2007 GRACE Conference & Retreat Class Choices
Sign up for all classes in a single track or mix and match to meet your individual needs
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Bereavement Track
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Class Number
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Topic
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Speaker
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A1
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The Colors of Love and Shades of Grief: Keeping your Marriage Strong After Loss:
Maintaining, and strengthening marriage after child loss requires hard work. Learn to appreciate the different coping methods of men and women in grief. Learn to work together to discover, or rediscover, your depth of love for each other and for the child you have lost. Sherokee Ilse and Tim Nelson each had stillborn babies and worked hard to keep their respective marriages strong. They each have authored multiple books and articles on pregnancy, infant loss, and grief.
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Sherokee Ilse, Tim Nelson
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A2
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Managing Pregnancy After Loss: Talk with couples that have had successful subsequent pregnancies under the care of Doctor Jason Collins’, MD, OB/GYN specialized home fetal monitoring program. Understand medical and emotional aspects of pregnancy after loss. Panel: Holly Emerson, Jason and Melissa Gemmell, Cameron Jensen, Steve and Candy McVicar, Gretchen Walstadt.
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Panel of parents
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A3
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There Has to be a Bottom to Our Grief: After our fourth second trimester loss, my husband shared these wise words, "There has to be a bottom to our grief." When the heartache of loss and recurring disappointment seem more than you can bear it is difficult to imagine ever returning to the land of the living. How do you dare to hope when every time you have begun to hope, another failure or loss occurs? You are the one who must define the bottom, mark the moment, and begin to turn back toward life. Judy Howard-Peterson, ordained minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church and campus pastor at North Park University, offers her story of finding the bottom and reclaiming life, including the gifts of love, discovery and joy that can be yours even in the midst of grief.
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Judy Howard-Peterson
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A4
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All attendees are invited to attend Dr. Jason Collins’ session listed in the E4 Professional Track.
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A5
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Ask the Doctor: Ask the doctor about your past pregnancies and learn how to protect any future pregnancies. Parents who have experienced a stillbirth, multiple losses or have had a baby born alive with cord or placenta related complications will find this session helpful. Q & A time with Doctor Jason Collins, MD, OB/GYN |
Jason H. Collins, MD, OB/GYN
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A6
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Loss, Grief and Healing: Grief is the normal and natural reaction to loss, and includes not only the death of a loved one, but divorce, job loss, financial loss, loss of trust and loss of health, among others. In this session, we will examine different losses in our lives, the myths we often use to cope with grief, and how we can prevent grief from controlling our lives. Speaker: Tim Nelson, authored A Guide for Fathers: When a Baby Dies. He is a certified Grief Recovery Specialist and the program he teaches is affiliated and endorsed by the Grief Recovery Institute. |
Tim Nelson
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Infertility Track
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Class Number
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Topic
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Speaker
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B1
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The Many Emotions of Infertility: Finding Balance From Within: Infertility brings up many emotions: fear, sadness, anger, anxiety, jealousy, guilt, even numbness and apathy. Often, emotions vary between husband and wife, and change greatly from day to day. Learn how this roller coaster of emotions affects all aspects of your life and discover how to find balance from within. Trade your feelings of helplessness for ones of hope and empowerment and begin to transform your fertility, life, marriage and more. Speaker: Nicole Lange is a Licensed Acupuncturist who specializes in fertility and emotional healing.
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Nicole Lange
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B2
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Is it Genes, Environment, or Luck?: Panel of experts will discuss causes of infertility, recurring miscarriage, congenital anomalies, and birth defects. Risk factors for repeating problems in subsequent pregnancy, treatment possibilities, and support for this difficult journey are presented and offered by Geneticist Alysia Spear and Jodi Regan, MD, OB/GYN.
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Panel of medical professionals
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B3
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Medical Infertility 101: Learn about the latest technologies and approaches to achieving pregnancy (IVF, microsurgical tubal reversal, IUI, TDI, MESA, TESE, ICSI, etc.). Understand infertility treatments targeted for certain health situations (PCOS, endometriosis, and fibroids), and understand the risks of various infertility treatments. Speaker: Reproductive Endocrinologist, Charles C. Coddington, III, MD
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Charles C. Coddington, III, MD
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B4
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The Spiritual Journey of Infertility: Receive encouragement from Kim Webb’s journey through infertility. Including surgeries, medications, countless doctor appointments and one disappointment after another, she found peace through faith. Her story illustrates how faith can bring comfort, hope, healing and answers while waiting for the miracle of a baby to call your own. Kimberly Webb is author of The Making of a Joyful Mother: A Spiritual Journey for Women Experiencing Infertility.
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Kimberly Webb
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B5
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Guy Talk: Session is for men only to discuss infertility and loss from a man’s perspective. Ted Bowman, grief educator and consultant, will facilitate the discussion addressing: the unique losses for men, communication challenges for couples and families while grieving, practical stresses like finances and taxation of infertility treatments, balancing family and work life, and recognizing patterns that are a result of grief and loss. Panelists: Steve McVicar and Jerry Bryce share of their personal experiences with infertility, IVF, pregnancy loss, failed/disrupted adoptions, subsequent pregnancy and successful adoption.
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Ted Bowman and men's panel
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B6
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Nurturing the Seed of Life Naturally: Clinical Considerations to Increase Likelihood of Conception: The seed of life within you needs an internal terrain that is balanced in order to grow. The “inner soil” is affected by diet, emotions, and external stressors. When these factors are addressed holistically you create the optimum “fertile soil” conditions for conception. Discussion includes: preventive medicine, acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, homeopathy, essential oils and natural healing modalities such as aromatherapy, yoga, meditation, reflexology and mindfulness. Speaker: Lawrence B. Palevsky, MD, FAAP is a board certified Pediatrician, and President of the American Holistic Medical Association, and co-founder and President of the Holistic Pediatric Association.
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Lawrence B. Palevsky, MD, FAAP
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Adoption Track
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Class Number
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Topic
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Speaker
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C1
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Adoption: Where to Start the Journey: Adoption agencies present their respective resources and options for beginning the adoption process. Panelists: Pam Baker, MS, LISW, Bethany Christian Services Branch Director, Children’s Home Society and Family Services Representative, Jennifer Patrick, LGSW, Director of Social Services with New Life Family Services.
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Panel of adoption agency representatives
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C2
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Too Much Money! Too Much Time!: If the only thing holding you back from adopting is the thought that it is too expensive and it will take too long to go through the application process, this session is for you. Participants will learn of all the resources available to make an adoption affordable and find out how to make the application process manageable and not so overwhelming. Speakers: Daonna Depoister, board member and past president of RESOLVE, and Elizabeth Peterson, RN, adopted 2 children as a single woman and utilized her home assets to pay for her adoptions. |
Daonna Depoister,
Elizabeth Peterson, RN
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C3
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Exploring Your Options: Which Type of Adoption is Right for You: International or Domestic, adoption of one child or a sibling group of 2 or more, adoption through foster care, adoption of a special needs child? Panelists will share of their personal experience with different types of adoptions and offer support for parents ready to choose their particular path for adoption. Panelists: Vivian Medeck is mother to four adopted children, two through “fos-adopt.” Also, Debie Pope mother of nine, two of who are in heaven and six are adopted. She and her husband founded Faith in God Missions Non-Profit Adoption Agency. Facilitator: Brooke Skinner, LGSW
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Brooke Skinner, LGSW and panel of adoptive parents
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C4
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Room for More?: Adding to Your Family Through Adoption: The decision to adopt for the first time or again impacts each person in your family. Making these choices involves understanding the positive and challenging changes your family will encounter, different forms of adoption, open adoption options, and identifying the kind of family atmosphere and relationships you hope to foster within your new family. Brooke Skinner, LGSW, gives guidance and insight for those considering growing their family through adoption. Panelists: Elizabeth Peterson, RN, mother to two daughters whom she adopted internationally. |
Brooke Skinner, LGSW and panel of adoptive parents
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C5
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When Infertility Has Led You to the Door of Adoption: Hear encouraging stories of moving from infertility to adoption, from two women who opened their hearts to adoption even while still grieving the loss of the dream to have a biological child. Betsy Singsaas-Ellis and Tracey Bryce share their infertility journeys with multiple failed IVFs and their respective domestic and international adoptions.
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Panel of adoptive parents
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C6
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Building a Bond: Scars of the past can create a barrier to bonding. Learn how to prepare for and help an adopted child with attachment disorder and/or emotional-behavioral issues. Speaker: Gloria Nelson leads attachment seminars for adoptive parents and has adopted two girls from India, one of whom has RAD.
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Gloria Nelson
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Health and Wellness Track
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Class Number
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Topic
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Speaker
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D1
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A Holistic Approach to a Healthy Pregnancy: Learn how both parents can bring their bodies into balance naturally and holistically with a combination of dietary and lifestyle modifications, appropriate nutrient supplementation, and botanical medicine. Receive guidance for how you can take charge of your health in a pregnancy and safely nurture life within the womb. Speaker: Kristi Hughes, ND, owner and naturopathic practitioner at The Healing Center. Kristi is an international lecturer on lifestyle management techniques for addressing chronic disorders and trains health care providers in research-based integrated medicine.
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Kristi Hughes, ND
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D2
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Relaxation Exercises for Health and Healing: Learn about and practice techniques such as relaxation response, breath work, meditation, and guided imagery to help you reconnect with Mind Body Spirit. Stress, loss, grief, depression and anxiety can create a disconnect in our physical body and prevent healing and restoration of health. Speaker: Jeanette Truchsess, PhD, is a psychologist in St. Paul, MN specializing in Infertility and adoption.
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Jeanette Truchsess, PhD
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D3
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Heal the Hurt: Memories and thoughts can continue to hurt, even years after an event, as the healing process becomes blocked. Valerie Lis teaches how Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can help eliminate your reaction to a specific memory. This simple method, involving gentle fingertip taps on the face and body, allows stressful feelings to become detached. The reduction in stress is usually permanent and, since you work on yourself, the process is self-empowering. Speaker: Valerie Lis is co-owner of Courses for L.I.F.E., and is an advanced trainer and practitioner in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT.)
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Valerie Lis
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D4
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Keep Your Kids Healthy with Holistic Medicine: Learn how a holistic approach in lifestyle and diet changes can help children stay healthy, and develop into well-adjusted adults. Parents will receive the tools to effectively maintain good health and prevent illness in their children without damaging their systems with suppressive therapies. Speaker: Lawrence B. Palevsky, MD, FAAP is a board certified Pediatrician, and President of the American Holistic Medical Association, and co-founder and President of the Holistic Pediatric Association.
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Lawrence B. Palevsky, MD, FAAP
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D5
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Reflections of Birth: How Our Parenting Experiences Are Affected By The Way We Are Born: Leading-edge research in the field of Birth Psychology reveals that our lives are deeply influenced by experiences imprinted upon us in the womb and at birth. This insightful workshop will explore how the beliefs, thoughts and feelings stemming from our earliest experiences can affect our fertility, the way we give birth, and how we parent. Speaker: Monica Matos is the Founder of Ten Moons Rising Holistic Family Education, an organization committed to raising awareness about Birth Psychology and empowering parents to make informed birth and parenting decisions.
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Monica Matos
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D6
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Discover Life Giving Foods and Take Charge of your Health with Nutrition: Receive guidance, support, and motivation to obtain better health and begin to lay a strong foundation for maintaining future health. Learn easy-to-follow, basic concepts that bring balance and wellness to your life through: nutrition, meal-planning, and lifestyle practices. When you eat healthy, whole, organic, quality foods that are right for your unique self; you can enjoy nourishing and delicious meals and say good-bye to dieting, restriction and poor health. Speaker: Rachel Roberts Oppitz, ND, is the owner of Itasca Naturopathic Clinic in Park Rapids, MN.
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Rachel Roberts Oppitz, ND
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Professional Track (CEUs Provided)
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Class Number
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Topic
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Speaker
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E1
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Cross-Cultural Grief: Appreciating the Cultural Dimensions of Dying, Death, Grief, and Mourning: Explore roles that cultural heritage plays in an individual's experience of grief and mourning to help identify and develop an effective care plan. Receive insight to end- of-life rites and rituals including: baptism, medical intervention, autopsies, organ donation, burial, cremation, funeral services and after-life bliefs. Participants will look outward to the varieties of cultural expressions around the world, but also inward to examining our own beliefs, and attitude of respect. Rev. Peter E. Lund, Chaplain for Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota Hospice and Palliative Care programs.
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Rev. Peter E. Lund
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E2
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Born Too Soon: Recognizing the Impact a Dream Lost: Encouraging caregiver sensitivity for parents of premature babies and babies born with birth defects, Joyce Baughman, RN, NICU nurse for more than 20 years, addresses ways the health professional team can provide continuity of care while being in-tune to the needs of the family for both the good and bad outcome. Panelists share what was helpful and how their care providers could have been more effective: Heidi Ciepielinski, bereaved mother and author of When a Baby Dies; Representative Kurt Zellers and wife, Kim, parents of 3 babies, 2 of whom were born at 23 and 28 weeks; Representative Karen Klinzing and husband, Bill, parents of 2 babies with birth defects/congenital anomalies and 3 healthy children.
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Joyce Baughman, RN and panel of parents
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E3
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Giving Care, Taking Care: Avoiding Burnout, Recognizing Compassion Fatigue:
Learn compassionate care strategies for helping grieving families, as well as ways to recognize your own compassion fatigue. Caregivers will discuss and discover self care ideas for filling their own well, increasing energy and strength in their care-giving journey. Speaker: Sherokee Ilse has experienced a stillbirth, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, and is author of Giving Care, Taking Care and Empty Arms.
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Sherokee Ilse
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E4
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Umbilical Cord Accidents (UCA) --- Torsion 2007: Jason Collins, MD, OB/GYN, familiarizes OB caregivers with torsion and demonstrates how to document torsion at delivery. An extensive review and outline of contemporary and historical research related to cord issues is presented along with how to utilize current technology to determine which babies are at risk for cord accidents.
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Jason Collins, MD, OB/GYN
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E5
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Support for the Parents During and After Loss: Build an effective system from the hospital to the home, ensuring that exceptional care for parents is provided before, during and after the delivery of a perinatal loss. Deborah Simmons, PhD, LMFT and Candy McVicar, Founder and Executive Director of Missing GRACE will help you match your care to individual needs of each grieving family.
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Deborah Simmons, PhD, LMFT and Candy McVicar
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E6
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When Pregnancy Follows a Loss: Recognize how loss changes the experience of the next pregnancy for mothers and fathers. Learn how to effectively support parents with specific interventions that help parents cope with their fears and anxieties. Discussion includes: the importance of special birth preparation, fathers concerns and embracing the new baby, as well as postpartum issues and protective parenting behaviors. Joann O'Leary is author of When Pregnancy Follows a Loss: Preparing for the New Baby. She is a consultant in prenatal parenting and is an adjunct faculty in the School of Nursing at the University of MN.
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Joann O'Leary
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Further on the Grief Journey Track
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Class Number
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Topic
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Speaker
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F1
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Grieve and Move Toward Healing with Art: Participate in a healing and reflective time of art expression, using mediums including clay, drawing and painting, and process the emotions associated with your artwork. Through the Christian Art Expression process you may experience breakthroughs in anger, bitterness, fear, depression, and hopelessness. Art talent is not necessary. Art supplies are provided. Facilitator: Artist Julie Bergeron, bereaved mother and miracle survivor of a car accident that nearly took her life, uses Art Expression to help people find lasting hope.
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Julie Bergeron
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F2
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WISDOM OF WORDS I: Writing to Heal the Spirit: Embark on a remarkable writing journey to find the lights of heavenly insight in the most painful events and encounters of our lives. Experiences are no less than pathways to God. Passages by noted writers such as William Blake, Grace Paley and Ellen Gilchrist are used as springboards to get creative juices flowing. Writing skill or experience is not necessary. Speaker: Lorraine Ash, mother of stillborn daughter Victoria Helen and author of Life Touches Life: A Mother's Story of Stillbirth and Healing. |
Lorraine Ash
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F3
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Living a Lifetime in One Moment: The Last Embrace of Parents with Their Child: Witness a story told in beautiful pictures and be inspired to create and preserve beloved memories. Techniques include creative scrapbooking and video montages. Bring your scrapbook materials and laptops. Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS) panel: Minneapolis area photographer coordinator Heather Lombardo, bereaved mom and NILMDTS parent coordinator Tammy Becker, and bereaved mom and co-founder of NILMDTS Cheryl Haggard.
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Panel from Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
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F4
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All are invited to attend Dr. Jason Collins’ session listed in the E4 Professional Track.
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F5
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WISDOM OF WORDS II: Writing to Heal the Spirit: Explore great loss as an opportunity to expand the boundaries of our identities. We are not the small, static people we once thought we were. Writing exercises inspired by The Kybalion, William Saroyan and Buckminster Fuller help us see and appreciate ourselves as wise and spiritually mature beings. Writing skill or experience is not necessary. Speaker: Lorraine Ash, mother of stillborn daughter Victoria Helen and author of Life Touches Life: A Mother's Story of Stillbirth and Healing.
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Lorraine Ash
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F6
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Pay It Forward: Take your Loss and Create Connections to Help Others: Candy and Steve McVicar, founders and co-directors of Missing GRACE Foundation share their journey through GRACE and offer ways to educate others regarding loss. Learn how to help politically with legislation regarding new standards of care and protocols for prevention of stillbirth, and to ensure that parents of a stillborn receive a birth certificate. Learn how to start a Hope and Hearts Run in your state, bringing greater awareness of stillbirth and the need for quality and timely grief resources.
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Candy and Steve McVicar
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