Shon Wells’ world was changed forever after the death of his wife to cancer. The couple had been married for 11 years and had two children together. Their boys, Caleb and Noah, were also devastated by this loss.

“After Janet passed, I was a complete mess,” Shon said. “I felt lost and broken and had no idea how to help my boys deal with their grief.”

Within two months after Janet’s death, the Wells’ family discovered Valerie’s House. Shon said his sons were hesitant to attend group night at first, but after the first session, they realized it was a safe place where they felt understood.

“Not only did the boys find solace there, but I found some comfort in the dad’s group,” Shon said. “Having other dads who had experience with the aftermath of this loss was priceless.”

Caleb was nine when his mother died, and his younger brother Noah was seven. The boys are teenagers now and are strong leaders in the Valerie’s House program due to their years of experience in grief groups.

“Valerie’s House has helped me a lot over the years, and every year, I have gotten better and better,” Caleb said. “When my mom first died, I felt like I was in a black hole. I basically hated everything. But now, life is good.”

Noah has also found comfort in attending grief groups at Valerie’s House.

“Valerie’s House has helped me make friends that can relate to what I’m going through,” Noah said.

Experiencing a significant loss like this is more common than people might think. According to The Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model, there are more than 20,000 bereaved children in Lee County.

For our region, 1 in 6 children in Florida will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the age of 25.

Shon, a Lee County teacher, said these statistics are accurate based on what he sees in his classroom. School teachers and counselors are a great referral source for Valerie’s House, and we are grateful to educators like Shon for spreading the word about Valerie’s House.

“I remember how lost and confused I was in the first months after Janet’s death,” Shon said. “I firmly believe that the earlier families discover Valerie’s House, the better everyone will be able to cope and adapt.”

Caleb (Left) and Noah (Right) in November 2023

Shon is grateful for the support Valerie’s House has provided his family. He believes that Caleb and Noah have learned valuable coping skills that have set them both up for successful futures.

“The boys have both learned to manage their grief and cope with the roller coaster of feelings that will still arise at times even after all these years,” Shon said. “Now, they are both able to talk about memories of their mom openly and with a smile on their face. I’m so proud of them.”

If you or someone you know is grieving a loss, please reach out to Valerie’s House at (239) 204-5804 for more information.