Last month, my dear friend CC shared a deeply vulnerable message with me—one that reflects the profound grief and overwhelming loss she has endured over the past year. In a matter of months, CC has faced one life-altering transition after another: the loss of her marriage, her home, the passing of her beloved father, and now, the loss of her car. Each of these events is monumental on its own, but together, they’ve created a storm of heartbreak that no one should have to navigate alone. As if these transitions weren’t already heavy enough, this is her first holiday without her dad, and December 31, 2024, marks what would have been her first wedding anniversary—a day once filled with dreams of celebration that now brings a bittersweet reminder of what was lost. This time of year is tender and raw, and CC is navigating it with so much courage and grace by allowing us to witness her in this tender time. Holmes and Rahe stress scale, also known as the Social Readjustment Rating Scale, assesses stress by adding up points for a list of 43 stressful life events. A score of 150 or less indicates low stress, 150–299 indicates moderate stress 300 or more indicates high stress. A score of 300 or more indicates an 80% chance of a health breakdown within two years CC shared that she had just calculated hers & the score was 1,007 As a person experiencing 4+ major losses in a short time, leading to sudden life changes and scoring 1,007 on a prominent stress scale, CC is facing "cumulative grief" or "grief overload," a highly debilitating form of grief where multiple significant losses within a short period overwhelm the individual's nervous system & thus coping mechanisms where the individual is unable to adequately process one loss before another occurs, this extreme stress & additional stress it causes, leading to a more intense and higher likelihood for a debilitating grief response… simultaneously faced with the urgent & abrupt responsibilities of needing to completely restructure & rebuild her life for her & her child. Grief often isolates us, yet CC has shown immense courage in allowing herself to be witnessed in her experience and opening her heart to receive support. This openness is something I deeply admire, as it reminds me how moments like these invite us to lean into community, even when it feels most difficult. When our sense of safety and stability is shaken, healing can feel impossible. My prayer is that, through our collective love and generosity, we can provide CC with a little more safety and security as she navigates this sacred chapter of her life. I’ve created this Meal Train as a tangible way we can hold CC in love and help lighten her load. A warm meal, a “wishlist” item for her or her kiddo granted, or even a thoughtful note filled with encouragement & kindness can remind her that people care. Let’s reflect back to someone who always supports opportunities & requests any way & any time she’s able for those in her community. There are a variety of ways to support CC through the Wishlist, Meal Train & GoFUNDme with more specifics below in the “Special Notes” section (CC & her child’s location are being protected- making certain offers of support unavailable): - Send a gift card specifically for FOOD & GROCERY services to contribute to the ease of accessing this core necessity - Offer words of love and compassion. We all can use reminders that we are not alone- especially during unique experiences few have had to endure & most may not fully understand - Donate to her GofundMe or via Venmo (both direct links can be found on this page) to help her pay for incurred separation/divorce losses, unexpected expenses and more. This is more than just about helping her survive through the extensive recovery time that will be needed to overcome such shocking life altering occurrences back to back —it’s about showing CC that she is witnessed, held, supported, and loved during a time when she is required to rebuild her life while carrying such deep & heavy cumulative grief & everything feels uncertain. Let’s come together to help her feel just a little more ease, warmth, and stability that will offer more spaciousness for her to be able to heal. Thank you for being part of this safe circle of care for someone who has poured so much love into the lives of others. Your acts of kindness may be good karma points, but to CC it also means the world. With gratitude and love, Alyssa