9 Comments
User's avatar
Julie Raymond's avatar

Danielle, your words profoundly impact your audience. We feel your experiences through your written paintings. You are so gifted. I love you.

Expand full comment
Danielle's avatar

Thank you mom. I love you too.

Expand full comment
Hannah Raine's avatar

“Trauma is not a side quest or a personal growth detour” so good.

Expand full comment
Danielle's avatar

Thank you 💜💜

Expand full comment
Susan Plett's avatar

I’ve been thinking about this - how many times have I misguidedly tried to move loved ones past the “yes this totally sucks” phase? I like to think I don’t do that any more, but oh, how I would love to rewind a few dozen years and start not doing it sooner.

Danielle - any one of your losses would be staggering, unfair and brutally monstrous. The sum? Unthinkable. And yet, not unlivable, because there you are, taking the next breath and next one and the next one.

I am so sorry that this is your reality.

Expand full comment
Breton's avatar

I lost my father to cancer when I was 12, and my mother to cancer as well almost exactly 8 years later. Reading this felt like having my own thoughts poured out. I think I needed affirmation that the way things were handled when I was a grieving child profoundly impacted me. Thank you for writing this and sharing, I don’t imagine it’s easy. I’m so sorry for loss.

Expand full comment
Danielle's avatar

Thank you so much for taking the time to share how what I’ve written has impacted you (and for sharing a small part of your story in the process). It warms my heart to know that you felt affirmed, and I’m also sorry you had to go through those difficult experiences that needed those affirmations in the first place.

My greatest hope for my writing is that it moves people. It’s so meaningful for me to hear that I’m able to do that.

Expand full comment
Ashleigh's avatar

I can’t believe those women would even dream to say that to you. Well…I can but only because other people are so stunted around supporting others who are grieving. This is so beautiful even though it’s sad, I’m sure other grievers can relate to this and might feel less alone in their grief too 💜

Expand full comment
Danielle's avatar

I hope so. I know how alone I felt hearing those kinds of comments.

Expand full comment