Valerie's House Child Takes Reporter on a Tour

9-year-old Sydney Emery has been coming to Valerie’s House for over a year with her older sister, father and grandmother. The family suffered a tremendous loss in January of 2018, when wife and mother, Jill, passed away following a long battle with breast cancer. Sydney is now able to open up to others about her grief and is helping to spread awareness for Valerie’s House.

On December 4th, 2019, Sydney volunteered to share her story of loss with a reporter who was covering a news story about Valerie’s House. When it came time for the reporter to take a tour of the Fort Myers home, Sydney was happy to show her around.

Sydney started the tour by taking WINK News Reporter Melinda Lee over to the Teddy Bear Library, a unit of shelves packed full of stuffed animals, blankets and journals. Sydney explained that children get to pick out one of the stuffed animals when they arrive at Valerie’s House for the first time.

Next up, Sydney walked Melinda over to the Memory Wall, a part of the house adorned with pictures of moms, dads, brothers, sisters and grandparents who have all passed away. Sydney pointed out a picture of her, her sister and her mother. The three of them were all smiling during a day at the beach. The picture was taken years before Jill passed away.

Sydney continued her tour with Melinda by showing her some of the artwork children at Valerie’s House have created. She explained the rules children follow during each group night. She demonstrated the colors of emotion painted on a cluster of cardboard masks. Sydney even enlightened Melinda on some of the feelings she carries on the inside related to the loss of her mother.

As Sydney walked Melinda outside to the memory garden, Valerie’s House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin joined them. Angela sat with Sydney as they both reflected on their own losses. They talked about how old they both were when they lost their moms, while Melinda grabbed video of the two of them sitting side by side on a bench, surrounded by flowers.

Sydney had to keep her visit short, as she and her family had to leave to pick up her older sister. But, Sydney was hesitant to leave, begging her grandmother to stay for just 15 more minutes. Of course, Sydney was welcome to stay as long as she liked. After all, once you come through the doors at Valerie’s House, you’re family.

View Melinda Lee’s story produced about Valerie’s House here.