From the moment of conception, a very special love affair begins. This is a love like no other, the unconditional love of a parent and child. We begin to plan, to dream. Our son will be a doctor, or the CEO of a giant corporation. Or perhaps, our daughter will be the first woman president. Together parents decide, that whatever they do, the most important thing is their children's happiness. Oh, what wonderful plans and dreams!

Suddenly these dreams are shattered, our child has died. We find ourselves planning not for our child's future, but for their funeral. Our child has died, how could this have happened? How could we not be there to protect them? Our joy has left us. We feel guilt, anger, and a total loss and devastation we never felt was possible. There is so much heartache and pain. Surely we will die too. Those of us who are fortunate to have other children, become very protective of them, and are afraid to let them out of our site. We are cast in a void, a black hole, there doesn't seem to be a light at the end. We ask ourselves how do we find someone to share this pain with, to help in some small way to lift some of this burden, someone who perhaps may understand, someone who will not judge.

Our chat room, "HALO Healing Hearts," is a place where you will find understanding, and genuine caring. A place where you are not judged... a place to share with other parents, to talk, or perhaps just listen. Our room is a safe haven for parents who have lost a child of any age, miscarriage thru adult. A place where we can be free to be ourselves, to cry, to laugh, to offer a hug, a shoulder to lean on, and a hand to hold. A place where we lean on each other, until with time, we learn to walk beside our grief.

Love, Ellen