PAT & RUSS Explain Why Grasp..........
When the ultimate tragedy of their daughter's heroin overdose death occurred, Pat and Russ began the search for a bereavement group that would guide them through their grief and pain. What they discovered were well-meaning and kind groups for a variety of deaths. There were/are those to comfort parents whose children have died as infants and from illness, accident, even murder--- but none of these addressed that special need for those children who pass on because of drugs. Common sense told the Wittbergers that their daughter could surely not be the only young person to die from drugs in their city, county or state? Apparently though, Jennifer, who had always been a unique personality in life, was even so in death! Some may ask: "What difference does it make? Help is help. Sympathy is sympathy." Those who know, will answer: "The difference is in the faces of other parents."
The shifting to space themselves apart physically and emotionally.
The silent response.... or even.....
The spoken, "My child was good and didn't deserve to die!"
Which implies that all those who succumb to drugs of varying kinds deserved to leave this earth? And family---especially parents ---must be as bad (oh yes, imperfect parents) to have seen and allowed this death to happen. Using their steadfast love, Russ and Pat began the grieving and healing processes through their own research and by reading books sent by friends. All the while they found themselves shaking heads in disbelief at the non-response to the needs of themselves and others who must be searching also. It took some time for GRASP to be "conceived and born", although a minister friend had suggested that they reach out to others in this way. First came a sharing of their and Jenny's story. (to discover more about this click www.jennysjourney.org Discovery: Through talking of Jenny, Pat and Russ found that total strangers were coming to share their (sometimes secret) family's experiences of drugs and death and so-- GRASP: was an idea, a concept discussed and decided upon. When they met with their first couple of bereaving parents, Pat and Russ realized another truth and this was:
You do not need a degree to listen - to comfort - to share.
You do need to have experienced the pain of struggling before this tragic happening. They thank their daughter, Jennifer, for being a part of their lives because had they not been a part of her journey, then Russ and Pat would not be making a difference in the lives of others now. We thank you for visiting GRASP , however and whatever led you to this site. |
