Milestones and Anniversaries (or Trauma Anniversaries)
Remember the day you or your family member went to work and came home with a life-altering injury, or they didn’t come home at all? That day is forever etched into our mind and our hearts and in everything we do from that day forward. It is one important day that we will reflect on for the rest of our lives. Just as we reflect on and honour a birthday and other special family events.
We wonder how are going to make it through that first year, then the second year, then the rest of life. These dates are called Trauma Anniversaries, and they follow us. So how do we deal with them?
Perhaps you wonder how to grieve, honour the loss, and respect the way others handle their own journey. Everyone has their own path, yet when we share with others we can learn from others.
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Shirley Hickman
Shirley’s life and the lives of her family were forever changed when they suffered a traumatic workplace tragedy. Since that time, she has focused on making a difference in workplace health and safety.
In 2003, Shirley co-founded The Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support, known as Threads of Life. She recently retired as the Executive Director of Threads of Life and remains a committed volunteer. Shirley shares “Threads of Life is my heart work.”
During her tenure as Executive Director, Shirley received a number of awards of recognition. She shares that she never felt she earned those on her own accord but by working collaboratively with staff and volunteers. Threads of Life has and is making a difference to the awareness of workplace safety and the many lives of families living with the outcome of a serious workplace incident.
The organization Shirley founded, Threads of Life, helps families affected by a workplace fatality, life-altering injury or occupational disease along their journey of healing. Threads of Life promotes public awareness and accountability for workplace health and safety. Its vision is to lead and inspire a culture shift as a result of which work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths are morally, socially and economically unacceptable.