Grief can come over the loss of many things - a loved one, a pet, a way of life, innocence...
I lost my son. With that, I lost my entire future as his mother, and the many things we would have shared. I lost my connection to the world of teenage boys. I lost my energy and drive, my strength and health, for many months. There is a lot I just don't find important any more.
Of course, life does go on and each hard experience has gifts within it. That does not take away or invalidate the pain.
I will not ever be the person I was before, for better and for worse.