In her own words, Josselin shares how grief support helped her family

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.

PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: EMELY, JOSSELIN AND KEALY

"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."

JJ and her sisters were not only grieving their mother when they first came to Valerie's House three years ago, they were also missing their school, their friends and community. They had to leave their town in Georgia shortly after their mother's unexpected death and move to Fort Myers to live with their father. If it weren't for Valerie's House and the friendship of Founder & CEO Angela Melvin, JJ says she doesn't know where she would be now.

"As the oldest, I felt responsible for my sisters and their lives," JJ said. "Angela and the counselors at Valerie's House showed me that we could get through this."

In addition to grief support and counseling, Valerie's House helped JJ with her high school testing, along with her financial aid and college applications. Valerie's House awarded JJ a college scholarship through the Uncommon Friends Foundation this past November.

VALERIES HOUSE FOUNDER AND CEO ANGELA MELVIN WITH JOSSELIN ON HER GRADUATION DAY

JJ is one of 609 children and caregivers helped in the Valerie's House program in 2019. Like many of her peers, JJ learned she is not "less than" because of her loss, and she knows how to deal with her feelings of anger, guilt and loneliness; feelings often associated with the death of a parent or sibling.

After graduating from Dunbar High School in Fort Myers last June, JJ now serves as a group facilitator and mentor to new Valerie's House children. She also volunteers on our Spanish-speaking group night. JJ and her sisters now feel comfortable talking about their mom and their memories of her.

“Every time I go to Valerie’s House, I take home an amazing memory. It’s what I call ‘my happy place.’”

— Josselin, 18