Today I speak with suicide loss survivor mom Fronzie Roemer. This is a warm and real conversation that you won't want to miss. Find out more at Paws for Patrick
We talk about:
"Fronzie Roemer and her husband Steve are lifelong Illinoisans and currently live in Lake Forest. They have been married for 24 years and have three children. Ben, a senior at University of Michigan studying business and computer science, Patrick, forever 18, and Magdelene, a senior at Woodlands Academy. A graduate with a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Denison University, Fronzie spent many years in the non-profit sector in development, marketing and communications, and program development before returning to the fitness industry. She is currently an ELI (exclusive Lifetime Instructor) at Lifetime Northbrook as a Group Fitness Instructor, small group personal trainer and yoga teacher. She always has loved the connection between physical and mental health and how good exercise can make you feel emotionally as well as physically. They lovingly home 2 cats and 2 dogs that truly are an extension of their family. Fronzie and her husband, along with their children, Ben and Mags, founded Paws for Patrick after Patrick, their son and brother, died by suicide in May of 2020 to honor his memory and his deep connection to animals.
Paws for Patrick is a non-profit 501 c3 organization that connects young people with emotional support animals and therapy dogs to aid them as they live with mental illness.
_______________________________________________
Fronzie talks about this poem-
The Uses of Sorrow | Mary Oliver (In my sleep I dreamed this poem)
Someone I loved once gave me
a box full of darkness.
It took me years to understand
that this, too, was a gift.
_______________________________________________
The book she mentioned is "My Search for Christopher on the Other Side" by Joe McQuillen
AGAIN - PAWS FOR PATRICK
_____________________________________________
My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" support central - MY HUB - and that means my different SUPPORT GROUP Options are available. Go DIRECTLY to my SUPPORT page here where you will find ALL of the ways to connect and find support. My first two books (tools I am creating for you!) in the "Facing Life After Suicide" series are available on Amazon
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out:
CALL 988 OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
in Canada TEXT 686868
in the UK TEXT 85258