Frances Bustamante and her children, Alexa and Nikko, were three years out from their loss in January of 2016 and still very much looking for ways to cope.

From Right to Left: Nikko, Frances, and Alexa

“There was so much pain,” said Frances, who lost her husband and the father of her children suddenly, to a brain aneurism, in 2013. “I just wanted there to be joy in our house again.”

Frances’ therapist mentioned that she had recently heard of a place that might be good for her and the kids, so they made the drive from Naples to Fort Myers and became one of the very first families to come to Valerie’s House.

Alexa and Nikko, then 15 and 11-years-old, didn’t love the idea of talking to strangers about the loss of their dad, but they quickly realized that Valerie’s House was a safe place for them to share their story.

The whole family came to their age-appropriate Valerie’s House peer grief support groups regularly for years and bonded with others who understood the pain of their loss. They built lasting friendships, learned how to talk about their dad, and reignited the spark that had been missing in their lives since they lost their dad.

Alexa and Angela at her high school graduation

“Some of my best friends are people I met at Valerie’s House,” said Alexa (19), who now attends Florida Gulf Coast University and writes for the student newspaper, Eagle News. She says that seeing how much happier her brother, Nikko (15), has gotten since coming to Valerie’s House has also made her happier.

Frances helped launch the first Valerie’s House peer grief support group for those who speak Spanish as a first language and works part time connecting Spanish speaking families to Valerie’s House and supporting the organization in Collier and Lee counties. She is also part of a book club that often reads and discusses books related to loss, grief, and growth.

“Valerie’s House has been such a gift,” said Frances. “My personal growth has allowed me to help others and show them that there is hope. I’m very grateful for that.”