Group Leaders

My name is Carol.  My husband and I raised five precious sons. Three of our sons struggled with mental illness and addiction. Although all 3 fought courageously, they lost their battle here on Earth and are waiting for us in Heaven.  This support group is being offered specifically for Moms that have suffered the loss of a child by suicide or overdose as a result of their mental illness. Through all of this Jesus has been my Anchor. My heart’s desire is to share the hope I have found in Him.

“We have this certain hope like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to God himself.”            Hebrews 6:19  ⚓️

Hi, my name is Adri Wilson. I live in Malvern, Pennsylvania, with my loving, supportive husband of 46 years. God blessed us with three healthy children, and now we enjoy the company of six grandchildren. I love the beach, reading, walking, and spending time with family and friends. While the children were growing up, I wore many hats in different ministries of our church, Sunday School teacher, compassion ministry. I’m currently involved in missionary support, a prayer team, and a life group. I am retired now, but I taught elementary education and special education and was in the role of the program coordinator/assistant principal. I became a Christian when my youth group leaders shared God’s love for me, that He sent Jesus to die for my sins so I could have eternal life. My walk continues with the Lord.

Our youngest child, Janelle, got married in her 30s, moved into a home, and had her daughter Charlie in August 2018. We were so thankful God had provided her a husband and baby. We were so happy to welcome another family member. During Janelle’s pregnancy, she was being treated for pneumonia, but medications were not helping a consistent, terrible cough. Four weeks after her daughter was born, she was admitted to the hospital. On October 4, 2018, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer (not from smoking). She underwent and endured many types of chemotherapy and radiation. By mid-May 2019, the doctor told her the medical team had no other treatments to offer her. She wasn’t eligible for any trials. Now was the time to seek alternative methods. So, my husband, myself, daughter, son-in-law, and the baby moved to Southern California for three months, where my daughter received treatments every day. She was very sick and in a lot of pain. But there were good days too. By the end of August, it was clear we needed to get home. While we were in California, my daughter spent time organizing her daughter’s 1st birthday party. She wanted to live for that occasion, and she did despite being in pain and needing to nap in-between. Less than a month later, she died on October 4, 2019, a year from the day she was diagnosed.

She was so funny, the comedian of the family. Wise beyond her years. She was a Professional Counselor for everyone but specialized in drug and alcohol addiction. She had an infectious personality. Everyone she met wanted to be her best friend. We miss her terribly but know she is in Heaven with her Lord and Savior. Knowing she is with the Lord is the greatest comfort to me.

While in Southern California, my husband and I attended Saddleback Church in Lake Forest. I began following Kay Warren on Facebook, where I found out about the ministry Grieving Moms Finding Hope. I read the devotionals on Facebook. I finally decided to join a group just after a year of my daughter’s passing. The community with other grieving moms has been a true blessing of love, understanding, and support for me. It is a safe, confidential place to share your life on this unexpected journey. A verse that has resonated with me is John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Because of the hope and promises God has given me, I know I will be reunited with my daughter for eternity.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY
I am sharing this Autobiography in Loving Memory of my precious son Grant: my Loving and
Honourable Gentleman. Born May 13, 1980. Moved to Heaven June 10, 2007.
Heaven is now his Home.

Who am I?
My name is Diane Saxen and I live in Brisbane, Queensland Australia where I migrated to in
1961 with my family (Mum, Dad, Brother, and Sister). We migrated from Fort Collins Colorado
USA where I was born in 1957. We travelled to Australia in a cargo liner that accommodated
passengers, called the Lakemba and we were at sea for many weeks; a story for another time
😊
I believe in, am loved by, and love God (the Trinity; Father; Son and Holy Spirit). I was first
introduced to God as a child, and we have continued our relationship throughout all my life.
When I say I ‘continued’ my relationship, I mean that I never rejected my Faith, however I did not
always stay as close to God as I wished that I had; or that I am now.
I am now retired and enjoy spending time with my husband, children, grandchildren, other family,
and friends. I also enjoy playing the piano; walking; and researching topics of interest, especially
about physical, mental, and spiritual health.

A Little about Grant
Grant was a: loving and very loved son, brother, partner, grandson, cousin, uncle, nephew,
godfather, and friend, who also developed a close relationship with God, especially as he got
older.
He was a talented horseman, who loved working in all areas of agriculture management and
equipment.
Further, he was a successful sportsman, trumpeter, student, carpenter, businessman,
homeowner, and proud of his car and collector motor bike.
He had a mischievous, unexpected, and contagious sense of humour, with a gentle and caring
heart; a ‘friend’ to everyone that he met, and a gracious and patient listener.
Throughout all his life he was brave in the face of adverse health challenges.
My Childhood Dreams
Throughout all my growing up years (while feeling loneliness as an immigrant without my
extended family) I dreamt of being a wife, mother and eventually a grandmother; to fill my lonely
void. God eventually blessed me with each of my dreams.
Before Grant’s passing to Heaven (1st 50 years of life)
Throughout the first 50 years of my life, I experienced loss, trauma, rejection, and grief (small
landslides). Some of these experiences could have been avoided; some through my wiser
choices; however, many were out of my control and the consequences of the choices of others.
Regardless, God never left me and was always faithful, merciful, gracious, forgiving, and ready to
restore me.
The most memorable experience was the unexpected ‘rejection and loss of the love’ of my
childhood sweetheart, and father of my 3 precious children. This event at age 29, resulted in our
divorce when my children were 5, 7 and 9. This was my first major unexpected Landslide; the
one that shattered one of my dreams and yet, most equipped me with my backpack of coping
skills, for the enormous Landslide that took place in my 50th year. I chose to hold on to my
relationship with God as best I knew how to, during all the traumatic, painful and confusing
lessons that followed this event.
Grant’s passing to Heaven (In my 50th year) The worst day on the mountain.
In 2007 (the year of my 50th birthday) my precious second son Grant, moved to Heaven at the
age of 27. My precious Grant was born with Hyperhidrosis (extreme sweating condition). This
condition caused Grant enormous stress and discomfort and at times he dealt with this by “selfmedicating”
with addictive substances with negative results.
At age 21 he was offered and accepted a new procedure called an ‘Endoscopic Thoracic
Sympathectomy’ (Operation to correct this condition) that failed and made his condition much
worse. This resulted in his developing a “Rare Disorder” called Acute Compensatory
Hyperhidrosis” that caused him “Exertion Heat Stroke” that resulted in his becoming unconscious
on many occasions. After 5 years of enduring this (age 26), he subsequently developed chronic
Psychosis (after sustaining his first Psychotic episode) and a severe depressive disorder. My
understanding is that the health of his brain cells had been compromised. He was hospitalized
several times and administered medications and ECT’s. Doctors said that his new symptoms
were those of a mental illness that most looked like Paranoid Schizophrenia together with severe
Depression. Grant (age 27) passed on to Heaven and into the arms of Jesus, by Suicide, from
his own bedroom during the night, where I found his body later that day.
Psalm 26 was open on his bed, of which Verse 8 is my favourite: “God I love living with you; your
house glows with your glory.”
After Grant’s passing to Heaven (In my 50th year)
This experience was NOT a part of my childhood dream and was the most excruciatingly painful
and traumatic of all my LANDSLIDES. It not only shattered my dreams, but my very ‘being’, into
a multitude of pieces.
During all the years that have followed, God has been faithful and has sustained me. God has
salvaged a selection of pieces from the wreckage of my landslide and has formed me into the
Diane that I am today. While I am not the Diane that I was, each salvaged piece of me is
recognizable; and blends perfectly with the new pieces that I am building together with The Holy
Spirit; who was with me and within me before, during and now, after my Landslide. I made a
choice to hold on tight to my Faith in God; and for that decision I am thankful. I held on to my
“Mustard Seed of Faith”; and now God is restoring me into a place where other ‘Grieving Moms’
can find hope and healing in the branches of my life; like the Parable of the Mustard Seed.
Matthew 13:31 – 32
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
31 He put before them another parable. The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a
man planted in his field.
32 Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and
becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.
Grieving Moms
“Grieving Moms” has become a particularly important part of God’s rebuilding of my life. I joined
a zoom group with other beautiful grieving moms who have become some of my precious new
loved and treasured sisters for life.
I encourage every grieving Mom to join a zoom group as I did.
Thank you, Jacke, for your love and care for all of us ‘grieving moms’. I love you.

Hi, my name is Grace Carnegie. I live in Lake Forest, California, with my wonderful, God-loving husband, Keith. We are members of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest. For many years I’ve volunteered in several different areas of the church and have been a Ministry Leader for other ministries. Before retirement, I worked in the medical field in office management. I love to cook and bake, read, hearts, listen to Christian music, take long walks and spend time at the beach, my happy place.

My son Fred passed away on September 21, 2013. Fred loved to read, scuba dive, and spend time with his family and friends. He had a quiet demeanor and a great sense of humor. Fred was a loyal employee who excelled in all forms of verbal and computer communication. He loved his brother, Jeff, sister-in-law Lisa, two nieces, Natalie and Elizabeth, and his nephew Jonathan. Jeff and his family also live in Southern California and have been a great support to me.

I did not find Grieving Moms Finding Hope until I was in my fourth year of grief. After joining a group, I was able to share with other moms who understood my pain. As I shared my grief journey with the other moms, I began to feel healing taking place. Every chapter in the workbook GMFH spoke to all the emotions I face. It touched on areas that I thought were mine alone only to realize all grieving moms experience such thoughts and feelings. I knew that I wanted to share what I learned through Grieving Moms Finding Hope with other moms. I am now a GMFH leader. We meet weekly at Saddleback Church, and I am blessed that the Lord opened a safe place for grieving moms to come and share.

Hello, fellow Grieving Moms Finding Hope,

I guess I’m qualified to be on this journey because I, too, have suffered the loss of my child and have determined to trust God in His purposes and plans. Lindsey was my only child, born a miracle baby two months premature. I was blessed to be her Mom for 23 years. She was an enthusiastic follower of the Lord Jesus and attended the University of Oregon as a Sophomore when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma. After a three-year battle of hopes raised and dashed, three hoped-for remissions, and a bone marrow transplant, the doctors told us nothing more could be done, and I suffered the nine-month agony of watching my beautiful daughter slowly leave us. With many friends surrounding her, she fought hard. We laughed more than we cried because Lindsey had a gift for loving and laughing, and she carried us all through with her inspirational ways. Since her passing, the week before Christmas 2016, my husband, Jim, and I have welcomed Lindsey’s closest friends for an annual Warm Blankets Retreat that occurs on her birthday weekend. We are all about ministry by presence, being together with our grief, and finding comfort in love and care. We have also started a non-profit organization, “Warm Blankets,” with the mission of coming alongside those facing traumatic loss and grief such as sudden death, loss of a child, or cancer. I have been a speech-language pathologist for over 37 years. For 16 years, I directed The Speech Center Plus, which I founded in 2006, and which grew to employ over eight therapists (ST, PT and OT, and educational specialists). Amidst the ever-changing medical world combined with the challenges of divorce, our cancer journey, and the loss of Lindsey, I made the difficult decision to scale down and eventually close my clinic. I returned to work for Providence Home Health and Hospice in Medford, Oregon. My husband recently left a large church where he served as Senior Pastor and is now a hospital Chaplain, and we together have known many fellow sufferers. I have long envisioned leading a support group for Moms who’ve lost children. Still, frankly, it’s taken me these five years and finding Jacke Rose’s GMFH organization, mission, and materials to feel ready. This grief journey is long and strenuous, and we need each other. We need this community. I want to do whatever I can to settle into God’s purposes for all this pain.

Shalom everyone,  

I’m Leoba Mashaba from South Africa.   I experienced the tragic death of my 24 year old son, Tapiwa Darlington Mashaba in 2016. He was murdered by being bitten and thrown thrown from a 9th floor building.   

I found Jacke’s Grieving Moms Finding Hope page on Facebook and connected with her and other moms in 2017. I have been comforted and felt Spiritual hands holding me along my Grieving to this day.  

I’m the leader of our group here in South Africa. I would like to thank the other leaders who joined Spiritual hands with me when my grand daughter wasn’t feeling well. She is now a healthy bouncing baby, thanks to the fervent prayers that the leaders made.  

I love you all. 

Hello! I’m so happy I’ve found GMFH, where I know I’m with women who truly “get it.” I live in Tecumseh, Kansas, a tiny rural area near the Capital of Topeka. My husband and I have one son and two daughters, in addition to our youngest son, Joe, who has left this world. My oldest daughter and her four young children live near us, and the grandkids spend a lot of time at our house, so we keep active.

“Why, the question that is never far away…” (The Hurt and the Healer by Mercy Me) describes how I often thought even before my son Joe’s passing. His 12-year journey with severe mental illness and the illness of addiction took him and us, his parents, through so many dark places, for so many years. We lost him twice, first to addiction and then to suicide. The devastation and trauma, physical and mental exhaustion, anxiety, emotional breakdowns, PTSD, all because we fought so hard to save Joe and, in the end, despite Joe’s valiant fight and our determined efforts to save him, he succumbed to his demons. He was 24.

After losing Joe in 2019, I was blessed to find Grieving Moms, where I’ve seen many women who share their stories of faith, hope, and courage despite indescribable heartache. I have learned from these brave women that I can say yes; I will be okay. And most days, I am.

My journey is not only one of grief but also reconnecting with God after many years of being angry because He wouldn’t heal my son. But after losing Joe, I no longer felt the need to be mad at God and began to rekindle a relationship with Him which had been significantly damaged. Moving back to embodying faith, patience, trust, and hope is painstakingly slow, but I find great hope and encouragement through women in the Grieving Moms’ community.

I know, without a doubt, that God has a much bigger plan and purpose in the experiences and lessons of Joe’s life. He will, in some way, use this heartache to accomplish His purpose, which is for His glory and our good!

I look forward to continuing my journey with our Grieving Moms’ family to deepen my spiritual understanding and trust in God’s bigger plan. And as we find commonality in our losses, we can each share our experience, strength, and hope through this painful journey.

Never thought I’d be writing a bio for a grieving mom’s ministry as you probably didn’t think that you would seek to read it.  However, I’m glad you are.  It gutted me when my 28-year-old son Christopher passed.  I called out to the Lord in angst for help… help to breathe, help to get out of bed, help to go on.  My family is my heart  although shattered it’s still beating. How do I deal with and  support my daughter and husband?  Being totally crushed, I had no answers. How do others survive this?  The answer came by way of a google search that led to Jacke Rose and the Grieving Moms Finding Hope (GMFH) ministry. In short, it saved me!  At the age of 58, I was a devoted mom who had raised two kids, put them both through college, had a successful 32-year career as a Speech-Language Pathologist and was ready to settle down to retirement.  However, despite careful planning things took a turn. On the night of July 20, 2018, I got the phone dropping call from Chris’s girlfriend. She was unable to wake him, Chris passed in his sleep. 

Our world flipped in an instant. Christopher, a 3-sport athlete [football, basketball, and baseball] had 4 knee surgeries including major ACL repairs on each knee.   One for which there were complications and an infection that led to a long hospital stay and recovery.  In researching it, in that time, he had been given 11 prescriptions of opioids [Vicodin and Percocet] to help with the pain.  The doctors used to give them out like candy, hence what we now know has led to a national “Opioid Crisis”.  There are pieces to this puzzle that we may never know for certain, but once the toxicology results came in months later, it was found that Chris passed due to an “Accidental Fentanyl Poisoning”.  Not a known addict, never in rehab, we suspect, he turned to opioids to help ease the pain that persisted in his knees. He had trouble sleeping because he told me that his knees ached at night.   I spoke with him the day before he passed and although he was not supposed to, he ran 3 miles in an effort to lose weight and get back into shape. He went back to what he knew.  We suspect that Chris no longer had a prescription for pain meds, so he must have gotten something off the street that was laced with fentanyl, causing a cardiac arrest.

In recalling that time, I am reminded of the initial heart-wrenching pain but know that today I have changed, grown…and have found life altering HOPE.  

Pushing through the frozen darkness to find the warmth of God’s light, is a process involving so many human emotions.  Although questions arise, the “only ifs” no longer consume me.  My HOPE lies in the belief that when my time comes, I will be reunited with my son in heaven for eternity. Chris was only here for 28 years, a tiny amount of time compared to forever.  The GMFH ministry has helped me connect with other moms who are not only surviving but thriving. Jacke Rose and the other courageous moms are my inspiration.  If they can do it, I can do it!  I am not alone.

For grief to be healed, it  needs to be witnessed.  Being part of a GMFH group is a safe place where you are heard and not judged.  Although grief is as individual as a fingerprint, there are some things only another grieving mom understands.  In time, healing and peace widens around the hurt.  Please know that healing is not forgetting, I could never forget my beautiful dance loving boy. I feel him with me every moment.  Healing is simply remembering with more love than pain.  

In honor of Chris, I get up every morning and strive to live a life that will make him proud.

Don’t let the darkness hide your light.  

I love you so much Christopher, till we meet again.

Lisa Didun   [Mercerville,  New Jersey] 

Romans 8:18

 “For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth

comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us”

My name is Rosemary Bell, although I prefer to be known as Rosey. I live in Holywood, a small town near Belfast in Northern Ireland. At the time of writing this, I am 69 yrs old. I am married to Aubrey, who was in the same year group at medical school, and for 46 years, he has been a faithful and loving husband, sharing life’s mountain tops and the deep, deep valleys. Aubrey prayed for me at university with a group of others, and I became a Christian during the second year of our six-year course. We married as final-year students and started our family four years later.

I worked part-time most of the years my children (apart from the youngest, Tanya) were small, and I retired from my career as a consultant pathologist just over a year ago. My specialty was women’s health, Gynecological pathology, and reading Pap smears! Until recently, my passion was advancing women’s health, particularly in preventing cervical cancer in poorer countries, especially in Uganda and Bolivia (have personal contacts in these countries). I am also passionate about education for girls and sit on the board of governors for a local girl’s grammar school.

Aubrey and I are elders in the local Presbyterian church, but in our youth, we were influenced by the life of John Wimber, who founded the Vineyard fellowship. I, in particular, have strong ties with the vineyard church in Glasgow (in Scotland), where two of our daughters, Tamsin and Tanya, are active in church ministry and where our son David was baptized as an adult. Their pastor Jamie has greatly supported us after our landslide, as has our local church. 

We have four children, three daughters, Tina, Tamsin, and Tanya. Our only son David died suddenly of a cardiac arrest two years ago in Romania, whilst walking with his friend in the hills above Brasov. He was on holiday with his Romanian wife Alina and their wee son Noah, who was only four months old when David died. David was under immense pressure at work and taking time to “clear his head.” Our lives changed dramatically when we got the phone call to say David had dropped dead. I heard God say, almost audibly,” The Lord gives and the Lord taketh away: Blessed be the name of the Lord” We know our children are only loaned to us, but there is nothing to prepare you for the loss of your child. Like many of you mums, I felt like I did not want to live and struggled to get up every day! 

These are difficult circumstances following David’s death that are still not resolved due to delays caused by the pandemic. Although friends and family were supportive, it wasn’t until I heard Jackie Rose in conversation with Kay Warren that I realised there is something different in a mother’s grief, not more or less than others’ grief, just different. As they talked (and I listened online), I knew in my heart I should join a Grieving Moms Group, and through this, I have been gently led to grieve as a Christian Mom, finding hope in Christ for the future. As Jacke shared, Scripture has been new, as if reading for the first time, and so personal! I love her constant reassurance to us moms “you’re gonna be alright.”

So, my passions have shifted, and I lead the small group that initially met with Jacke, a group of soul sisters. With God’s help, I hope to comfort and gently lead others through this difficult path and to know that with God’s help, they, too, will be ok!

Hello, my name is Brendal Thomas and I live in Riverside, California with my husband and best friend of 33 years. God blessed me with two wonderful children–my son, Jay who is now in heaven, and my daughter, Leah. I enjoy hiking, spending time with my family, reading, and cuddling with my dog Taffy. Professionally, for the last 25 years, I have been a registered nurse and now work as a case manager for an outpatient oncology clinic. At church, I am involved in our Prayer & Share ministry which provides biblical counseling to hurting people, and our Women’s ministry, Woven.

In July of 2020, my son, Jay died in his sleep as a complication of sleep apnea. He was only 26 years old. My husband, who used to work nights found him unresponsive upon coming home from work and called out to me. I started CPR and continued until the paramedics arrived. This was the worst day of my life. When you lose a child, everyone wants to connect you to grieving resources on social media but I found that a lot of these resources were unbiblical and promoted contacting mediums and psychics. Early in my grief and by the grace of God, I happened to see a Grieving Moms Finding Hope Facebook feed and some of Jacke’s devotions. Then, I found the Zoom groups and thought it was my best chance of healing. I am so glad that I took the chance to pursue healing in Jesus Christ with the help of this ministry. Grieving Moms Finding Hope gave me just that–HOPE. Hope that I was not alone, hope that I would eventually have joy again, hope to endure this trial of child loss. My favorite verse that the Lord kept giving me the last three years is 2 Timothy 4:17 “But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength”. He has kept this promise and now I want to give back to this wonderful ministry that means so much to me.

Hi, my is Katrina Ramsay. I live in Dallas, Texas.

January 2019 is when my landslide hit. I lost my beautiful daughter, Claire when she was 17 months. She was the most fun loving, kind spirited, goofy little firecracker. She was always down for a pizza dance, never went far without a book and blew kisses and batted those eyelashes especially if there was a balloon to be had at the grocery store!

I started to attend Grieving Moms Finding Hope about a month after Claire passed. The first week when I sat down, I couldn’t even write her name on the paper. It was a group I never thought I needed. There is no way to make sense of your child’s death, but being surrounded by a group of women who are unfortunately in this club nobody should be a part of brings a sense of peace. You can go into the group and being able to talk to other moms who can relate to the lose you feel. Though we all process it differently and go through the landslide in different ways; just speaking about your child, your happy moments, your struggles, and everything in between makes such a difference.

As you work through the landslide and the stages of grief that sometimes throws you curveballs there is joy in life. Claire pushes me everyday to continue to spread her light. She has the most caring heart and I know throughout my groups she is letting me know I am not alone. This is why I decided to join as a leader, and lead Claire’s Group for Mother’s who have lost a young child.

I lost two children in my life.  The first was my daughter, Natassia.  She was born prematurely in 1987.  Back then, there wasn’t a lot of hope for a preemie.  She had underdeveloped lungs & was on a ventilator her entire 13 months of life.  She was who & what shaped my life.  I owe a lot of how God guided me to her life & passing.  She was a beautiful little soul, but she struggled so.  At the end, I told her it was ok to go be with Jesus & she passed in my arms. 

Although I had lost her, it was a long time ago.  I never in a million years thought I would go through something like that again; however, in 2016, I lost my 18 year old son, Coby, to suicide.  It was very unexpected.  He seemed to have it all.  He was smart, cute & on his way to go to play soccer in college.  I believe Satan got ahold of his mind and was giving him suicidal ideations.  I’m not sure that he “suffered” from depression, but I do believe there were times in his life when I believe that the ideations were going on. 

After his loss, we started a foundation in his memory, The BeTheLi9ht Foundation (the number 9 was his soccer number).  We weren’t sure what we would be doing, but we stated by giving college scholarships to high school seniors who were a “light” to others as Coby had been.  In 2019, during a time of illness and being still, God spoke to me.  He told me to build The BeTheLi9ht Center, “a placed for people who have lost a placed for people who feel lost & a place for hope.”  When God gives you something so specific, I think you’re supposed to do it. 

In 2021, I opened the center as a place for teens after school to provide a safe space.  We have gone through a lot of ups and downs, but still finding our footing.  One thing I will say is that God is still working on me.  I have had a grieving moms group that meets locally for many years, but I believe God has more for BeTheLi9ht & that is what has brought me to Grieving Moms Finding Hope!

Hello. My Name is Linda Martin, and I am so sorry you are reading this bio because, more than likely, if you are reading this, you too have lost a Son or Daughter, and the pain is at times more surmountable and takes our breath away.  I am eternally grateful to be part of Grieving Moms Finding Hope through Jacke, the gift she provides me and so many other moms.  This ministry, indeed, has brought me up to the surface of healing so that now I can help another Momma.  I love what Jacke shares in her study book Resurfacing, spindrift thoughts, page 34 (that can sabotage our healing)…. “I have no idea how I’m going to do this!”  As Jesus spoke in Matthew 28:20, “I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day, right up to the end of the age.”   We can get through this friends with Jesus by our side. 

I currently live in Ridgefield, WA, and I married my husband in Bakersfield, CA 1979. There I gave birth to my three beautiful children, Jacob, Bryanna, and Karissa.  In 1995 we moved our family to the state of WA.  My family and I attended church and were involved with the children’s ministry. 

My oldest and only Son, Jacob, struggled with insecurities.  I just thought it was kid related, and I didn’t understand in my still young age of 20s and 30’s that the insecurities took him to friendships that were not healthy, to be and feel accepted.  

Little did I know, he dabbled in marijuana and alcohol with new friends in WA.  Shortly after moving and settling in the new school, he joined the soccer team. He was a very successful team player and friend while working in retail and always had a smile, and was willing to meet any stranger.  He had a talent for cutting all his soccer teammates’ hair for their games, so off he went to learn the trade in the hair industry and later became quite successful. 

He left our home in 2000 to work in Portland, OR.  His then-girlfriend became pregnant, and we became grandparents in 2001 to our beautiful granddaughter, Reece.  My Son was now a Daddy.  He was not ready, but we did all we could to help him jump on board. We were reminding him that Jesus was not going to give him more than he could bare. He tried so hard. We are so grateful and proud.

 My Son struggled with anxiety and pressure to be the best he could be, He loved the Lord and believed in Jesus, but the Demons fought for him. Unfortunately, he found drugs to keep his momentum and had taken opioids laced with fentanyl which took his life on Sept 23, 2018. (We were told it was accidental) I received my Landslide call from Beverly Hills police on Sept 25, 2018, after he had already been gone for two days before his roommate had found him.  I dread telling that part of the story because he was alone when he died, and I never got to say goodbye or hold his hand. He had just turned 38 on the 21st, and little did I know that it would be my last birthday and conversation with him.  I know that, without a doubt, he is with our Lord in Heavenly Father and is finally resting in peace and no longer fighting the battle of anxiety and pressures of this complex world.  I miss my beautiful boy. 

Forever 38, Jacob B. Martin Sept 21, 1980 – Sept 23, 2018 

My name is Dannielle McManus. My husband and I have 7 children and live on the east side of Cincinnati, OH. Being a wife, mother, and homeschooler are the most rewarding parts of my life. I am so thankful for my family.
May 4th of 2022 our world changed forever. Our son Liam, (age 20) was in a car accident and went to heaven instantly. Liam left behind his identical twin brother, older sister, and 4 younger brothers. There are no words for the shock and devastation that met us that day, but God has never left us.
Liam loved Jesus. He loved life, his family, and sharing God’s love with those around him. He had just finished his second year studying Civil Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. He loved music and played drums in the band at our church. He made a great impact during his time on earth.
I have been a Christian most of my life and considered my faith in God to be strong. Losing Liam has brought me to my knees. It has shaken my faith, it has touched every cell of my body. I am not the same person. In my brokenness God’s perfect love has held me. It is only by His grace that I can face each new day. I found the Grieving Moms Finding Hope community at just the right time in my grief journey. Meeting other mothers that have suffered child loss has brought healing I didn’t know I needed.
God brings Romans 8:38-39 to my mind often. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It is God’s promise that he will never leave us alone. Even though I may not understand why Liam is no longer here, I can be sure that he was never left alone or abandoned and God will not abandon any of us left on this earth either. I’ve learned that the hope we have in Jesus is how we make it through the unimaginable and I am happy to share this with those around me, just like Liam did.

My name is Iris O’Connor and I was born and raised in Germany.
I grew up in a non-christian home but always had the sense of God’s presence in my life. I came to this country in 1986. I became a believer and God blessed me with my believing husband Kevin and 3 beautiful boys. We raised our children trusting in Jesus Christ as our Savior.
I have been active in our church serving in different roles and also volunteered with the children’s team at Community Bible Study for about 12 years.
Being married and raising 3 boys had me rely on the Lord, who grew my faith in
different seasons.
Our son Kai struggled with self-identity and depression. He couldn’t see how special
he was and embrace the gifts God gave him. He was a gifted artist, a deep thinker,
kind-hearted and a good friend to all. A relationship that wasn’t based on Gods truth ended tragically and as a consequence Kai at 22 years old chose to take his life on
January 2nd, 2024.
Our world got very dark but holding on to God’s right hand and receiving His gentle
guidance we started taking small steps forward. We will be on this journey until we
see Kai again.
God led me to “Grieving Moms Finding Hope” were I received tools that were essential.
My leader and the moms in my group are such a balm to my heart!
There are many moments when I still struggle but my desire to serve the Lord and usewhat He entrusted to me is what I am hoping to share, helping other moms that are on this painful journey …
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and
God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, so that we may be able to
comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2. Corinthians 1:4

It is with a heavy heart and deep faith that I find myself here. My name is Jill Cody, and I feel truly honored to be among this wonderful group of women who are serving God in such remarkable ways. If you are reading this bio, I believe the Lord has guided you here to find this safe space where we can heal our brokenness together.

On April 21, 2024, God called my youngest daughter, Loren, home at the age of 24. In some ways, it still feels like a shock to say that out loud. Yet, in other ways, it wasn’t entirely a shock that our sweet girl is no longer with us.

Loren was diagnosed with epilepsy as an adult and battled unpredictable seizures for several years. Despite her diagnosis, she refused to let it slow her down. She lived life to the fullest, often ignoring cautionary conversations from her parents. Her spontaneous lifestyle included constant travel, music festivals, partying with friends, relationship stress, lack of sleep, multiple prescription medications, hormonal changes, and work stress. All of these factors served as serious triggers for her seizures. It was a confusing time for all of us, compounded by a lack of quality healthcare professionals to guide us. Ultimately, God called her home due to a seizure she experienced in her sleep, known as SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy), undoubtedly caused by the triggers above.

Together with my husband of 30 years and our oldest daughter, Sara, we continue to pursue the goals that God has set for us. We find comfort in His promises and joy in the signs (which I affectionately call “God winks”) that Loren leaves us along the way. We hold onto great hope for the day we will be reunited.

I am stepping out in faith as I answer God’s call to this special ministry.  I cherish God’s word and have led several women’s Bible studies. There is no greater calling than transforming our pain into purpose.  No one can comfort a grieving mom quite like another mom who has walked that path before her.

We worship a God who knows our pain and loves each of us profoundly. We can trust that His ways are greater than our own, encouraging us to embrace the tension that lies beyond our understanding. Let’s embark on this challenging journey together, slowly healing our wounds and creating a life that our children would be proud of.

 “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

Hi, I’m Sherri Cullison. Like you, I am a survivor. I survived the death of my youngest daughter, Sarah, in 1999 at age 14. I have journeyed through the worst pain possible for a mother, the death of a child. I honestly don’t believe I would have survived these last twenty-five years without God. He has been my Comforter and my Rock, the One who led me by the hand, step by step, every day and onto the next. I’m sorry we are meeting this way, but I’m also humbled and privileged that I have been entrusted with leading a group with this wonderful ministry, Grieving Moms Finding Hope. For the longest time, I searched for a Bible-based group for grieving moms and thanks to Jacke Rose, I found it.

Sarah was a fun-loving, silly, happy girl that encouraged others when, unbeknownst to anyone else, she was the one needing encouragement. Sarah loved singing, dancing, and playing the flute and piano. At 14, Sarah tragically took her own life and left us a devastated family and stunned community. With the help of others in our amazing town of Kingman, Arizona, we have been beyond blessed. My husband Ray and I had three children, including our son Ray, a professional pizza maker, daughter Namantha, a title escrow officer, and we have four beautiful grandgirls and three wonderful grandboys.

I am retired, having worked in the criminal justice system for over forty years, mostly as a judge’s administrative assistant. Several years ago, I founded my ministry Heart4Hope and began writing and speaking. I am a published author, including my memoir/devotion book about the loss of my daughter, SOS: A Mother’s Story of Survival, Rescue, and Hope in the Darkness of Teen Suicide. As a church staff pianist, I love worshiping God, whether playing piano or singing. I have spent many years as worship leader/music director leading praise bands and choirs. Ray and I love to take RZR rides in the country, and we also love to travel around the US and other countries, sharing Sarah’s story.

I’m so thankful for the opportunity to join this wonderful group of leaders and to be able to share the hope of Christ with so many broken hearts.

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15