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Grieve Love Heal: Season 2, Episode 2: Remembering Those Who Died in Service to our Country

Over time the meaning of Memorial Day has been overshadowed by cookouts, parties, big sales, and a long weekend to kick off summer. While we can appreciate the fun things that come along with this time of year, it’s important for us to recognize those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

We are honored to sit down with Valerie’s House Gold Star Mother, Kim Hayes, who has dedicated her life to helping veterans and other Gold Star Families in honor of her son and hero, Taylor, who died in 2016. She talks about how her personal grief has led her to take action to help others.

“The more I grieve, the more I serve,” Kim said. “And I am so grateful to have found Valerie’s House to help my two grandchildren find their own language to express their grief.”

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Season 2, Episode 1: Grieve Love Heal: Grief & Loss in the Black Community

Grief & Loss in the Black Community: A conversation empowering children and families in communities of color to ask for help. A special podcast produced by Valerie’s House, Inc.

(With special guests Tasheekia Perry-Harris and Janee Robinson)

These two women have overcome many obstacles in their lives, including devastating losses.

Tasheekia is the founder of Crowning Daughters for Success, an enrichment program dedicated to building self-esteem for our youth, as well as the co-founder of Impact Dunbar, an empowerment program for young women. Tasheekia speaks to how teaching self-esteem and maintaining values are necessary for creating a better life and are very important in the healing process.

Janee and her daughter started attending Valerie's House after the loss of her daughter's father. Janee also works with children as a teacher and discusses how students express their grief in different ways.

Together, we look at their individual experiences with grief and how we, as a community, can better work together to help people find the support they need and deserve.

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Grieve Love Heal: Season 1, Episode 5 Back to School as a Grieving Student

This episode of the Grieve Love Heal podcast talks about going back to school after experiencing a significant loss.

It highlights two Valerie's House teens who went back to school with the weight of grief. This episode is also intended to educate schools on how to best support students who have lost a loved one.

Please use this as a resource to raise awareness for grieving students in our community, and start the conversation of how to best care for these kids.

Mackenzie winning the Valerie’s House Scholarship

A Candid Conversation with Founder and CEO Angela Melvin

This episode of Grieve Love Heal features a personal interview with Valerie's House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin. She shares her own experience of childhood grief after losing her mother in a tragic car accident.

Melvin reveals details she's never shared before and talks about the challenges of making her dream for Valerie's House a reality, as well as what she has learned along the way.

Mother's Day Without Mom

TV commercials, school projects, and greeting card displays make it nearly impossible to forget Mother's Day, which can be really tough for people whose mothers aren't here anymore. In this episode, Valerie's House Founder & CEO Angela Melvin, who lost her mother when she was 10, talks to 3 dads and another woman whose mom passed away when she was a child about how they handle Mother's Day without mom.

Have an idea for a podcast topic or want to be a guest? Email nina@valerieshouse.org

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33, Widowed, and Raising Grieving Kids

A Valerie’s House mom, widow, and mother of five named Jessica joins Communications Coordinator Alexa on this episode of Grieve Love Heal. Jessica opens up about the sudden death of her husband when he was only 33 years old and shares her experiences in solo parenting their five children in the two years since he passed away.

A Valerie's House mom, widow, and mother of 5 named Jessica joins Valerie's House Communications Coordinator Alexa on this episode of Grieve Love Heal. Jessica opens up about the sudden death of her husband when he was only 33 years old and shares...

Episodes now available on our YouTube channel!

After Someone You Love Takes Their Own Life

Suicide. It almost feels like a bad word, and it’s definitely not something most people feel okay talking about. But for those who have lost someone they love to suicide, and for those who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, it’s something we need to talk about. Suicide rates have been rising steadily for the past several years, and the rise in youth suicide rates has increased exponentially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we know death by suicide isn’t easy to talk about, it’s so important to. These candid conversations can help others who have lost a loved one know they’re not alone and increase awareness about this ongoing mental health crisis.

Joining us on this episode are three members of the Valerie’s House community who have lost someone dear to them by suicide. They talk about what it feels like to live on after this kind of tragic loss, the stigma surrounding suicide, and to share what helped them through it.

Signs from Our Loved Ones

In this emotional episode, we’re joined by licensed clinical social worker Aman Singh and members of the Valerie’s House community to discuss the signs they have received from their loved ones who have passed away. From dragonflies to actually feeling the touch of their deceased loved one, these first-hand accounts about grief and signs from their late family members are honest and bittersweet. Learn more about this special episode here.

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Strong Like Dad on Father’s Day

In this episode of Grieve Love Heal, we sat down with four Valerie's House girls who all have one thing in common. They are fatherless on Father's Day. We talked about our plans for this Sunday and how we will honor the dads we lost.

"Something I miss most about my dad is our phone calls," said Sydney. "We'd talk on the phone for hours at a time, and I miss that connection of being able to go on and on about stuff."

We recognize all fathers. Those still by our side and those that are no longer with us. Our host, Ally O'Brien, lost her dad when she was sixteen, and now supports others through their grief journeys. She shares some helpful tips about getting through the day, and some of her favorite Father's Day traditions. Ally helps guide our guests through the bittersweet emotions associated with Father's Day. She reminds them that they must stay strong like their dads.

"Oftentimes, our fathers are the strong ones," said O'Brien. "That's what the world portrays a father to be. I know that my dad would also want me to be strong just like him."

Going Through Grief as a Young Adult

“Since my loss, I have trouble getting excited for things. The Young Adult group is something I’m going to look forward to and leave happy and smiling.”

— Sierra Ritchey, VH Young Adult and Volunteer

Valerie's House launches a new grief support group for young adults 18-25. This episode shares more about the group's leader and a new member as they share about the losses that led them to Valerie's House and how they are working through their grief as young adults.

Losing a Loved One on Christmas

Amanda Mendes lives in North Fort Myers with her husband and two sons. In 2017, her oldest son's father suffered a heart attack during surgery. Amanda discusses the difficult days that followed, her mission to keep Christmas traditions alive, and how she and her son found hope after loss.

“I was just so worried about Christmas being ruined for him that I really try to make it special and magical for him.”

— Amanda Mendes, Valerie's House Mom

What’s Wrong With Sydney?

Sydney and Megan know what it’s like to lose a mother. Jill passed away from breast cancer that spread to other parts of her body in January of 2018. Her daughters remember her battle all too well and open up about the moment they found out their mother died.

Back to School with Grief

We want to help schools better understand how to help children when they come back to school after the death of a parent. In this episode, Mother Debbie Retew and her daughter Morgan explain their experience with the school system following the death of their husband and father, John.

Change in Seasons