It’s been three years since Adrienne Harbin’s ex-husband died, but she said there are still moments where it feels like it’s happening for the first time all over again.

“It was the most devastating moment of my life,” Adrienne said. “I was numb and floating through life for a few months. Though it’s gotten better, I don’t think it will be something I will ever get over. But, I will hopefully move forward.”

Adrienne met her ex-husband, Jeff, when they were children. The couple married young and had two kids, Jackson and Savannah, who are now teenagers that come to Valerie’s House- Naples.

Jeff struggled with his mental health towards the end of the couple’s 20-year marriage, and he and Adrienne got divorced in June 2018.

Seven months later, Jeff died by suicide.

Adrienne was left a widow to grieve along with her children. Looking to heal from their loss, the Harbin family began coming to group night at Valerie’s House in November 2019.

Savannah, who was only 11 years old when her father died, said she doesn’t know where she would be without Valerie’s House.

“It has helped me tremendously,” Savannah said. “It has helped my mental health and made me feel more confident and less ashamed about my situation. I feel less alone.”

Since coming to group night, Savannah has learned various coping skills and healthy ways to express her emotions. She’s discovered her passion for music and uses songwriting to process the death of her father.

The Harbin family now feels more comfortable talking about their loss and sharing memories with one another. Adrienne and her children have also become passionate about raising awareness of grief resources and hope their story will inspire others to reach out for help.

“Valerie’s House has helped my kids connect to other children that have lost parents,” Adrienne said. “There are more kids than we realize that are dealing with this type of loss. It’s a huge need, and one I did not realize until I became a part of it.”