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Welcome to the November issue of our Helping Parents Heal Newsletter!
We are glad that you have all found us. This newsletter is a space that allows us to share our amazing children. We are all in this together. We understand and we walk the same path. Thank you for your compassion and for the constant support you provide. Together, we will help each other heal!
We will have a special guest speaker for our October meeting of Helping Parents Heal - Scottsdale at Unity of Phoenix. Psychic Medium Jamie Clark will be joining us and bringing through validations from our children. Many of you attended our June meeting and were impressed by Jamie's accurate messages and optimistic, joyful personality. It will be an uplifting meeting that will be filled with positive energy-please join us if you can. Please RSVP for the event here, and visit Jamie's website to learn more about him here. We kindly request a $5 'love donation' for this meeting that will be split equally between Jamie and Unity of Phoenix. Our meeting will be October 23rd from 6:30 to 8;30. Please join us if you can!
 Medium Jamie Clark
Our September meeting of Helping Parents Heal - Scottsdale was a great success-Psychic Medium Susanne Wilson performed a Guided Meditation to connect us with our children and then brought through many amazing validations for the 80 parents who attended.
 Some of the attendees of our October Scottsdale meeting with Susanne Wilson: From left: Karen West, Susanne Levi, Susanne Wilson, Ernie Jackson, Kristine Jackson, Dominique Bales, Elizabeth Boisson, LeAnn Hull, Laurie Savoie & Lina Morton
I am happy to say that Susanne changed many people's lives at that meeting. This newsletter contains three personal stories of healing that took place on that night. Doryce Norwood, a Founding Member of Helping Parents Heal and our legal counsel and secretary received an overwhelmingly accurate message from her darling granddaughter, Haley, and Christine Hochkiss and Linda Chapman both received validations from their beautiful daughters, Nicole and Brittany. LOVE ALWAYS REMAINS! Please read about Haley, Nicole and Brittany in this month's newsletter. You can also visit Susanne's website here.
One more important announcement: I am thrilled to be traveling to New York City to attend the November 9th meeting of Helping Parents Heal- NYC hosted by Sheri Perl Migdol with guest speaker Psychic Medium Glenn Dove. It will be a wonderful evening filled with validations from our beautiful children. Please sign up for Sheri's helpful, healing Prayer Registry here, and visit Glenn Dove's website here. If you are in the New York area, we hope to see you there! You can sign up for the November 9th event and get more information here.
-Elizabeth Boisson, Co-Founder of Helping Parents Heal, Newsletter Editor and Affiliate Leader for Scottsdale/Phoenix.
Affiliate Corner-
Doryce Norwood, Founding Member of Helping Parents Heal, Secretary and Legal Counsel
Doryce Norwood (center) and her family: clockwise from her left: granddaughter Haley (8), grandson Patrick(7), daughter Wendy, son-in-law Thomas, husband Bill, grandson Cameron (3), son-in-law Charlie, daughter Ronni, and granddaughter Chloe (6).
Doryce, one of our Founding Members and a current Board Member, shares an uplifting story about our September 25th meeting with Susanne Wilson:
TUSCANY! The landscape is every bit as beautiful as you’ve seen and heard. My husband (Bill) and I were so thrilled with our European vacation we were even singing in the car. We were fortunate to have the time, money, and our health to travel. We had five grandchildren who we spoiled on a regular basis and loved beyond measure.
Little did we know that day, April 28, 2004, that within hours our world would be forever changed. Due to the nine-hour time difference, later that same day in Scottsdale (and middle of the night in Tuscany) a birthday party was being held for our daughter Ronni. Helping her celebrate was her family, husband Charlie, sons Christopher, Cameron and daughter Chloe. Also helping her celebrate her 35th birthday was her sister Wendy, brother-in-law Thomas, her nephew Patrick and niece Haley along with other friends. I really did not like missing the party…but then, I was in Tuscany and having a great time.
“The call” (as many of you have experienced it) was received early morning while in our 15th century bed and breakfast villa. Nothing seemed unusual until I heard our Italian innkeeper try to say our last name in English several times.
I was sitting alone at the 20-foot breakfast table letting Bill sleep a little longer. The caller told our host that he needed to talk only to my husband, NOT to me. I hurried to our room to get Bill for the call. He learned that Wendy had been killed (she was the driver) and Thomas, Patrick and Haley were all in the hospital. We needed to return home immediately. That sounded easy enough, except that we were nowhere near an airport. It took us over 35 horrific hours for us to finally reach Phoenix and the horror that awaited us.
Thomas was not expected to survive but did with multiple injuries, in particular, those caused by Wendy’s body being slammed into him after the 60 MPH force of being t-boned by the drunk driver. Ten-year-old Haley lingered in a coma for twenty days until she lost her fight for life. While eight-year-old Patrick was not physically injured, he later described witnessing his mother’s lifeless body, his father’s gurgling sounds grasping for air and his sister, “pretending” to be asleep (in truth, she was in a deep coma due to her head injuries). After being removed from the family’s van, Patrick asked the paramedics “Am I dreaming?”
When it was apparent that Haley could not survive, our family decided donate her organs. Haley’s heart went to 11-year-old girl in California. That young girl, Kelci, just celebrated her 21st birthday.
Losing my girls, I was not sure how I could go on living. For over a decade, I have worked on my own healing as well how to help others who are grieving the loss of their child. As a grandmother, I not only lost my child but also my child’s child. I continue to volunteer work for MADD and Donor Network of Arizona. In addition, I am involved with this wonderful organization, Helping Parents Heal, Inc. as a founding member, Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
Patrick asked me a question that continues to remain with me – “Grandma, if you could bring back only one from heaven, would it be my Mom or Haley?” I answered, “if only one then I would say Haley.” He responded, “Me too Grandma, Haley did not get to live very long”.
“My girls” as I lovingly call Wendy and Haley, are always on my mind and in my heart. Like others who have lost loved ones I do get messages from them. Most notably….pennies….lots of pennies .Some in very strange places, like one that was barely noticeable… only one-third showing under the baseboard of a backstage dressing room at the Herberger Theater (where Haley had previously danced the year before). The year on the penny was 1994, the very same year my precious Haley was born. There is no doubt this was her message to me that I was there to enjoy Chloe’s recital…and that she was there too. In June, we took our grandchildren, Ronni and Charlie to Europe. As we walked off the tour bus towards the Vatican, I noticed a coin in the street. Yet, another major message from our girls…a U.S. penny, halfway around the world…again, letting us all know, they were there with us.
As for “getting messages” from my girls (via psychic mediums), well, I was not so lucky. There had been a few comments made to me in group settings, like Wendy telling me she did not want to be brought into public readings and one other time when Donnie Tash from Psychic Library provided information to a group of us during one of our Helping Parents Heal meetings. As he walked down the aisle of participants, he stopped at me and said “Your girls were not ready to leave this world”. He then added “They are very proud of the work you do with MADD”. Obviously, his being able to identify that I do anything with or for MADD was a clear indication my girls had spoken to him.
All that changed last Thursday night at our Helping Parents Heal meeting when Susanne Wilson gave me an amazing reading. I have been on cloud nine ever since. She started out saying she saw a lot of hearts and then asked the group “Did anyone’s loved one donate a heart?” Three of us stood. Suzanne then said she saw shooting stars, like a comet, over my head. I looked dazed…as that did not mean anything to me. Then others around me said “Haley’s comet”. Wow! Haley was coming through to talk to me…after ten long years. Susanne then asked what the number 20 means to me? I responded that Haley would have been 20 years old now. Susanne then said there is another number 20 that is significant. I could not think but then remembered; Haley struggled for life for 20 days. Then Susanne asked what good happened on day 21? That would be, of course, Kelci successfully receiving Haley’s heart.
Haley also told me that her brother was “happy …finally”. This means that his freshman year at NAU is going well and he is no longer “unhappy” living with his Dad and his wife and step-siblings. Obviously he is now on his own and loving it. This message meant a lot to me - knowing that his Mom and sister are always with him.
Haley also acknowledged that my girls are proud of me for my ability to use our family’s tragedy to help others.
In closing, Haley said that I was “wound up like a rubber band”…and reminded me to release and “let it go”. Perhaps she too, enjoyed the movie “Frozen” and wanted to share its message with me.
-Written by Wendy's proud mom and Haley's proud grandma, Doryce Norwood
Families Making a Difference- LeAnn Hull, Mom of Andy & Andy Hull's Sunshine Foundation
LeAnn and Andy Hull
On Dec 11th 2012, our lives changed forever! My family became unfortunate members of the worst club in the world... Survivors of Suicide! Our beautiful, happy son, Andy shot himself that terrible day! It was like something that only happens to someone else, not to us! Nothing can ever prepare you for a tragedy like this, nor can anyone else really help you through this. It is a lonely, personal road that you MUST journey alone. That's not to say that it isn't some degree of comfort to have friends and family around but ultimately you must process this by yourself!
Andy was probably one of the most well adjusted sixteen-year-olds that I have ever known. He was our fourth child in a marriage that had spanned 33 years of life's trials and tribulations. Not only were we seasoned in the parenting category but also in age. I was 36 and my husband was 46 when Andy came along, so we had lots of experience at this parenting thing. Raising Andy was easy as he was loving, congenial, good at school and very active in sports. It became clear to us fairly early that he had an unusual talent as a baseball player, in particular as a left-handed pitcher. Having enough energy to follow him through this journey was our biggest challenge as there were games during the week and then practically every weekend as he matured. By the time that he got to high school, fantastic universities and professional baseball teams were scouting him. Andy's dream was to become a professional baseball player, which appeared to be within reach! That October before Andy passed, he was at a tournament where there were going to be a lot of scouts from different universities and professional teams. The scouts know when each kid is scheduled to pitch so when it came time for Andy to do his thing, they were all lined up behind the backstop with their radar guns. It looked like something out of a movie! He pitched the best that he had all season with strikeout after strikeout! He came bounding off of the mound with such a smile! Nothing better for a parent than to see that kind of joy in your child! Everything appeared to be great.
Lets go back two months before that amazing tournament and see where thing began to go astray. Now I can see this in retrospect but had no idea the devastation of the choices that we made then. Andy had started to see a dermatologist for acne back in August, just a few months prior to the tournament. The doctor prescribed a generic form of Acutane, which is very commonly used amongst the high school kids. There was a waiver to sign which said in a small section of the pamphlet, that suicide and depression were a possible risk factor of this drug. The doctor told us that Andy was well adjusted and happy and didn't appear to have any signs that this might be any concern for us, so I signed. Within one month, Andy's grades plummeted and he would get lost when he was driving to places that he should have known. I didn't think much about this as he was very busy with baseball and distracted with all the decisions he had to begin making for his future. He wasn't the first teenager to have trouble with grades or lack of focus. We argued about his grades and he seemed to understand that we only wanted what was best for him. I met with his counselor and teachers, so that we could help him through this struggle together. Unfortunately, I didn't get the support that I was asking for and finally had to demand for until that Friday before Andy shot himself. However the damage was done and it was too late! You see, what happens with Acutane, in a very small percentage of people, is the inability to focus and think clearly. Andy couldn't concentrate in school which was having a terrible effect on his grades. He had never struggled with school before which made it even more frustrating for him. Such a vicious cycle! This was also the cause of him getting lost while driving at times. So on that fateful day, Andy left school after second hour, and in one impulsive, unclear moment he took his life!
That night is such a vivid memory for me, especially the faces of the many kids and their parents who showed up to try to reconcile this unbelievable act. The minute that I saw the very first of Andy's friends, I knew that I held their lives in my hand! They were in shock with tears streaming down their faces and hopelessness in their eyes. They were looking at me for instruction on how to survive themselves. That moment saved my life! I didn't know how at that time nor did I really make a conscious decision, it just happened. My Faith took over where I couldn't! Thankfully, my faith was deep-seated and grounded, so that I could fall apart in the arms of grace.
The very next day, Andy's friends came over and stayed for the next week or so. They went through his drawers and clothes and touched everything of his that they could. They slept, ate and cried in his room until the Memorial Service. Such brave parents to let their kids stay at my house during such a crisis! In the days and months to come, they still came over and spent the night, sharing their lives with each other and my husband and me.
There are so many amazing twists and turns to this story which I would love to share but let's fast forward eight months. Each day we focused on how to protect and nurture the many kids whose lives had been forever changed that day. This gave us our purpose to live on. When something this devastating happens in your life, you really only have two choices. You can let it destroy you or you can find a reason to move forward. If we hadn't moved forward then Andy's life ended that day. I can see him in the future of all of his friends as they continue their journey! They take a piece of him with them wherever they go!
We have since established a 501c3 , non profit organization, called Andy Hull's Sunshine Foundation. Many people have come together to make this possible so that we can continue to make a difference in the lives of as many kids as possible. Hopefully, by telling my story, we can open the dialogue about the devastation of suicide and the alternatives available for kids and parents. Nobody wants to talk about suicide but it is the second leading killer of our kids! I also want to show these kids that if I can survive something so horrible, that they too can survive the many difficult and confusing moments during their teenage years. I want to give them hope for their future! I want them to know that They Matter!
-Written by Andy's Mom, LeAnn
Please visit the website for Andy's foundation, Andy Hull's Sunshine Foundation, at www.andyssunshine.com.
Affiliate Groups and their Facilitators (by alphabetical order):
Jennifer Amato Tom’s Creek, NJ
email: jennifer0702@optonline.net
After the passing of Jennifer's 2 year old son Joey, Jennifer found support from other bereaved parents. She is now finding healing in helping other bereaved parents learn to cope with their loss. Jennifer and Christine are co-hosts for Tom’s River.
Tina Babloski-Anderson Citrus County FL
email: helpingparentsheal@yahoo.com
Tina Babloski-Anderson is a grieving mother that has learned to laugh again since the loss of her son Paul G. Babloski on October 1st, 2009. Her efforts to find comfort have led her on a journey that has not only helped to heal herself, but to bring smiles on the faces of other grieving parents. Tina said, "There is no one here in Citrus County, Florida that could understand the loss of a child, except for another parent that has experienced the same pain. So, we formed a group that supports and celebrates each other’s children. We find that by supporting each other, we can learn to laugh again.
Elizabeth Boisson-Scottsdale, AZ
email: evboisson@yahoo.com
Since the passing of her son Morgan at the Base Camp of Mount Everest due to acute altitude sickness on a student trip to Tibet in October 2009, Elizabeth has held monthly parent meetings in Arizona. She founded both the Facebook site, ‘Parents United in Loss’ in February, 2010 and then partnered with Mark Ireland to co-found ‘Helping Parents Heal’ in February 2012. She cherishes the opportunity to meet both parents and their children in spirit.
Kristen Brown-Sanders Pensacola, FL
email: kristensanders@mcshi.com
Kristen Brown-Sanders started The Next Step group in FL in January 2010 after her beloved daughter Sarah transitioned due to a distracted driver. The Next Step linked in with Helping Parents Heal in 2012.
NEW GROUP - Lancy Carr-Washington DC
email: lncycrr@yahoo.com
I have lived in Arizona since 1983. I met Karla Kay at Bikram yoga Tempe which I started doing shortly after Nathan passed away. She told me about an event and I met Linda West, the first psychic exposure for me! It healed my heart a little and made me want to learn more. I also met Justine Schrimer at that meeting and she told me about HPH. The first meeting I knew this is what would work for me. I have enjoyed all the support, love and hope that is shared at every meeting. I got a new job in DC in Dec 2013 and I now want to not only support this wonderful non-profit, as it has given me so much help in my grief, but to help others heal as well.
Nancy Courtmanche-Eureka, CA
email: nancycougar@gmail.com
The loss of my son Robb, 29, has made me painfully aware of the need for parents to have a group setting that is safe and confidential. Healing occurs. Out of my loss I dedicated myself to service for others in volunteer Hospice patient care and grief support, as a Hospital Chaplain, and healing work. This has prepared me to lead an HPH group now.
Janice Crowder-Torrez-Tucson, AZ
email: jcrowdertorrez@gmail.com
Wanting to honor her son’s spirit, courage, and the many gifts he left behind, Janice discovered Helping Parents Heal in Scottsdale, AZ. Opening the door for other parents to grieve their loss, while offering support to small groups, Janice decided to start a chapter in Tucson where she resides and her son Anthony, aged 31, took his life. Janice is a MSN and certified in Meditation.
Lori Fina Jennings-Columbus, OH
email: lafj1@hotmail.com
My son died at age 30 of a drug overdose. My surviving daughter has Down Syndrome. Life has blessed me with so many unique gifts & learning opportunities. I'd like to "be there" for people as my son was. My book, Liam's Lessons, was written with the help of my son shortly after he died. Practicing Isha Yoga has been my saving grace.
Sheryl Hill-Minneapolis, Minnesota
email: sheryl.hill@me.com
Tyler, my beautiful sixteen year old son, died a preventable death on a People to People Student Ambassador Trip to Japan in 2007. My most important achievements are being a mother, a wife, nonprofit endeavors with the Clear Cause Foundation (to keep American children and students safe on foreign soil) and perhaps my work as an author. I did not lose the ones I love who have passed. I know where they are.
Julia LaJoie-Washington DC
email: JALAJMD@gmail.com
I joined Helping Parents Heal in April of 2012 when I met Mark Ireland, Anne Puryear and Elizabeth Boisson at a conference in Phoenix, AZ on After Death Communication. There were many parents like myself who had lost a child and had discovered the healing that comes from ADC and other forms of spiritual growth. I am eager to join hands and hearts with other parents in the Baltimore - Washington area to grow our network and support each other in healing and spiritual growth.
Patti May- Ottawa, Ontario
email: pattimay@rogers.com
I am a mother of 3 wonderful children, married 30 years to their father.I lost my son Adam in 2006 in a tragic auto accident. Since losing my son I have had afterlife signs that have helped me. I began to search for like-minded parents to share our experiences. I came across the wonderful group Helping Parents Heal and asked if I could start a group here in Canada.
Jessalyn Nash- Sonoma County, CA
email: pwrolove@sonic.net
Jessalyn Nash, M.A. has facilitated groups for over 25 years and is involved in the restorative justice movement. After her beloved 21-year-old son, Trystan passed away, Jessalyn has dedicated herself to helping other grieving parents.
NEW GROUP - Glenda Pearson-Granger, IN
email: glendia456@aol.com
Glenda is a Reiki Master, Munay Ki practitioner, intuitive guide, Stephen's Minister, author and Certified Grief Recovery Method Specialist. Reflected in her book, "But Should The Angels Call For Him", she speaks of her personal loss through the death of her only child, Chad, and believes there is healing for everyone.
Maria Pe - San Diego
email: maria.i.pe@hotmail.com
Maria Pe, J.D., is the mother of Sean Robert and Kyle Joseph, her two sons who transitioned to the other side on June 21, 2011. That day was the beginning of Maria’s profound spiritual journey to find out where her sons went and how she could continue to have a relationship with them. Having been educated in Western culture and trained as an attorney, Maria was skeptical and had no idea where to turn for the information and answers she was seeking. She was guided to a shamanic practitioner who taught her how to raise her consciousness and energy levels through meditation so that she could connect with her sons. She began keeping a written journal of her experiences which culminated in her book, Journey To The Upper Realm: How I Survived the Deaths of My Sons and Learned to Communicate With Them on the Other Side (free at www.seanandkyleimaginefund.com and in hard copy on Amazon). By sharing and talking about her own experience, she hopes to help other bereaved parents.
Sheri Perl-New York, NY
email: sheriperil@gmail.com
Sheri Perl Migdol is a spiritual healer, an interfaith minister, an author, lecturer and mother of 3 children, one deceased. Sheri is the founder of The Prayer Registry, a free service for all bereaved parents. www.sheriperl.com.
Christine Volpe-Tom’s Creek NJ
email: cvolpe68@gmail.com
After the passing of her 17 year old son, James, due to a vehicle accident Christine has spent countless hours helping other bereaved parents. She is devoted to help other parents find tools to help them in their grief. Christine and Jennifer are co-hosts for Tom’s River.
NEW GROUP - Irene Vouvalides-Hilton Head, SC
email: ivouvalides@aol.com
I lost my 24 year old daughter to esophageal - gastric cancer on February 17, 2013. She was my best friend, my only child. I have been on a spiritual quest since, reading constantly, writing about my life. I have had two sessions with George Anderson and had a phone session with Laurie Campbell. Having recently moved to South Carolina, I am very interested in connecting with other parents here. So happy to find and read Mark Ireland's books and have also taken great comfort in reading Dr Brian Weiss's books.
Laura Wilmot-Fall’s Church, VA
email: laurawilmot@gmail.com
A retired federal HR Director, Laura taught Mexican Folk dance to children and adults and performed Mariachi music with her family for several years. She “connects up” to her son through meditation and prayer.
Please contact Elizabeth Boisson (evboisson@yahoo.com) if you would like to start an affiliate chapter in your area.
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Nicole and Christine
Brittany and Linda
New Group! Granger, IN. Please contact Glenda Pearson for more information at: 
New Group! Hilton Head, SC. Please contact Irene Vouvalides for more information at: 
New Group! Washington, DC. Please contact Lancy Carr for more information at: 
