September 2024

This last weekend Tammy Posey, Hope After Loss co-leader, shared about WHY she participates in our annual Run For Hope and the impact Hope After Loss is having on her grief journey. Read what she shared:

“I’m Tammy Posey, I’m a co-leader and volunteer for Hope After Loss. 

I’m here today for a few reasons:

1. To honor, remember and celebrate those that lost their life to addiction. This includes my youngest son, Ben. He lost his long, hard-fought battle in January, 2017, at the young age of 28.
2. I’m here to support the two Hope is Alive support groups; Finding Hope and Hope After Loss, as well as recognize the family members and friends that are part of these groups.
3. I want to celebrate those of you here that are in Recovery! Please know I truly understand how much effort and dedication it takes and what an accomplishment you’ve achieved just one day at a time.
4. I’m here to tell you about the impact Hope After Loss has had on me personally, which is nothing short of extraordinary.

The grief I experienced due to Ben’s death was devastating. I lost myself and struggled daily. I tried to focus on just doing the next right thing. I tried a few support groups but just never felt like I fit in.  

In Spring 2022, a sweet friend invited me to the first Hope After Loss meeting in Oklahoma City. I attended and I knew almost immediately that I had finally found the faith-based place where I belonged! I found Hope—the hope I had lost in 2017.

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The Hope After Loss group members are awesome!  

• They understand and are compassionate.
• There is no judgment or shame.
• Ben and all our lost loved ones are recognized as the good people they are and not just statistics.
• I am accepted as a mom who loves and grieves her son.
• There are tears, but there’s also laughter.
• The healing that occurs is personal, gradual, quiet, and at the same time amazing.
• I’ve found friendships that are everlasting and built on an unspoken bond.
• The stories that are shared of renewed and deepened faith, resilience, kindness, and determination inspire all of us.

Hope After Loss has helped me find my sense of optimism, confidence, and hope in the future.

The focus I struggled with so long ago has evolved to focus and determination to do the next right thing. And I do so now with purpose, strength, and with a voice for change.

I live for me, my family and friends, and for the future Ben will never see.

I know Ben is proud of me for staying close and involved in the recovery community and for my efforts towards making a difference. However, I still miss him every. Single. Day.

I truly believe God put things and people into place so I would be introduced to Hope After Loss at the time when I needed it the most. From my heart to yours, thank you for being here, thank you for supporting this incredible organization, and I encourage you to try a meeting soon!”