Finding People Who Understand at Valerie’s House

Kaylin Grace didn’t know another child who was grieving the death of an immediate family member. Then she came to Valerie’s House and met a girl from her own school who had lost someone, too. Neither of them had known about the other’s loss.

Now their friendship is growing.

Kaylin Grace and her dad, Chris, have been coming to group for more than a year. Chris’s wife, Kaylin Grace’s mom, died nearly two years ago. At Valerie’s House, they’ve each found people they can talk to about life without her.

Chris told us he’s still finding his place. He gets support from the other dads, and he appreciates when a newer dad asks how he has handled something. They talk about holidays, in-laws and the situations that can be hard to navigate after someone dies.

For Kaylin Grace, meeting someone from school who understands has made that connection possible beyond group night, too. For Chris, the conversations with other dads give him a chance to receive support and offer some of his own.