United by their deep grief and pain, NAVAH brought 120 bereaved parents together for a therapeutic weekend retreat.  Some families had lost children in terror attacks while some had lost their children to illnesses or other terrible tragedies.  The weekend mainly focused on building couple relationships after the loss of a child.  The retreat gave these bereaved families the opportunity to rejuvenate themselves, enabled them to gain strength from one another and gave them coping skills to deal with the intense pain they feel each and every single day.

 

The heart-wrenching stories can bring anyone to tears.  We will share just a few of them.

 

Five years ago, Mrs. B. sent her three-year-old son to play outside their home with his five-year-old sister one Friday afternoon.  While looking for something to do, her son went into the fuse box of the unfinished apartment building and touched something that caused him to be electrocuted.  He died on the spot.  His sister saw the entire thing.  Day in and day out, Mrs. B. is consumed with the heavy burden of grief and guilt.   

 

Mrs. M. was a regular, happy mother of three children.  Without any warning, two of her children died due to sudden heart failure.  They were twenty-two and twenty-four years old.  Her sorrow is palpable and she has no support system to help her. 

 

NAVAH's therapeutic retreats give bereaved families like these the tools to continue on.  Below is a translated thank you letter from one of the participants who lost their son in a terrorist attack.

 

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the incredible and amazing hospitality that you showed.  We were so happy to be part of this rich atmosphere and it has been a long time since we have experienced a Shabbat like this.  You renewed our strength to move forward and we hope that we will now return to our children more attentive and calm.  I think it is unbelievable that you not only had terror victims join, but also included other families that lost children in tragedies as well.  You are a beacon of light in all of our lives."

 

Another family wrote:  "All of us here have made the headlines in the news in the past, but everyone forgets.  Except for you at NAVAH.  You have become our family and are better than any friends.  You have provided us with a warm and supportive environment so that we can continue on.  Thank you."

 

It is only through the generosity and kindness of our donors that enables NAVAH to continue providing ongoing support groups.   Thank you.

 

Click here to take part in our vital programs.