Shirley Enebrad

Author, Speaker & Grief Counselor

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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

Stupid side effects

Stupid side effects

March 22, 2024 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

The grief that comes from your child or any loved one dying is horrific. But sometimes surviving sucks too. It is like a spiral. You fight to stay alive by any means possible, but your quality of life can be screwed up forever. I was just talking about how I … Read the rest

Blog, Grief, Life and Living, Self Care

See the canyons

See the canyons

May 11, 2023 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

Today marks three years since my daughter, Ke’ili, was hospitalized after being in bed for five weeks thinking she had Covid. It turned out to be Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. My heart froze when she called me to say she was on her way to the ER. 30 minutes later; she … Read the rest

Blog, Grief, Life and Living, Self Care

Happy and sad

Happy and sad

October 17, 2022 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

My husband Steve’s sweet, kind, generous all-around fabulous uncle Charlie just crossed over the rainbow bridge. We knew he was on borrowed time because of the type of cancer he had., but it still hurts like heck. Charlie was quiet, funny, and very talented musically, but most of all, he … Read the rest

Grief, Life and Living, Self Care

Some days are better than others

Some days are better than others

September 23, 2022 by Shirley Enebrad 4 Comments

Some days are better than others. I found out yesterday that my mammo from last week came back clear. It was a relief and an eye-opener. I didn’t even realize I had been holding my breath for a week. It’s been 10 years, and apparently, I subconsciously still worry about … Read the rest

Grief, Life and Living, Self Care

Brief thoughts from isolation

Brief thoughts from isolation

August 9, 2022 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

Okay, so I have been extra careful for the last two and a half years, mainly because I have asthma and a child with leukemia, but still, I got Covid from my sister, who let her guard down for a brief lapse of time at a memorial service. Anyway, wah! … Read the rest

Grief, Life and Living, Self Care

Cory’s afterlife lessons

Cory’s afterlife lessons

June 20, 2022 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

When my son Cory was six years old, he was trying to make a point about life after death. He grabbed a box of macaroni from the pantry. With a flourish, he ripped the top off the TV and dumped the contents on the dining room table. He then separated … Read the rest

Blog, Grief, Life and Living, Self Care

Senseless tragedies

Senseless tragedies

June 7, 2022 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

The June Gloom, which follows May Gray, is real here in Southern California. The weather can affect one’s mood, as you possibly already know. It feels like a physical manifestation of the sadness I feel about what has been happening in our country lately. The news has recently focused on … Read the rest

Blog, Grief, Life and Living, Self Care

Saying Good-bye

Saying Good-bye

April 10, 2022 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

I hope everyone has special friends that they may not get to see regularly, but it is as if no time has passed when they do. When I moved to Maui, I kept up with friends via Facebook. It helped me not feel homesick, and I was able to keep … Read the rest

Grief, Life and Living, Self Care

Down a dark hole…

Down a dark hole…

February 13, 2022 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

Time stops the moment a doctor tells you or your loved one that there isn’t much they can do to prolong life. But then, the earth shatters around you, and you start to fall down, down, down swallowed up by the enormity of your grief.

For me, it happened consciously … Read the rest

Blog, Grief, Life and Living, Self Care

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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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