1. Grief Relief
Gail Cameron Wescott

2. The Grief Encounter
> July 17, 2003
David Fajgenbaum called
his parent in Raleigh, NC,
after his first football
practice.
His dad, a surgeon, said:
“ Son, your mom has brain cancer.”

3. FACING GRIEF
• He went home and decided to drop out from
college.
• However, Anna Marie Fajgenbaum was
adamant that her son return to Georgetown.
• David threw himself into his studies and grew
increasingly isolated.

4. THE PROMISE
• One October evening, when David was visiting,
Anna Marie woke up weeping. She was worried
about David and his two sisters.
• David said:
“Mom, Im going to be okay. And I’m going
to help other kids cope with loss.”

5. Doing His Promise
• David decided to create a support group which
he called –
Ailing Mothers and Fathers
(based on his mother’s initials)
Sadly, Anna Marie later that month.
> David started hearing from friends who had
never known that his mom was sick.

6. • He learned that nearly half of college students
had lost a loved one within the previous years.
• They decided to meet every other week to share
what they were going through and how they
were coping.
• They raised money.
• They participated in the Ironman 10K for cancer
research, walked to battle ALS, and run to
defeat cancer.

7. • David graduated from
Georgetown
• He studied public
health at the
University of Oxford
• He planned to
become an Oncologist
and decided to attend
medical school at the
University of
Pennsylvania

9. ““Every time I see thoseEvery time I see those
initials –AMF – I see myinitials –AMF – I see my
mom and I know I ammom and I know I am
honoring her by helpinghonoring her by helping
others.others.

10. ““Every time I see thoseEvery time I see those
initials –AMF – I see myinitials –AMF – I see my
mom and I know I ammom and I know I am
honoring her by helpinghonoring her by helping
others.others.