The Surviving Project hopes to increase awareness about suicide and provide support, comfort, love, and hope to those whose lives have been forever changed by the loss of a loved one by suicide.  We are survivors of what is sometimes described as the most debilitating and complicated grief known.  The Surviving Project was created within one family’s journey through this grief as a way to give back to others and provide support and understanding in the days, weeks, months, and years following the loss of someone so special in their lives. 

Our lives changed, disrupted by the suicide of our son.  We remember our son with joy and agonize over his absence.  We feel awkward, broken, avoided, fooled, reluctant, hopeless, angry, despondent, responsible, stressed, tired, guilty, stuck, and even shamed.  And through our journey we have been touched by hearts, communities, churches, friends, family, strangers, and enemies alike to rebuild our beliefs in hope, future, and love.  Our journey has been a deep, personal struggle.  Sometimes wanting to give up, and other times feeling enormous strength and energy to take steps forward.  The pain that a Suicide Survivor feels is difficult to explain to another person.  We cannot think of adequate words to describe the pain or the affects mentally and physically on the families, friends, coworkers, neighbors, teachers, clergy….anyone involved in our loved one’s life.