Taylor was seventeen years old and in her senior year of high school when her mother died by suicide.

Between college applications and balancing a social life, she became overwhelmed when grief came into the mix.

Taylor was introduced to Valerie’s House in January 2017, three months after the death of her mother. She was hesitant to talk about her loss; however, she was relieved to find other teens just like her.

“Talking about my mom’s death forced me to acknowledge that she was gone,” Taylor said. “At home, I didn’t have a strong support system since everyone was grieving in different ways. At Valerie’s House, I not only gained a support system but a family.”

She also said that attending group nights allowed her to learn skills to cope with her grief. Her feelings towards the loss of her mother developed and evolved after each meeting.

Taylor described the variety of emotions she struggled with after the death.

“For a while, I felt that what she did was selfish, and I couldn’t understand why,” Taylor said. “I also felt ashamed and guilty. I was embarrassed that I no longer had a mom and the manner in which I lost her. I felt that it was my fault. I didn’t want to talk to anyone about my grief until I found Valerie’s House.”

Since graduating from high school in 2017, Taylor has accomplished things she said wouldn’t have been possible without the support from Valerie’s House.

She graduated from Florida Atlantic University in three years with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science, became a licensed EMT, and enrolled in an accelerated nursing program at Nova Southeastern University to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Taylor has now returned to Valerie’s House as a volunteer and is working directly with our children in the grief groups.

She has taken a personal tragedy and transformed it to provide healing for others.

“I feel that Valerie’s House has helped me to become a confident, successful young woman,” Taylor said. “It helped me understand my grief and has taught me how to use my story to empower others. It made me feel normal again.”

Taylor connects with our kids because she has lived their current reality.

She was afraid to tell her story in the beginning, like many of the children on their first night. Taylor helps them find their voice and walks them through their grief journey.

We are excited to have her as a part of our team.

“In a way, I feel closer to my mom now,” Taylor said. “Although we never get over a loss, we can learn to live with it.”