BRADENTON (WSNN) – The pandemic has cost much of our normalcy. And for some, it has created a reality of grief and sadness. For others, grief was part of their lives long before COVID-19.
The coronavirus may be bringing back bad times for some Suncoast residents. They say grief can change your world.
“It kind of puts everything in a whole different perspective on any hopes and dreams that you did have is gone,” Bradenton resident who lost her husband, Kimberly Eibe, said.
Eibe’s 12-year-old daughter, Madison McAfee, lost her father, Kevin McAfee, on September 15, 2012. She was only two years old.
Kimberly Eibe says the pandemic parallels the loss one feels during grief in a less permanent way. She says it’s especially hard for her kids since they’ve lost school and friends.
“And sometimes the social outlet with your friends at school, makes such a big difference to them, not having that anymore,” Eibe said.
“It’s been hard, we haven’t been able to be around people,” McAfee said.
Even so, there is hope.
“When someones is really new in grief, they don’t understand that it will get any easier, but it does, because life just does go on,” Eibe said.
For another Bradenton family, their loss is more recent. John Favara, lost his wife, Danielle Favara, in July 2019 over what began as breast cancer, but then led to brain cancer. Seizures led to her passing.
“It’s just sadness every time we think about her, and about what we had, and how different our lives would be if she was still here,” Bradenton resident who lost his wife, John Favara, said.
The Favarara’s say things have become harder, living through the grief of a loved one, and now through a pandemic.
“We don’t usually get to see our friends that much and virtual school was kind of hard,” John’s son who is 9-years-old, Jack Favara, said.
And while they zoom with the family, John says it doesn’t do them justice.
“It’s not the same as being with somebody, and hugging them, and just being with those that you love, but you can’t have that, so it’s sad,” John said.
But John says, one of his best medicines is getting in touch with your feelings and communicating with people.
“I found, you can’t hold it in,” John said. “And that holding it in leads to more problems down the line.”
The kids share some words of wisdom:
“I just say always be strong, even though they’re gone, they will always be next to you, “John’s daughter, who is 7-years-old, Juliet Favara, said.
“Grief will be hard, but you need to do what is best for you,” McAfee said.
Both families say the best thing to do is to enjoy the time you have together, even if routine is but a memory. Eibe and McAfee have been painting their hair and getting crafty.
And the Favara’s use music to help them with their grief and keeping their mom’s memory alive.
John says while it’s been a sad and lonely few months, he knows the sun always comes out.
Both families recommend finding resources in the community to help with grief. The Blue Butterfly Group and the Mark Wandall Foundation are among those ready to help.