. I have made many dear and wonderful friends from around the globe, and have met some in person as well.

Through the love and support of my friends, family and GROWW, I can again laugh, smile and enjoy life. I have 3 children, one daughter, two sons, and two grandsons. My boys and I are very involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, we also enjoy camping, fishing and other outdoor activities.

A favorite quote of mine that I love to share is: "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

Host for GROWW for Widowed, Host for Grief Recovery