Metro Vancouver families bond over the loss of loved ones

The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy and cheer but for many who have lost a loved one, the festive season can be a struggle as it can be a reminder of their loss.

Lumara, a B.C.-based charity specializing in grief counselling, is helping people with bereavement this holiday season.

Emily Patterson lost her husband almost two years ago to liver failure, and she tells CityNews life has been very hard and lonely without her partner.

“A bunch of memories my husband and I put up over the years. I have added more since he passed but not many,” she said.

“It was heartbreaking he wasn’t able to face the possibility he could die. He was also focusing on the positives.”

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Every day, Patterson says she wakes up in the house she and her husband planned on raising a family in.

Things haven’t been easy, but he says support from Lumara has helped her cope with the pain

On Saturday, Lumara participants got together for group therapy, which included singing carols and making arts and crafts.

Patterson lives with her daughter Audrey, and through Lumara, she says her daughter is realizing the depth of loss.

“It is really nice when we connect with these other families,” she said.

Lumara’s founder says young people dealing with grief may be at further risk of mental health issues.

“Across the country, there is this often population of child and youth who have lost a parent or sibling before they turn 19,” said Dr. Heather Mohan.

“What we know heightens those risks is isolation. At Lumara, we bring children and families together to build communities where they feel understood.”

Patterson wants to encourage those who have lost someone and who are grieving to reach out and get help so they aren’t going through the process alone.

“There are tons of other people out who haven’t found their community of people and feel loneliness this time of year,” she said.

“Just think about what those families are going through … just breaks my heart.”