After fighting breast cancer for a little over a year and a half, Shannon lost her battle in August 2020. Brock lost the love of his life, and Zane and Izik were left without a mother.

Shortly after, the funeral home referred Brock to Valerie's House. His boys were hesitant and didn't want to go. But after touring the home, the boys were smiling from ear to ear.

Thursday night grandmother, Jeanne, lost her son to a drug overdose in May 2018. She has been coming to Valerie's House with her grandson, Jason, since then. Tragedy struck again when Jason lost his mother unexpectedly to a car accident in early 2020. Jason has gained self-confidence and coping skills through attending group night.

Heather Tharpe’s world came to a standstill after the sudden loss of her husband, Matt, in 2014. Six and a half years ago, he suffered a heart attack and died unexpectedly. Heather and her daughter Hailey were determined to keep his memory alive and attending group nights at Valerie’s House allowed them to do that.

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.

Stori held her mother’s hand while overwhelmed with emotion. She was receiving treatment following the onset of a sudden illness and Stori comforted her through the night, with plans to leave in the morning. The doctors said her mother would recover quickly and head home in a few days; however, that was not the case.

Life for many children and families of Valerie's House has been especially dark over the past four months. Virtual grief groups have been a success, but families miss being face-to-face, and they need the human connection of their friends and counselors. Ryan, 10, and Cadence, 8, pictured above with Mom April, will be two of the first children back Monday when groups resume at the house.

After the death of his mother, eight-year-old Grady Bonin moved in with neighbors Chris and Tom Patricca. It took some time to adjust to living with the Patricca’s and their three children, but Grady has come to enjoy the new family dynamic. This is their story.

Josselin (JJ), Emely and Kealy began attending Valerie’s House in 2017 after their mother died from a sudden brain aneurysm. The family was at a loss for how to cope.

"After my sisters and I came to Valerie's House, we loved it," said JJ. "We realized we were not the only ones who felt lost, scared and alone."

Seven--year-old Sydney sat alone at her teacher’s desk while many of her classmates pestered her with questions. “Are you okay, Sydney?” they asked.

Sydney may have been in school that day, but her mind was somewhere else. Her older sister, Megan, had just entered her class and confirmed her worst fear. Their mother’s long and difficult battle with cancer was over. She had passed away.