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  • About
    • Mission, Vision & Values
    • Our Story
    • Members of Foundation
    • Financials and Impact
    • Widows We’ve Helped
    • Our Sponsors & Partners
  • Get Involved
  • Resources
    • Grant
    • Grant Recipients
    • Events & Programs
    • Resources for Widows
    • Community Suggested Resources
    • Join Our Supportive Community
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Donate
    • Hope Hero
    • Make a One-time Donation

Dorothy lost her beloved husband Oct 2021 to a very unexpected bacterial pneumonia that quickly became septic shock. Her other half and best friend was born with a serious congenital heart defect. Because of that, she had always feared the possibility of being a widow, but she thought it would be more likely due to his heart, and more likely when her husband was in his 50s after the children were grown. Instead, he graduated to heaven just one week before turning 34. Dorothy was 36 with young sons ages 5 and 16 months who adored their Daddy. In less than 48 hours, the life Dorothy and her beloved husband so carefully built together shattered. They were blessed to share just over 8 wonderful, joyous and fun years of marriage. While her heart is so thankful to God for having had their journey together, she has struggled since his death with feeling hurt and let down by God. She has felt so devastated that their love story was short and ended so abruptly. Join her as she shares her unfolding journey of grasping to faith in Christ as she journeys through love, loss, single parenthood, honoring her husband's legacy and guiding her sons through their grief and life without Daddy.

Recent Posts by this Author

Author Dorothy Swanson

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Helpless & Heartbroken

by Dorothy Swanson in Health and Wellness, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Solo Parenting, Widowhood Journey
February 6, 2026February 6, 2026
The older my sons get, the more aware they are of the void in their lives created by their Daddy's passing. Today my oldest participated in a capture the flag match led by the father of some of his classmates. ...
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The Quest for Community

by Dorothy Swanson in Coping Mechanisms, Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Solo Parenting, Widowhood Journey
January 10, 2026
It is so challenging to be a young widow raising children alone. It is a lonely demographic and bearing that title can leave you feeling displaced. A little "Googling" online concludes that about 7% of the population age 18 and ...
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Cheery & Teary

by Dorothy Swanson in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Widowhood Journey
December 6, 2025
  It IS possible to be both teary and cheery this Christmas season. You aren’t being disloyal to your husband to experience sincere enjoyment this time of year, and likewise, you aren’t a Grinch or a Scrooge if your heart ...
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Children Grieve

by Dorothy Swanson in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Solo Parenting, Widowhood Journey
November 17, 2025December 6, 2025
My youngest son was 16 months old when his father died. Young enough to only speak a few words, and too young to form lasting memories. Yet, the grief experts, and the mothers of grieving kids all know this truth: ...
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Four Years

by Dorothy Swanson in Coping Mechanisms, Grief, Health and Wellness, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Widowhood Journey
November 5, 2025
  Four years in to this grief journey which began mid October, 2021. The journey I was shocked to be walking at 36. The journey that try as I may, I will always be stuck on. Grief has got a ...
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10 Unexpected Things Grief Has Taught Me

by Dorothy Swanson in Coping Mechanisms, Grief, Health and Wellness, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Widowhood Journey
August 12, 2025
10 Unexpected Things Grief Has Taught Me. 1) People say surprisingly hurtful things to grieving people, even those closest to you. Many will never apologize because they don’t even realize they offended you. 2) You may have been compassionate before ...
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A Brand New Life

by Dorothy Swanson in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Mental Health, Solo Parenting, Widowhood Journey
July 19, 2025August 11, 2025
So far in this journey of grief, I haven’t yet come to the point where I can honestly say I am living a new life. I had the 10 best years of my life with my sweetheart, followed by almost ...
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What will life be like in five years?

by Dorothy Swanson in Grief, Health and Wellness, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Widowhood Journey
June 12, 2025June 12, 2025
How do you see your life in 5 years? I asked myself this yesterday and the answer terrified me. I usually avoid answering it at all costs. I have gotten so accustomed to surviving one day at a time. One ...
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Beyond Tired

by Dorothy Swanson in Coping Mechanisms, Grief, Health and Wellness, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Mental Health
May 19, 2025May 19, 2025
    There is no proper term to do justice to the type of tiredness involved in being a grieving, solo Mama. We are overworked, never paid, tapped out, burnt out and worn out. Fatigued and sometimes jaded. Filled with ...
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Progress & Pain Can Be Together

by Dorothy Swanson in Coping Mechanisms, Grief, Health and Wellness, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
April 29, 2025May 19, 2025
I have never loved anyone in my life as much as I loved my husband. I have never missed anyone more than I do him. I have never been as changed by the absence of someone as much as I ...
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