When our beautiful and vibrant son, brother and nephew, Daniel John, died suddenly in September 2017, our hearts and world shattered into unrecognizable pieces. The sacred glue that held our family together in its familiar rhythms came apart and we found ourselves reaching into a void, lost without him and overwhelmed by our loss. We began our Upstream Journey of grief, searching for ways to cope. Dan taught us about courage as he swam the often hazardous upstream currents of his life due to a seizure disorder. His example of resilience and hope and kindness guides us now as we learn to live life without him. We miss you, Danno!
In those difficult weeks after Dan’s death, after searching extensively for ways to cope with our trauma and loss, we found the Selah Carefarm and Dr. Joanne Cacciatore, a professor and counsellor in traumatic grief. Here our grief was welcomed, our loss honored, and our trauma and confusion met with kindness.
We were embraced by compassion, hope and gratitude at the Carefarm, values that resonate with us, which continue to guide our Journey Upstream. We endeavor to share these values with others, including those equally overwhelmed by grief and loss.
Our family wants to contribute to building a sanctuary, the Selah Family House, for those visiting the Carefarm. Currently there is nowhere for grieving families to stay. We envision a home where people can be invited to stay for a few days, finding true respite on the land and with the rescue animals, in connection with others, at a place where love and grief are deeply connected.
Selah House and Carefarm is the first carefarm in the world dedicated to those experiencing the trauma of loss. Carefarms are more commonplace in Europe and England and began more than 20 years ago as a humanistic therapy where farm life - working on the land, caring for the animals – is the basis for healing. The Selah house will have multi-bedrooms and a larger gathering area, providing a place for those grieving to stay and participate in a full immersion experience on the Carefarm, a place where no-one has to go through traumatic grief alone.
A place where those grieving can come together, to remember, and find support and solace.
We will match your generous donation, dollar-for-dollar, up to $75,000 through December 31, 2018. Join us!
We can’t build it without you!
Your tax deductible donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $75,000 until December 31, 2018. Our goal is to raise $150,000 in addition to the nearly $150,000 raised to date. When we reach our goal of $300,000, construction of Selah Family House will begin! EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS TWICE!
