As an undergraduate, I developed an interest in serving underserved populations through volunteering with a guide and service dog school. That led me to pursue a graduate degree in nonprofit administration so I could make a lasting impact- something larger than my efforts as a single volunteer. My early career focused on my passion for the human animal bond and the impact service animals could have on individuals with disabilities, illnesses, and other life challenges. Working with those families and hearing their stories taught me the power of human connection, too. I then moved on to work with children and families in similar circumstances at an overnight camp. These children and families were facing challenges most people don’t understand: medical diagnoses, trauma, and life circumstances they never expected to be part of their story. Kate’s Club was an organization who hosted camp here, and I knew they served kids who had someone die in their life, but that was it. Fast forward a few years: I was now dealing with my own grief journey- something these children and families already understood. A few days before my daughter’s first birthday, my mom died. The thought of raising my daughter without my mom here was something I thought I couldn’t do. Thanks to the unwavering support of my husband, I was able to stay home with my daughter for a few years and eventually felt I wanted to focus my attention on helping others through their journeys. Starting as a volunteer, then contractor, and now full-time staff at Kate’s Club, I have had the honor and privilege of walking alongside children and families as they grieve significant people in their life. The community we have built doesn’t make their grief disappear, but gives them a place to breathe, grieve without expectations, and share memories. What these children and families might not realize, though, is that their vulnerability and bravery has also given me strength in my own grief journey.