Terry Petkau's Validation with her son Jake through Mitch Ott

Terry Petkau's Validation with her son Jake through Mitch Ott

 Jake / My husband’s precision in measurements he’s using to construct a replica guitar for Jake’s memorial wall in our backyard & The replica guitar currently being constructed / Mitch Ott / A “Scatter Kindness” stepping stone in Jake’s memorial garden to honour Jake’s incredible kindness, which Mitch picked up with, “He’s very, very kind.” / One of my antique stained-glass items / A Red Admiral Butterfly that landed on the outdoor camera, one of six with which Jake surprised us and installed just three months before he transitioned. Photo was taken through a window screen.

I participated in a gallery reading with Mitch Ott, where my son, Jake, first piggybacked with musician, guitar, January, and Nick (as well as world traveller [with his band] and big with sitcoms and comedies, which I didn’t mention), and then came through in such an incredible way when Mitch called on me. I have selected a few photos for validation, although I could have attached several more.

In addition to the photos that provide validation, there also were so many comments in the reading that I didn’t make a connection with at the time. Here are just a few of them:

“Marie”…Marie was my mother-in-law, who I always called Mom, had cataracts removed in both eyes, and who could best be described as “so gentle and faith-based.” (How could I miss that!!)

“Honey”…My loving exchange, Mitch mentioned, with my husband about his precision in building things, which Jake so enjoyed witnessing over the years, started out with me saying, “Honey.” My husband and I have been married 28 years, and we’ve only ever called each other, “Honey” or “Hon,” and never by our first names.

“Charles or St Charles”…Turns out there are a number of possible connections here. It can refer to a street in Toronto that ends in front of the Royal Ontario Museum where my other son, Nick, hosted a grand Celebration of Life for his brother. It also could refer to Charleswood, a residential community in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where we lived when Jake was a young child. As well, it could refer to Charlie, our beloved beagle, that we had when Jake was in his teens.

The real highlight of the reading was when Mitch gave Jake’s lighthearted and accurate description of his stepfather, who Jake dearly loved and called ‘Dad.’ Mitch absolutely nailed it (no pun intended) with Jake’s descriptions that included “so intricate with his work,” “all about the details,” “building things,” and “still down to the tee fixing things.” My husband worked independently in home renovations for years and had a reputation for his precision and craftsmanship, which he’s carried into his retirement.

Without question, this reading has had a life-changing effect on us. It has led to our experiencing a shift from a belief in Jake’s continued existence to an absolute knowing, as well as - and for the first time - being able to sense Jake’s presence.

In closing, we will be forever grateful to you, Mitch, for your amazing reading, and to you, Elizabeth for your wonderful organization, which is so aptly named and has most definitely done, in our lives, what it seeks to do…helping parents heal!

~With immense gratitude, Terry and Don Petkau

Please view the YouTube video by clicking here.  

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