Myah Once Struggled to Walk Through the Door. Now She’s Helping Others Walk Through It Too.

When Myah first came to Valerie’s House after losing her dad, Jay, just two weeks before her 13th birthday, she couldn’t bring herself to go inside group.

“I sat outside for my first three group nights,” she shared.

“I just kind of didn’t want to accept the fact about everything.”

At the time, even walking through the door felt overwhelming. But during one of those early nights, Valerie’s House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin sat outside with Myah and encouraged her to simply give group a chance.

“You don’t even have to speak in your first few groups,” Myah remembers being told. “Just listen, see how you like it, do the activity, and just kind of feel it out.”

On her fifth group night, she finally walked inside.

“And I’ve kind of never left since then.”

Now 17 years old, Myah has become one of Valerie’s House’s Teen Ambassadors, helping grieving children and teens across Southwest Florida feel welcomed and supported on their own grief journeys.

Over the years, she slowly opened up, built friendships, and found connection with other grieving kids who understood what she was going through.

“I ended up just really liking it and really bonding with a lot of the people in my group,” she said.

Today, Myah volunteers in multiple Valerie’s House groups ranging from younger children to teens, helping kids who may be feeling the same fear and uncertainty she once felt herself.

“When it would be a person’s first night, I would always try and talk to them,” Myah shared. “Even if it wasn’t about grief.”

“I think it’s really brave to step in on that first night.”

Myah says the support she received through Valerie’s House helped shape who she is today.

“I’ve changed a lot throughout that time,” she shared. “The support that I’ve gotten here welcomed me with open arms and gave me a lot of opportunity.”

That growth eventually inspired her to begin giving back.

“I always wanted to work around kids,” Myah said. “I really enjoyed it.”

She began volunteering with younger children, helping during dinners, observing groups, and eventually completing facilitator training. Today, she helps support children and teens across multiple age groups at Valerie’s House.

“I think seeing the change that happened with me, and now I’m at the point where I’m helping others that were in that same pretty low position as me…” she said.

Myah also volunteers at Camp Connection, Valerie’s House’s summer camp at the Fort Myers Family is Forever Home, where she helps create meaningful memories and connections for grieving children throughout the week.

“I like being involved in camp because I like to help create fun and lasting memories for the kids, since some of my best childhood memories are from camps.”

Looking ahead, Myah hopes to attend Florida State University and pursue a career in social work.

“I had no clue about it before I came here,” she said. “But just seeing the work that social workers do and helping people… I want to give back in the same way that was given to me.”

Watch Myah’s story here: