Gwendolyn Ruth (She/Her)
Bereaved Parent of three & parent to four more / Peer Companion
1) Describe briefly how you got involved with Empty Arms.
Being a transplant to MA, shortly after moving to Hadley, my rainbow baby made friends with a neighbor and through her I quickly learned of EABS. This seemed such a serendipitous moment that I would have such a deep connection to these services as I have experienced the loss of two daughters- Kalea (19wks), Rowyn (40wks), and a son - Ranon (6wks). A desire began to grow within me to want to be a part of giving back in ways I felt I now had the capacity to share with other bereaved parents, a deep love for them and their child/children, and to support them in moving through such heavy moments.
2) What makes you most proud of the work we do/What do you like most about Empty Arms?
What I am most proud of with the work we do at EABS is the sacred art of sharing loving kindness through supporting parents by offering them the felt sense that they're not alone, that they have somewhere to turn when it feels seemingly impossible to bear this experience and emotions.
3) Share a passion in your life and/or work outside of EABS.
My passion in life is to share love and create joy. So outside of EABS, this begins by creating memories with my four living children, now teenagers and young adults, spending time at the beach as much as possible or in nature to any capacity, watching movies together, or taking road trips singing our hearts out to our favorite musicals. I also deeply enjoy honing my spiritual skills in the metaphysical world as I have discovered through my healing work as a massage and energy therapist.
Gwen is located in Hadley, MA and works as a Licensed Massage Therapist, Reiki Mater Practitioner/Energy Therapist and a volunteer of unconditional love.