Rays of Hope in Times of Loss

Introduction

Rays of hope was published to bring courage and comfort to people experiencing a significant change or loss. When a young person dies, especially, we grieve for the future that has vanished.

...So much ahead, so much to come,

That future gone makes our hearts numb.

I knew her heart, but not enough;

You'll have more time, was my mind's bluff...

These poems come to help us cope;

We'll hold her soul and cling to hope.

For there is beauty in this, too;

Lives touching lives, as angels flew.

Poetry can be so many things: beautiful, lively, healing, hopeful, encouraging, funny.  But it's frightening, too, very personal and not mainstream.  It is in the spirit of overcoming fears that Jessie and I once talked about, that I fight my own fears about publishing my poetry.  She wanted to make a positive contribution to life and it is my prayer that these poems are our way of partnering together to help make a positive difference for others.

This online journal is a compliment to my book, Rays of Hope in Times of Loss, that I wrote in the weeks that followed Jessie's passing.  Here I'll post advice, stories from others who are also dealing with loss, reviews and, other information about moving through transitions in healthy ways.

I hope this helps you find courage and comfort during difficult life passages.

Susan Zimmerman

This online journal is a compliment to my book, Rays of Hope in Times of Loss, that I wrote in the weeks that followed Jessie's passing.  Here I'll post advice, stories from others who are also dealing with loss, reviews and, other information about moving through transitions in healthy ways.

I hope this helps you find courage and comfort during difficult life passages.

Susan Zimmerman

About the Book

Rays of Hope in Times of Loss was written to capture in poetic and therapeutic narrative, the many layers and dimensions of grief. Photographs of nature's beauty fit the passages with perfect harmony.

The poems in Rays of Hope in Times of Loss reflect many aspects of the emotional excursion through grief.  They help show you glimmers of hope and ideas about ways to move through your grief and validate feelings you may have had, but perhaps didn't recognize or feel comfortable sharing.

The book was also created for the caring people who wish to help console a grieving person.  It is a gift book that can be given to help you express your sympathy, support and love.

About The Author

Susan Zimmerman, ChFC, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Chartered Financial Consultant who has been helping people with life transitions and planning for over 20 years.  She is an author and speaker on many topics related to finance and psychology. Susan has been featured in several publications, including the Washington Post, LA Times, First for Women, and the St Paul Pioneer Press.

About DVT (From the Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein Thrombosis)

Jessie's tragic death came from the suddenness of a pulmonary embolism.  Before her, I had never heard of it, nor its cause, deep-vein thrombosis.  I post this description here to spread the word about this preventable killer, hoping that this will help save another's precious life.

Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) together compromise one of the nation's leading causes of death.   More people die in the United States from PE than breast cancer and AIDS combined and, according to the American Heart Association, up to 2 million Americans are affected annually by DVT. 

DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the lower limbs.  A complication of DVT, pulmonary embolism, can occur when a fragment of a blood clot breaks loose from the wall of the vein and migrates to the lungs, where it blocks a pulmonary artery or one of its branches.  Of those who develop PE, up to 200,000 will die each year.

For more information, please visit www.preventdvt.org.