(502) 791-9938Lived experience. Trained presence.
Our mentors' stories are different, just as every grief is different. What they share is the willingness to sit with you—without judgment, pressure or a timeline.
Meet Our Mentors
Some stories include child loss, suicide, violence, addiction and other sudden deaths. You are always welcome to skip a story or ask us to help make a thoughtful match.
Loss of a child · Loss of a parent
Kimberly’s grief journey began when her 19-year-old daughter was killed in an act of intimate partner violence. Soon after, her father died following a lung cancer diagnosis. Reading, prayer, community and grief support helped her find a way to carry both grief and hope. Today, she uses that experience to walk beside others with patience and presence.
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Pregnancy and infant loss
Lindsay’s son Bryant died at just 36 hours old after severe complications from scoliosis. She describes healing not as getting through grief, but learning to walk alongside it. After first finding comfort as a participant in a First Hour group, she became a facilitator so other parents could find the understanding and connection that supported her.
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Loss of a parent · Sudden loss
Roberta’s mother died of cancer when Roberta was 14, leaving her to begin a new life far from the family and friends she knew. Years later, she found her father after a sudden heart attack and carried guilt for what she could not have prevented. Church, honest conversation and meaningful ways of honoring her parents helped painful memories make room for warmth again.
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Loss of a child
Karen’s grief journey changed forever when her daughter Hannah died in 2021. One-to-one counseling, grief groups and friendships with people who understood became vital sources of support. Journaling, reading, yoga and art also gave her ways to live with what could not be changed. She now brings that hard-won presence to others who need a safe place to be honest.
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Loss of a child · Loss of a sibling · Loss of a parent
Lisa’s most difficult grief journey began when her 19-year-old son Ben was killed by a drunk driver. His death followed the sudden loss of her brother Philip and came before her father died of cancer. Support from her church, her faith and people willing to walk beside her helped Lisa discover the power of compassionate community. As a co-founder of First Hour, she now offers that same presence through mentoring and grief support.
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Loss of a child · Loss of a spouse · Multiple family losses
Angela’s early work as a licensed mental health counselor gave her tools for understanding loss, but her own grief has included the deaths of her son Christopher, her spouse, both parents, her grandmother and her youngest brother. Faith, reflection and relationships with others who have lived similar losses helped her rebuild with intention, resilience and a deeper commitment to care for people well.
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Loss of a child · Multiple losses
Don had experienced the deaths of family members, friends and colleagues before his 20-year-old son Brandon died in a traffic accident in 2016. That loss changed the direction of his life. Faith, scripture and years of learning how thought shapes experience helped him continue forward, and he now offers his presence to people walking roads they never expected to face.
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Loss of a child · Traumatic loss
Ericka’s world changed when her son was killed in 2022. She found reasons to keep moving for her other children and leaned on faith, therapy, grief support, journaling and the care of community. Her experience now shapes the steadiness and understanding she brings to HopeWave, helping young people know they do not have to carry grief alone.
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Multiple family losses
Kevin lost his 19-year-old niece to cancer, then his brother and, in 2024, his father. For a long time he tried to manage the weight on his own. Encouragement from his wife and children helped him begin talking with others. He now reminds people that grief may remain part of life, but it does not have to be carried alone.
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Loss of a parent · Infertility
The death of Marianna’s mother changed holidays, motherhood and her sense of home. Years of infertility brought another kind of grief. A compassionate counselor, trusted conversations, books and intentional remembrance helped her process both. She knows that grief stays part of us while its sharpest edges can soften with support.
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Loss of a child · Sudden loss
Robin’s 20-year-old son Brandon died in a car accident in 2016, after other significant family losses. She struggled to find people who understood the sudden loss of a child until moving to Louisville and finding grief support. Faith, family and shared experience helped carry her through the darkest moments.
Ask about meeting with Robin →You don't need to choose alone
You can share as much or as little as feels comfortable. Your first private mentoring session is free.
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