SYRACUSE — Any support from others in any way, whether spoken, unspoken, a smile, a note card, a text or a simply a lantern lit in memory of the child gone before, makes a huge statement of compassion and caring for those who often don’t know why or how to cope, particularly during the holidays.

Nearly five years ago, James and Denise Fidler of Syracuse lost their 14-year-old son, Harrison, to bacterial meningitis. One day, Harrison seemed to be coming down with the flu, and the next, he had been rushed to hospital and then, passed away. “It happened that fast,” explained Denise Fidler. “It’s easy for parents who lose …read more.