A JOURNEY OF
HEALING AND HOPE

On July 5, 2014, one phone call shattered my world. My husband, Doug, had suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling from our roof. Despite every effort, I faced the impossible decision to remove life support, honoring Doug’s wishes and his generous spirit as an organ donor. At 43, and the mother of a 10- and 13-year-old, I became a widow. This wasn’t my first or my last encounter with grief. In addition to losing my husband, I lost my younger brother to suicide at 21, my daughter’s first boyfriend, Doug’s brother and niece, and dear friends. Each loss brought immense pain but also taught me the importance of resilience—finding joy in small moments, cherishing memories, and embracing life even amidst sorrow.

In those early days, I challenged myself to find one thing each day that sparked joy. I refused to let grief define me or my children. Doug died, but we didn’t. That determination led me to create a support group for widows, where we called ourselves “Journey Girls.” Together, we honored our loved ones, shared our struggles, and rediscovered life and joy. Today, I walk this path not as an outsider, but as someone who has been there—someone who understands the weight of loss and the quiet strength that grows in its place. Together, we can navigate this path. Joy is still within reach, patiently waiting to be rediscovered, one step at a time.