"I just need to believe..."

Thank you to the families of the MISS Foundation and Parents of Murdered Children who participated in this story. Especially, thank you Myles.

We can, as a society, do better. We truly can.

BEREAVED PARENT SURVEY by MISS Foundation Total Responses: 569 Age of child at death: Before birth 176 31% Birth-28 days 106 19% 1 month-2 yrs 116 20% 2 yrs-8 yrs 24 4% 8 yrs - 18 yrs 44 8% 18 yrs or older 44 8% no response 59 10% Mother 497 87% Father 72 13% 100% Program Importance: Very Beneficial Beneficial Not Beneficial No response Support groups 317 159 44 49 Peer contacts 348 156 19 46 Newsletter 135 142 88 204 Memorial Svcs 344 140 29 56 Conferences 116 168 81 204 Risk Reduction Ed 179 120 76 194 Very Beneficial Beneficial Not Beneficial No response Support groups 56% 28% 8% 9% Peer contacts 61% 27% 3% 8% Newsletter 24% 25% 15% 36% Memorial Svcs 60% 25% 5% 10% Conferences 20% 30% 14% 36% Risk Reduction Ed 31% 21% 13% 34% Was the relationship between you and your spouse/partner strained after your child's death? yes 331 58% no 228 40% no response 10 2% Have you ever considered divorce or separation? yes 183 32% no 373 66% no response 13 2% Do you feel that your spouse/partner grieved differently than you? yes 512 90% no 48 8% no response 9 2% Did you and your spouse/partner receive marriage counseling? yes 74 13% no 480 84% no response 15 3% Did you attend support groups together? yes 199 35% no 355 62% no response 15 3% Have you divorced since the death of your child? yes 41 7% no 510 90% no response 18 3% If you have surviving children, did you notice a change in their behavior after the death of their sibling? yes 264 46% no 113 20% no response 192 34% Have your other children (child) received counseling or therapy? yes 100 18% no 268 47% no response 201 35% Have your spiritual beliefs changed since your child's death? yes 399 70% no 156 27% no response 14 2% If so are they: weakened strengthened not changed no response 123 288 90 68 22% 51% 16% 12% Were you satisfied with the level of compassion given by: very satisfied satisfied not satisfied no response hospital personnel 256 128 142 43 funeral home staff 311 149 76 33 first responders 242 166 92 69 family members 251 183 131 4 friends 222 205 136 6 spiritual leaders/caregivers 201 116 211 41 very satisfied satisfied not satisfied no response hospital personnel 45% 22% 25% 8% funeral home staff 55% 26% 13% 6% first responders 43% 29% 16% 12% family members 44% 32% 23% 1% friends 39% 36% 24% 1% spiritual leaders/caregivers 35% 20% 37% 7% Do you have a subsequent child born after the death of your child? yes 141 25% no 406 71% no response 22 4% was it: planned 106 19% unplanned 32 6% no response 431 76% Did you hold your child after your child died? yes 419 74% no 137 24% no response 13 2% If so do you regret your decision? yes 5 1% no 407 97% no response 7 2% If not, do you regret your decision? yes 73 53% no 21 15% no response 43 31% Have you used drugs or alcohol since your child's death? yes 163 29% no 399 70% no response 7 1% If so, did you use drugs or alcohol prior to your child's death? yes 123 22% no 204 36% no response 242 43%