The death of a parent, sibling, or other loved one can profoundly shape a child’s life. Without compassionate grief support, children may carry unresolved sadness, anxiety, or guilt into adulthood, struggle to trust and connect with others, or experience more serious or unhealthy emotional and behavioral challenges. Early support can help children understand and express their feelings, develop healthy coping skills, and discover that they are not alone and can be heard, supported, and, in time, heal.
I know this not only professionally, but personally. When I was eight years old, my six-year-old sister, Donna Lee Stauffer, was tragically killed. While my family did the best they could, grief support specifically for children was not readily available. As an adult, I was inspired to work in public health and ultimately I chose to devote 35 years of my professional life to hospice and palliative care. And, the experience deepened my belief that no child should have to navigate profound loss alone.
I have always wanted to do something meaningful to honor and remember my sister. When an opportunity arose to establish a restricted fund supporting the work of Hospice and Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard’s social workers and counselors specially trained to provide grief support to children, I did not have to give it a second thought. It was a deeply personal way to transform a heartbreaking experience for my entire family into a source of hope for children today.
My hope is that your generosity to HPCMV’s children’s grief programs and Camp By The Sea will give young people facing profound loss the compassion, understanding, and tools they need to heal, build resilience, and grow into healthy, compassionate adults.
Gifts to the restricted Donna Lee Stauffer Memorial Fund can be made online, by mailing a check payable to HPCMV with “Stauffer Fund” noted in the memo line, or through a donor-advised fund or stock gift by contacting HPCMV directly at give@hospiceofmv.org.