Poems for Healing - A Better Place

A Better Place was written many years ago to memorialize young girl who was unexpectedly and suddenly killed. The poem is shared in memory of several other young girls who died recently suddenly and unexpectedly in the hopes that it will bring some comfort to family and friends left behind.

The poem has been helpful for those who believe in a life beyond this one to bring hope that they will one day be reunited in the better place.

A Better Place

Cry for me no more
the many tears of sadness
My time in this world was over
and it came for me to pass.

Bring the photos of old time
and see them not with tear-filled eyes
But with eyes of joy and laughter
and smile once more with me.

Know that I am in a better place
one without disease
without hatred and without death
In this kingdom I now call home

I wait here for you
When your time comes to pass
to ease the transition
from the old to the new.

Cry for me no more.
Remember only the laughter.
For I am in another realm
And I wait to see you again.

© 1999 Kirsti A. Dyer, MD, MS

About the Poem
This poem came to me after a request by a visitor to the Journey of Hearts site to find a poem that would be appropriate for remembering a birthday of a young woman, killed by a drunk driver in 1999.

The story reminded me of another young girl, the daughter of one of my teachers, who has killed in the mid 1970's during plane crash at the very young age of 3.

To both of them, their families and the many other families since who have lost loved ones suddenly and unexpectedly, we hope they have found their better place.

Angel image from boslea

More Resources for Coping with the Sudden Death of a Child

I wrote several articles for Suite 101 on coping with the death of a child or coping with the sudden death of a child as part of my response to the Travolta-Preston Family Tragedy.

• Coping with the Sudden Death of a Child: John Travolta’s Son’s Unexpected Death is a Reminder of Tragic Loss
• How to Cope with the Death of a Child: John Travolta’s Son’s Death is a Reminder of Other Children’s Deaths

Navigating the Grief Journey is another article I have written on coping with a death or with a sudden loss.

• Navigating the Grief Journey: How to Find Your Way During Challenging Times

Suite 101 Articles Featured on Compassionate Friends

The Compassionate Friends featured the article that I wrote for Suite101.com "Coping with the sudden death of a child" on their Grief in the News Page.

Deepest Sympathies to John Travolta and Kelly Preston on the Loss of their son, Jett

The loss of a child at any age is for many parents the most difficult type of loss. Add to that a sudden loss, or a death that the parent is helping to prevent and you have the recipe for a sudden, traumatic death.

The death of John Travolta and Kelly Preston's son Jett is one of those deaths. It occurred while the family was on a vacation. It was a sudden, unanticipated death, apparently the result of a seizure. It was also a death that according to reports, John Travolta worked to prevent, providing CPR to his son with the help of an EMT.

How does one Cope with the Loss of a Child?
Coping with the loss of a child is never easy, coping with the sudden loss of a child can make the grieving process more difficult and prolonged.

Organizations like the Compassionate Friends have been helping families cope with the loss of a child at any age and from any cause since 1968.

In this video from the Compassionate Friends, family members who have experienced this loss firsthand share thoughts and insights of the grief journey, how the child’s death has affected their lives, and how finding support from The Compassionate Friends has helped them to survive.



Mission of the Compassionate Friends:
The mission of The Compassionate Friends is to assist families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age and to provide information to help others be supportive

Brochures Available from the Compassionate Friends:

• When a Child Dies . . . The Compassionate Friends Can Help
• The Sudden Death of a Child
• The Death of An Adult Child
• Death of a Special-Needs Child

Sources:

Streit. V. January 2, 2009. Actors’ son Jett Travolta dies at 16. CNN.com

Lucas L, Lauinger J, Goldsmith S. January 4, 2009. John Travolta, EMT struggled to save 16-year-old Jett. NY Daily News.