^{Support Page Update}

Major Update on Damon Givehand - August 23rd

In support of
The Givehand Family

Hello everyone,
It has taken me a few days to be able to write this update because I wanted to "get it right" and "do it well" but the truth is that I will NEVER be able to do either, so I'm just going to say it this way -- It is with an indescribable level of sadness and a long list of other emotions that I write this update.

On August 20th Damon transitioned to his next great adventure. He passed away peacefully with me holding him in my arms surrounding him with a tremendous amount of love and light. He was not alone. He was not in pain (and did not require pain medicine). He was not afraid. He went to sleep and simply moved from the physical to the spiritual realm.

On August 21st I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary (along with my sister-cousin, Kristal & my mother). It was a hard day.

I imagine that some of you will have questions, just keep in mind that while I shared a lot of the journey with all of you on this support page, there are things I did not and will not share in order to honor his privacy, his legacy, and his right to make his own choices about his health.

In the end, Damon was at peace with every decision he made and was not filled with regret, dread, anger, or fear.

I will hold a Celebration of Life for him in the coming weeks, please give me time, space, and grace to figure it all out, make some decisions, and be with my grief.

The FOUR people "authorized" to:

give updates about Damon's passing
and share the details of his Celebration of Life

are me (his wife, Kiala Givehand); Kristal Johnson (Kiala & Damon's Sister-Cousin); Ebonee Lumpkin & Tiffany Smith (Kiala's closest friends). Anyone else giving you information is likely NOT giving you the most accurate, official, and truthful version.

And there is only ONE person "authorized" to

give you the facts about his 20 month health journey and the 23 days he spent in the hospital and that is me, his wife. NO ONE else knows the whole story, the truth, and the version that centers Damon and his experience.

Damon spent the last 30 years of his life in search of and in defense of TRUTH and he did so with integrity. I will always honor those things that mattered most to him. You are free to ask questions in this thread, but I invite you to read through all the updates we have posted on this page up to this point before you ask.

Because I am a complex human with a multitude of emotions that can live in the body all at once, I am experiencing a tremendous amount of pain, anger, frustration, sadness, and peace. I'm working on accepting that this is my new reality. I am grateful for the almost 40 years of friendship & 22 years of marriage I got to have with him. I am grateful that I can say I knew him better than anyone else on this planet. I am grateful that I was the one holding him when he took his last breath. I am grateful that I was able to love on him in his final days with full attention and intention. And I am grateful for the love and support of our various communities that made it possible for me to be fully focused on him during his most vulnerable moments. I am grateful to have been loved unconditionally by him. I am grateful that I got to be the one to hear all of his hope & dreams. And I am grateful to have loved such a beautifully complex, caring, compassionate, and loving soul.

I ask that you give me space and time. I am not currently responding to all of your messages and notes. I just do not have the bandwidth for conversation. I'm not really on my phone much right now. I'm not checking email. I'm not returning phone calls or responding in text in any real way. I'm heartbroken and extremely sad. My best friend is gone forever and life makes zero sense to me at the moment. I am surrounded by the most important women in my life and being well cared for and looked after. I am eating and sleeping in small moments that are enough to sustain me.

I will continue to use this space to update you on the Celebration of Life for Damon and to connect with each of you for a few weeks as we all wrap our brains around this new reality. I invite you to remember who he was to you if you had a connection to him and to remember what nugget of wisdom he shared with you if your paths had the honor of crossing. This is one way to begin making sense of a world without him.

If you are in the PPP community, please check there for the replay of a livestream I did in the community. It has additional information for our members.

Those of you who were already informed of his passing have asked about sending flowers and other things to me. I ask that you hold off for a bit until I know what makes the most sense. I will be establishing a few scholarships in Damon's name that you're more than welcome to contribute to should you want to do something other than send flowers.

Stay tuned.
With deep gratitude,
Kiala

Kiala Givehand
2 months ago

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Comments

Fionadotmolly 2 months ago

Sending you so much love. He was a beautiful soul and it was a blessing to meet him and listen to his wisdom about Yoga, poetry and words themselves. May his memory be a blessing.

Jill Holmes 2 months ago

💔🤍🙏🙏🙏

Marybeth Stramaglia 2 months ago

I am heartbroken for you, Kiala; and for everyone who loved Damon. I wish you the comfort of happy memories, the space to rage against your pain, and moments of true grace as you grieve.

Erin Abbott-Haines 2 months ago

Loving you so much through this unfathomably heartbreaking time. ❤️💔❤️

Dawn.lloyd 2 months ago

Sending you and your family love and strength. 🙏🏽✨

Kimberlyylee 2 months ago

Dear Kiala, sending much love and light to you and your family. May you be comforted and held by the strength within you, the arms of those around you, and the care of all those who know and cherish you. ❤️❤️❤️

Charles Martin 2 months ago

I wish you, your family, and your network comfort and peace. My heart goes out to you. May Damon rest in peace. His memory will live with all of us forever.

Sarah Coffin 2 months ago

I'm so sorry, Kiala. It is such a painful loss. I am grateful i had few moments with Damon at the lake. He was a deep and generous soul. I will keep you in a warm embrace. I'm happy connect when you come up for air.

Siobhanmdaly 2 months ago

Holding you and Damon in my heart Kiala. Sending you love from Oregon.

Liz 2 months ago

Kiala, thank you for bringing us up to date in the middle of such an intense, extremely sad and challenging time, it is appreciated. I'm so grateful that I can say I got to meet Damon in person last year at Sacred Makers. His beautiful spirit and loving nature will live on in our hearts. Take care of your beautiful self and I'm so very glad you have such a loving support network to hold you in their arms. x

Monique Addison-Stinson 2 months ago

Kiala, I’m speechless. I just found out you both were going through this and I’m so heartbroken to hear my friend is no longer here. I love you guys. I’m here if you need an ear 🫶🏽

Edie Evans-Bisbee 2 months ago

Hail the Traveler! May he have a wonder and awe filled journey. Sending you gentle heart hugs.

Katjawaack 2 months ago

Dear Kiala, feel a loving embrace from afar 🫂. Sending you love and light. You are not alone ❣️

Kat4clay 2 months ago

My heart breaks for you, Kiala, and for the loss of your beloved Damon. May his memory be forever a blessing.

A humes 2 months ago

Kiala, You and his family are in my prayers for strength, comfort, and peace that surpasses human understanding. I love you!

Bethmarcil 2 months ago

Reading your heartbraking update and sitting here, tears roling down my cheeks - I never met and didn't know Damon, but I know a little tiny "bit" of you dearest Kiala and feel deeply with you. May Damon spread his wings and find his way home, blessed and welcomed in the "other" realm "there". May you Kiala find the space and strength, love and grace, the time and the surrendering needed to unfold your wings even more, connected, blessed and loved in this realm here. My thoughts are with you. 🤍🪽🕊️🦢🕊️🪽🤍

Rachel Barclay 2 months ago

Sending love —I think of your darling Damon as a sweet, funny, kind, open-hearted, accepting, honest being—speaking with his deep voice, sharing personal stories, supporting you, observing you with a glance to ascertain your emotional and physical needs with his loving eyes. Xoxox

Adogslife13 2 months ago

Oh Kiala! Sending peace, warmth, and my most uplifting of thoughts. ♥

C.ruest 2 months ago

Sending you peace, calm, and trust. Feel all the feels, much love and support is going your way!!!

Oliverlloyd.vanessa 2 months ago

Love you Kiala. I am thankful you were so present during his passage and thank you for this description and very clear boundary setting. You honor him, yourself and your journey together.

Kristin Williams 2 months ago

Wrapping you and those who love you & Damon in love, light and prayers.

Fallon Jaye 2 months ago

Loving you so much and been praying hard, and may you Kiala be surrounded with support and love constantly as you walk this new path and reality. May we all sit in the grief with you when you need, and let your process be what it most needs to be. I will miss always running into him, and him being so seeet to Nova, always. He was and is a beacon and we were all soooooo fortunate to get to experience even a moment with him, and You! All the love.

Peggy Newham 2 months ago

I am so very sorry Kaila. I am so grateful you were able to wrap yourself around Damon as he transitioned to spirit. The gift of that wrap, for both of you, will sustain and hold you through the difficult hours of grief. I am so very, very, sorry you’ve lost Damon. I knew you only through art classes but recognized immediately the divine and soul level connection you had with Damon. It is such a gift when we have that in a lifetime, but also soul crushing when it ends. My heart is with you as you start this new journey. It will be painful. Remember to give yourself grace and love no matter what emotion you may be feeling. Damon is, and will be, surrounding you every moment of everyday. I hope you feel his presence often. Sending you SO much love.

Joanne Summy 2 months ago

no words.......hugs.......

Brianasoladay 2 months ago

My heart goes out to you as you sort through loss beyond words and adjust to this new world. Honoring the love and the life you share. I want to honor and appreciate that Damon spent the last 30 years of his life in search of and in defense of TRUTH and he did so with integrity. Damon is a soul of the highest caliber. I had the bright bolt of light come through my kitchen in the morning, I wondered if he was leaving or just communicating, I think both. Please hold onto your beliefs. I can't help but think that lucky dog is free. Love you, Damon! This world is way less awesome, kind, safe, sweet, brilliant, funny, deep, wise, beautiful without you here.

Marilee McKelvey 2 months ago

Sitting on a porch at Squam Lake in 2023 I was filming the rain, when Damon danced into the frame, laughing and joking. It was the most joyous addition to my video. This is how I will always hold Damon in my heart. Much love to you Kiala, now and always.

Traci Nickerson 2 months ago

My hear and soul breaks for you and all his loved ones. Holding you in love and squishy hugs.

Lucyschaaphok 2 months ago

I wish Damon an wonderful journey and sending you love and light for your loss.

Meg Hess 2 months ago

Holding you in the light, and in the complex, exquisite darkness. Damon was a lovely human. I am blessed to have met him. Meg

Jasmine Watts 2 months ago

❤️‍🩹 Peace, comfort, and infinite blessings to you , Kiala.

Monique Collins 2 months ago

Take good care, Kiala. I love you.

Gail Sawyer 2 months ago

I honor you, bless you, and cry with you at this time of regeneration from your heart that is experiencing all that you mentioned. Take your time. Be gentle with yourself in this process. All else can wait. Holding you in your Highest Light and sending Reiki Hugs and Love. 🙌🏼🙏🏻🫶🏻

Terrette Mitchell 2 months ago

Kiala, I will hold you close in my prayers. My deepest condolences & the biggest bear hug I send to you.

Colleen Attara 2 months ago

I am so sad to hear of Damon's passing Kiala. This morning I am listening to the Gayatri Mantra and thinking of my time with Damon beside the lake...as we chanted. What a gift he was and continues to be through what he loved and taught. ✨🫶.

Jamie Sawyer 2 months ago

Holding you and your loved ones close to my heart. Sending you so much love during this difficult time. Love you.

Sbcafarelli 2 months ago

I am so sorry for your loss Kiala. May Damon's memory be a blessing. May Damon rest in peace. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

Devitakristin 2 months ago

Damon was a gift to this earth and will be very much missed. Thank you for sharing your experience with raw emotion and also setting necessary boundaries for you to process this immeasurable loss in the way you need. So many of us are holding you with love and warmth, some physically and others in spirit, as you navigate your grief and enter this next step into the unknown. Sending hugs. So many hugs.

Maggiehanus 2 months ago

Kiala, I cannot begin to fathom your grief and pain, but I am holding you in the light and sending lots of love! 💕

Rhonshook 2 months ago

Such a loving, eloquent, and devastating update. My heart breaks for you, Kiala. Sending so much love! You and Damon were truly blessed to have each other.

Kmsiano18 2 months ago

I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Praying for strength and comfort as you face each day.🙏🩷🙏

Rachel Torda 2 months ago

My heart is breaking for you Kiala. Sending you and his family in so much love. I'm so grateful to have gotten to know Damon, and to be blessed with hearing his beautiful chanting. Neil and Rose and I are just wrapping you in love right now.

Plumeriapapercraft 2 months ago

Dear Kiala, May Damon be embraced in Light, Peace and Love as he journeys forward. My heart aches for you, and I hold you in my thoughts with wishes for Grace and Strength, Comfort and Peace to embrace you. Love knows no boundaries...may you and Damon and your Love remain connected through the realms. Sending you a big, long hug and much Love ❤️

Joannacolbert 2 months ago

Kiala ... sending so much love. Such heartbreaking news. A long time ago, a wise one said to me: "May the Holy Ones give you the strength to bear the unbearable." And I pass that on to you. Love you. 💚🙏🏼🕯

Elle Wise 2 months ago

Oh Kiala. No words. Just the biggest, most solid virtual hug I can muster.

Clorissti Shoemo 2 months ago

Sending love, light and hugs. I’m here and available for however I can help. I’ve been on this journey without my soulmate for four years, so I have an understanding. Just be. Continue allowing your circle to protect your peace and love on you. I’m believing and can see Damon and Anthony catching up, playing ball in addition to keeping up with us as they wait to see us again.

Cindyjjacobs 2 months ago

Dearest Kiala, my heart aches with love and understanding for you in this new physical reality. We both know there are many other planes that continue to connect us to those we have loved so completely. I will always be grateful to Damon for encouraging and assuring me that -yes, I can get down on the floor and do this work, and get back up again. He helped me relearn how to live in my body after I lost Joe. I can still hear the love and confidence in his voice - it came through so clear, even on Zoom. Loving you always, Cindy

Lisa Street 2 months ago

I’m so sorry, Kiala. Damon was a beautiful soul and I feel blessed to have spent time chanting with him at the lake. I’m sending you much love. Wishing you peace, comfort, and moments of light as you navigate the days ahead.

Aimee.bishop 2 months ago

Holding you close to my heart dear friend, as you navigate this devastating loss. Sending love and healing. ❤️

Kirsten Deka 2 months ago

I am so very sorry. My prayers are with you and your family.

Stacey Bobbitt 2 months ago

With all the love, in all the light, i hold you and Damon. 🙌

Sharyn Adams 2 months ago

I'm so very sorry Kiala.May one day your tears of grief become tears of joy at the memory of him. I was lucky to meet Damon and for that I am forever grateful. All my love to you and your family ♥️

Cindy Berg 2 months ago

Sending you lots of love, strength and grace. I am so sorry for your loss, Kiala.

Becky Hambrick 2 months ago

I am so sorry, Kiala. I will continue to pray for you and Damon. I also pray that you feel the love surrounding you. May it be a comfort to you now and in the days ahead.

Ann Cline about 2 months ago

Thinking of you and sending hugs and prayers. ❤️🙏🏽❤️

Roseanne Sabol about 2 months ago

You are being held in love and grace by so many of us. I pray that will provide even a bit of solace to your aching heart, dear Kiala. ♥️

Joyce Donaldson about 2 months ago

I am reading this , my beautiful niece , Damon was always my nephew, i grew up with the family , and his late mother. I'm asking this because I don't see you have his dad's name or his sister's name mentioned, I was going to contact his dad and find out when the funeral would be. But for some reason , this came up , and I saw it. I would like to pay my respects. I am praying for you and the entire Givehand Family.As this is hard for not only you but his sister and his dad.So please keep them in prayer.Also and keep them informed also. May God wrap his arms around the whole family and cover you all with his blood. Take care of him as he rests in peace and take care of the entire family in the name of Jesus, I say, and I pray Amen.🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽❤️❤️ Stay strong , Kiala and God is standing in the gap with you. I always heard about you and I always wanted to meet you, but I never had the time to come down since I had gotten so sick.God is standing with you.And by your side make the best decisions ever.And we love you here in Omaha Nebraska we love you. Stay sweet as you are and God is with you.Every step of the way trust and believe me.

Maria Palazzo about 2 months ago

Kiala, I'm sending my deepest condolences, prayers and healing energy to you. I remember years ago when you and Damon were offering online Yoga and art classes together. His gentle spirit was evident as he opened each art session with Yoga and his infinite wisdom. May the memories you created together bring you some comfort on the next part of your journey. R.I.P.Damon. Thank you both for sharing your talents with us. Blessings to all who knew Damon. 🙏🙏🙏

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