Shirley Enebrad

Author, Speaker & Grief Counselor

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Surviving Cancer: What They Don’t Tell You But You Need to Know

Surviving Cancer: What They Don’t Tell You But You Need to Know

May 22, 2025 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

I moved my daughter, Ke’ili, back to her place today. It was bittersweet. She was treated with CAR-T immunotherapy a little over six weeks ago. She was in-patient for just over two weeks, and then we brought her to our home to care for her. Driving herself to and from … Read the rest

Blog

Immunotherapy, anniversaries, and updates

Immunotherapy, anniversaries, and updates

May 18, 2025 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

UPDATE

Ke’ili just had her 5th anniversary since her diagnosis. Her diagnosis coincided with the 35th anniversary of my son Cory’s crossing Over the Rainbow Bridge. Two hard anniversaries right on top of each other.

Due to my daughter’s leukemia relapse and her immunotherapy treatment, she came to stay with … Read the rest

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Prayers work. Please continue.

Prayers work. Please continue.

March 25, 2025 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

Last week, I posted a prayer request for my daughter, Ke’ili. Well, she saw her oncologist on Friday and praise the Lord, Jesus, Mother Mary, and all the Saints, because her LPs (spinal taps) were clean ever since the first one that had terrible cells in the fluid. I cried … Read the rest

Blog

Personal plea

Personal plea

March 19, 2025 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

Yesterday was my little boy’s birthday. He made his final journey over the Rainbow Bridge in 1985. I still miss him daily, but it didn’t hurt yesterday. My husband was amazed. It was not a surprise to me, though, because my daughter Ke’ili, who is fighting the same freakin’ disease, … Read the rest

Blog

F*ck Cancer! and Fight Oppression!

F*ck Cancer! and Fight Oppression!

February 13, 2025 by Shirley Enebrad 2 Comments

As I write this post, I feel a little off-kilter and scared, to be honest. Let me catch you up. I recently flew to Nashville to attend my friend’s baby shower. One of my best friends was planning to fly in from Raleigh the day after I arrived, and we … Read the rest

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15 Helpful Holiday Reminders

15 Helpful Holiday Reminders

December 16, 2024 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

The holidays are always stressful. If you are grieving it is even more so. A dear friend passed a few weeks ago. I really thought that she would survive because of her upbeat positive attitude and the amount of love that surrounded her. It made me really sad to get … Read the rest

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100 Thoughtful Messages to Write in Your Sympathy Card

100 Thoughtful Messages to Write in Your Sympathy Card

October 11, 2024 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

This is an article I was asked to participate in awhile back. It is a good reminder. Hopefully it will help you know what to say when the need arises.

Writing a sympathy card can be an emotional experience. Finding the right words to comfort someone who is grieving is… Read the rest

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Maui fire anniversary triggers

Maui fire anniversary triggers

September 9, 2024 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

The anniversary of the fire that devastated Lahaina was last month. It has taken me this long to process my feelings about it. My dear friend Waltye Rasulala asked if I had viewed the documentary about the fire. I told her that I could not because it is too hard. … Read the rest

Blog, Grief, Life and Living

Unfathomable grief

Unfathomable grief

July 24, 2024 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

I am in the process of creating a crowd-funding page for my friend Beth and her daughter Becky. My heart aches so badly for them. They are the remaining family members out of five.

Okay, sit down while you read this, because this family’s story is difficult to fathom. Beth … Read the rest

Grief, Life and Living, Self Care

Sad musings

Sad musings

May 20, 2024 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

Mother’s Day just passed which also means the anniversary of my son’s death. Time does not heal the pain of grief. I know I have said that over and over. I am proof. It still hurts like crazy and he has been gone for 39 years. It feels like moments … Read the rest

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Reviews & Testimonials

I just have to tell you that your book has become a part of me.  I have milked it by only reading it when I was alone and quiet.  I feel I know little Cory now.  It has been a privilege getting to know his sweet spirit.  Thank you so much for sharing a small part of him with me.  I would love to see the video that was made.  Bless your heart for the pure love and strength that you instilled in your sweet baby.  Cory is a true gift to all who get to share his story.
Pamala Butler Iacovitti, Wichita Falls, Texas (after reading Over the Rainbow Bridge)
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Over the Rainbow Bridge is an intelligent and emotional book that exhibits an unforgettable life and death of a child wise beyond his young years. You don’t have to be grieving to get Cory’s life lessons.
Karen Minton, MA, CAN, Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, Maine
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Cory was my favorite patient ever and he taught me more than I could ever teach him. His lessons about Summerland (the afterlife) were profound and his drawings of what he saw ‘Over the Rainbow Bridge’ helped thousands of people get in touch with their long-buried emotions.
Dr. Elisabeth Kubler Ross, Famed researcher & author of 16 books ‘On Death and Dying’
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Although I haven’t experienced too much loss, this short, to-the-point book gave me a wealth of very important information on how to help others cope with grief, and how to know what to expect when it happens to me. I learned about things to say and not to say to those grieving, and how important it is to let yourself go through the process when you experience loss. The author knows what she is talking about, as she has experienced extensive loss herself. Concise and helpful tips!
P. Pacelli, Sammamish, WA (after reading Six-Word Lessons on Coping with Grief)
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Shirley, I can’t tell you how much your book touched my life. Your son was an amazing boy-such an upbeat, inspiring, beautiful little boy… although I cried, I also celebrated the person he was. And your writing made me feel like I was a part of your life with your son, instead of just reading about it. Images came to mind. Like when you had to walk that long distance to the hospital with your son in your arms after your car broke down. There were so many others… and the laughs I had with the ghosts!  The feelings I experienced while reading –I … Read more
Lisa Salvati, TV News Reporter, New York (after reading Over the Rainbow Bridge)
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I loved this very human and touching story of a family’s journey with a terminally ill child. Although it was sad, it was also courageous and funny. It was far more about living than about dying, and offers a positive example for all of us to value each day. The messages about life beyond death’s door are intriguing, uplifting, and very believable. Thank you for a beautiful read.
Marcia Shaver (after reading Over the Rainbow Bridge)
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The written word can be very powerful and moving, and every so often there is a book that can truly change lives; Over the Rainbow Bridge is that important. It is a true account of a heroic child’s mission in his short life to teach us about love and life, that one and both are the same: eternal. In our culture, where death is almost a taboo subject, Over the Rainbow Bridge will help us confront our fears and embrace life in a “down to earth” way. It is accessible, a comfort to read, as if being embraced by an old friend.
Gei Chan, well-read Artist & Designer
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The greatest gift I received from reading “Over the Rainbow Bridge” is a comforting peace about death and dying. Death is not an ending, but the beginning of a new phase. Powerful. Thanks Cory for your wisdom.Through the life of this 9 year old boy, I learned more insights about heaven and the afterlife than I ever learned by attending church. I don’t know who I’m more impressed with—Cory, a young man who even in death was the most positive, inspirational person I never met; or his mother Shirley who had the courage to really list… Read more
Shelly Heesacker, Freelance TV Field Producer for ‘Oprah’ and ‘The Dr. Phil Show’
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This primer on grief is practical , honest, and totally on the money about feelings, thoughts, and behaviors which are part of the human experience of grief and loss. The six word lessons are understandable, strengthening, and probably because there are only ‘six words’ easily remembered. It also takes direct aim at the guilt experienced about ‘the need to talk about it’.
William M Womack MD, Psychiatrist ("Six Word Lessons" On Coping with Grief)
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Having dealt with the loss of my son, I can totally relate to this book. While reading it, I found myself reflecting back to the “stupid” things that people said to me when I was in the throes of so much pain that I couldn’t see past the very next second. I am comforted by Shirley’s words which are down to earth and easily understood. This book WILL help you if you let it. It is a quick read and is one of the things that I like most about it. Grief is a lifelong journey that changes over time so take care of your heart and read this book. It is… Read more
April Braykovich (Kirkland, WA) (after reading Six-Word Lessons on Coping with Grief)
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