I’m standing on this side of the yellow police tape, and on the other side is the car that I selected for my niece, Maleeca, is on its side. My niece had been hit by a drunk driver. All stories don’t end with a happy end. Maleeca died on the scene, and we weren’t able to see her on the scene. The pain is paralyzing to the point of feeling like I personally was about to lose my mind. Choosing the last outfit and casket and the funeral arrangements was painful and yet confirming that this is a real thing and not a nightmare.
Now that the trial is closed and justice was served, closure can happen and some areas of healing can begin. We were still left with figuring out how to cope without Maleeca being here with us. Throughout this time, we continued and learned to cope. I have combined some of the best practices of what helped me with her loss and happy to share with you all. I’ve developed a program called C.O.P.E.
Fast forward to the criminal hearing that took many years. During the trial, we saw pictures of her lifeless body on the scene. The coroner gave a report of the cause of death … “internal decapitation.” How do you unsee these pictures? How do you unhear these words?
C – Commit To Some Community
O – Organize Your Emotions, Feelings, and Thoughts
P – Partner with a Cause or Create Your Own
E – Experience Life
This is 1 club that no one wants to be part of. We call this the “Unwanted Club.” Building a community and connection in the “Unwanted Club” will help peer to peer healing. I, personally, received some guidance from another person in the “Unwanted Club.” There pain helped me to deal with my pain. C.O.P.E. will help those dealing with the same thing.
Contact Gregory Harrington to start your learning how to cope with the grief due to the loss of your loved one … 512.799.0093