10/22/2026
Our hearts continue to be with our entire Bend community. ❤️
As parents and caregivers, many of us are navigating our own grief while wondering how best to support our children through something so heartbreaking.
Paige McAfee, our pediatric nurse practitioner at SHIFT, wanted to share a few gentle reminders as we move through these difficult days together.
A few additional things to remember:
✨ Reassure without making promises. If your child is worried about their own safety, acknowledge their fears and remind them of the trusted adults working to protect them.
✨ It’s okay for your children to see you sad. We don’t need to hide our emotions. Showing our children how we care for ourselves and seek support is part of teaching healthy coping.
✨Grief doesn’t follow a timeline. Some children may show changes immediately; for others, feelings may surface weeks or months later.
✨Know when to seek extra support. Persistent anxiety, nightmares, school avoidance, separation difficulties, or changes in behavior that interfere with daily life are all reasons to consider additional support. You don’t need to wait until things feel severe.
Helpful resource: The Dougy Center (Dougy Center) offers compassionate, practical guidance for supporting children through grief and traumatic loss. Visit dougy.org.
Please know that our team at SHIFT is here to help & to help connect patients and families with appropriate mental health and counseling resources.
There are no perfect words or perfect ways to navigate this. Often, it is the small, repeated moments of safety, love, and connection that matter most.
Holding our sweet community close. 💚
With love and care,
Your SHIFT Functional Medicine Team
