Impact Story Series: Philip's Story
- Lyndsay Ouellet-Avila
- Aug 22
- 2 min read
As part of our Impact Story series, we share the voices and experiences of people in our community whose lives have been touched by the Centre for Grief and Healing (CFGH). These stories highlight the ways grief support can bring connection, comfort, and hope. This story was written by one of our placement students, Lyndsay, after she connected with Philip to hear and share his journey.
When Philip first came to the Centre for Grief and Healing, he was in a place of profound loss. His partner of eleven years, Wendy, had just passed away in December of 2023. Philip was devastated; Wendy had supported him through a serious health episodes – she saved his life. In the weeks that followed her death, Philip found himself alone; he was in a state of grief, loss and sadness.
He wanted to feel connected and understood, which led him to join the CFGH in January of 2024. Philip wasn’t just grieving Wendy’s absence, he was also adjusting to a life without the person who had walked beside him every day with love, patience, and care. Philp shared how he was feeling at that time:
“I felt like my life was swept away from me...My life purpose was gone.”
Philip and Wendy shared a deep bond. The way he speaks about her carries warmth, gentleness, and enormous respect. The grief was so heavy that he began to feel like there was no point in continuing his life.
He started attending the Partner Loss Grief Support Group every week. In those sessions, grief wasn’t rushed or judged. He found comfort being around others who were also navigating their own losses; people who could sit through silence, tears, and memory. Philip expressed the impact that the group sessions had on him:
“for that 1 hour and 30 minutes, thoughts that there was no point in continuing my life went away.”
Philip still keeps in touch with some of the group participants. Those connections have
lasted beyond the group and have helped create a sense of community that continues
today.
When he looks back, what stayed with Philip wasn’t just what was discussed during sessions, but what stayed afterwards. The facilitator's kindness and compassion made a lasting impact because in that space, he felt understood; and most importantly, he didn’t feel alone.
Through connection and shared experience, the Centre for Grief and Healing has made a meaningful difference in Philip’s life – offering him not just support, but something to hold on to.
We are grateful to Philip for sharing his experience, reminding us of the power of community, compassion, and connection in grief. If you feel moved by Philip’s story, we invite you to consider supporting our Centre, so we can continue to walk alongside people like Philip in their journeys through loss.
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