Neal and Gordon
/ Photogrief : Eleanor Haley
This essay is a part of WYG's PhotoGrief project. The goal of the PhotoGrief project is to create a space where people can explore and express their grief through pictures. Learn more about the project here.
by Bobbie Applegate
My sons Neal and Gordon were about as close as brothers could be. They were only 10 months apart in age, shared a bedroom, and had gone through the grades together. They were like a comedy team, playing off each other and lighting up our whole house with laughter. Neal’s death by suicide last March was devastating to all of us, but especially to Gordon. He’s bereft without his brother – there’s a hole in his life that will never be filled. This picture is my attempt to visually capture something of the magnitude of that loss.
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Janna - Thomas' mom December 17, 2015 at 10:33 am
I am so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful photo. Our son passed during infancy and his twin has had moments of grief that have surprised me. I think there is a special connection between siblings. God bless.
Michele Benyo December 16, 2015 at 6:00 pm
This just breaks my heart. There is nothing so devastating as sibling loss when siblings are close. When my son died 15 years ago, leaving his 3 1/2-year-old sister without her big brother, she said, “Mommy, half of me is gone.” It has been heartbreaking for me to see her grow up without her beloved brother and only sibling. Sibling grief is so often overlooked, overshadowed by the injustice of parents having to bury a child. For me, my daughter’s loss is more tragic than my own. My heart goes out to Gordon and his parents.