Hi Elyse,

It's good that you have someone there to help fill that void. The Larry D.Bradley Foundation, dba "Food for Thought" was established on May 19, 2011. I used Legal Zoom.com. I will say it has been fairly easy but expensive. I am submitting the paperwork for tax exemption now that has taken me several months to complete. I accept the majority of the delay has been due to my job & school/no time. I am doing this completely by myself & it does get discouraging at times. I really believe if I will stick with it that it will be worthwhile. Please check us out on Facebook at "Food for Thought/ Larry D. Bradley Foundation" or www.larrydbradleyfoundation.org

I'd love to hear what you think. Please take good care of yourself & your son. You remain in my prayers~

Christy

Hello Again,

I haven't seen a post from you in long while & can only hope that "no news is good news." Perhaps you are handling your sorrow/grief better than many of us here at Legacy. I certainly pray that you & your son are healthy and as good as possible. Schools are getting out in GA and likely in CT too, so I hope you are able to enjoy some special summer vacation time. I'd love to hear from you. Are you still working on "Jacob's Promise?" I went forward with the nonprofit concept to honor my husband & the paperwork is being processed now at the state & federal level (for tax exemption status). I am very encouraged by this. It has allowed me to spend the time & energy I used to spend on making Larry happy, on honoring him by helping others. It's a blessing. I wish you well~ Hugs, Christy

Dear Elyse,

I haven't seen you post recently; I'm wishing you well. I was curious- is the group you are starting in honor of your husband a non profit organization? I'm asking because as I said before, I would like to do something in honor of Larry as well and today an idea came to me. I am bouncing it off a couple of close friends & family to see what they think before I proceed, but it looks a bit intimidating. How is this going for you? Did you have to get a lawyer or are you handling it yourself? Maybe you have some suggestions that will help. Thanks & take care. HUGS~ Christy

Elyse,

Thank you for your support. I love your idea re: Jacob's Promise. My son and I had discussed almost the exact idea back at Christmas! We were thinking how nice it would be to have a network of people that could help each other- a place to turn to when you din't know where to turn! I am hoping to establish a scholarship or something in honor of my husband, but I'm just not ready yet. I'm still too emotional and NOT clear headed enough for anything that requires deep thought & consideration at this point! :-) You sound as if you are managing well, although I know it is extremely difficult to be a single parent for anyone, expecially a young widow. God bless you.

P.S. I love this photo of your son with his derby car!

Hello Elyse, 6 months for me, as I was reading your post.  It sounds to me that you are on the road of strength and love and compassion, in helping others, because that in itself brings one some peace and level of comfort.  My husband  Jack told me I would be busy helping raise grandchildren, and he was so right (and he knew it) as our youngest is expecting a baby in June.  I too talk to hubby all the time, tell him what is going on, and a friend of mine said it is good to do that because there is a school of thought that our loved ones can hear us, and that would be wonderful!  It is to me the best way of being with them:)  I wear a heart necklace with some of his ashes too, and I feel so close to my love.

I think you are doing all the things that will allow you to move forward and I hope for good things for you Elyse.

 

Hugs,

Carol

never knew u could leave comments on peoples pages..i just read yours ty so very much...you did bring me comfort so nice to be around others that truely understand....

Elyse, I know what you are feeling.  Today is 8 months since I lost my husband Frank who was only 48 years old.  8 months maybe 8 minutes.  I am still waiting for him to come home and most days I feel like im crazy.  I have gone to counselors and bereavement groups but nothing helps like this site.  We all know and we understand.  I cant tell you like some of the others that it will be better because I havent found the better yet but I take things a moment at a time.  I can be doing ok and think of something and my day is ruined.  Last night I called Franks cell phone and left a voicemail for him.  He used to text my daughter everyday little messages and she insisted we bury him with his phone so I called him.  I know there are things I do that are not rational but his dying and leaving me wasnt rational either so I guess were even.  Take care and know Im thinking about you.  Renee

Elyse,

Welcome; you won't find a more loving, understanding & supportive group of people anywhere! You, like me, are living with the shock of losing your husband which just adds another dimension to our grief/sorrow. My husband was a strong, healthy 38 yr. old full of vitality and joy. I am struggling too. It's been 5 months without him and not a day has passed without tears but there are days when I think I'm growing from this experience. I am so sorry you/we have to suffer with this loss. This is a great place to vent, ask questions & find support 24/7/365. My prayers for you & yours to be sustained & have peace~ Christy

 

 

 

 

Elyse, you are in the very early stages of grief.  6 months is a long time, however, in "grief" terms, you are on your first steps of the Grief Road.  I'm so very sorry for your heartbreak and this journey you have started.  My husband died suddenly of a massive heart attack on July 3, 2001.  He was 51 years of age and to the best of our knowledge, in the best of health.  No health complaints at all until the heart attack.  We had gone out to eat, came home, went to bed and he woke me up at midnight complaining of his arm "killing" him.  He got out of bed to go to closet to get dressed and collapsed on the floor.  I called 911 and started CPR .... pronounced him dead about an hour later at hospital.  He was my world.  We had been married almost 25 years and he was my everything  .....husband, lover, best friend, card partner, coach, cheerleader, my EVERYTHING.  Took me 6 months to actually feel anything.....  I functioned, continued to work but looking back I now know I was in shock. The Grief Road is long, winding and treacherous.  You take one step forward and the next day you reverse and take 2 steps back.  I can honestly say the first 2 years were Hell.  I have a wonderful, supportive family and friends.  The  main problem I had, was I knew no one my age (46) who was a widow and therefore, no one who truly understood where I was coming from.  I had planned on growing old with this man, retire, sit on the porch, plant flowers and travel.  When he died, all those plans died too.  I felt nobody understood. I grieved and still do, over the loss of him and our future plans.  Time helps.  It truly does.  It gives perspective. 

 

Elyse, try to remember some good memories of your husband.  The accident report shedding light on his last moments are heart-breaking.  Hopefully he was in shock and therefore didn't suffer as much as you fear he suffered.  The truth of the matter is, you will never know this side of heaven.