My Story

My personal experience of loss after my divorce and the traumatic death of my five-year-old daughter to a brain tumor threw me into a world that I barely recognized. I had difficulty finding the support I needed, so I started on a journey to find some answers myself. Eventually, I was able to have my grief witnessed—a simple yet powerful step on my path to healing.

I came to understand that grief does not need to be neat and tidy; it can be messy and wild. I learned that not only was I grieving my daughter, but I was also grieving the girl I used to be. My sense of self and everything I thought I knew about this world since birth had been shattered. Recognizing the reality of these secondary losses and knowing that moving forward is not the same as "moving on" or "letting go" gave me a sense of peace. Finding a new way has given my life meaning and purpose.

Grief can be an isolating experience. As a grief educator, it is part of my mission to normalize the grief process and bring the conversation about its impact on our lives out of the shadows and into the open. By fostering compassion and emphasizing the importance of finding connection and safe spaces for sharing pain, I empower grievers to integrate their loss into daily life and lighten the load of grief.