No one understands the grief of losing a child like another parent who has experienced it themselves. Our Grief Mentor Program was created to offer compassionate, one-on-one support from bereaved parent volunteers who understand what it's like to walk this path.
How the Program Began
by Katie Hurlbut
I am a Palliative Care Family Advisor as well as a Grief Mentor for Texas Children’s Hospital. My grief journey started when one of my twin girls, Ella Grace, passed away at 7-weeks-old due to complications from a widespread bacterial infection.
In those early days of grief, I longed to talk to another mom who had also experienced child loss. I needed to be able to ask someone if what I was feeling was normal and to know that it was possible to not only survive but also to heal. That desire is what led to the development of the Grief Mentor Program.
My hope is that no bereaved parent will ever feel alone in their grief.
What the Program Offers
Each grieving parent is paired with a formally trained Grief Mentor, who is another parent who has experienced the death of a child and is further along in their grief journey. Grief Mentors provide emotional support, validation, and encouragement, all from a place of understanding and lived experience of losing a child. This connection is meant to help parents feel less alone during one of the most difficult times in their lives.
Mentors do not provide counseling or clinical advice, but instead offer support through shared stories, open ears, and kind hearts.
How it Works
Families are matched with a trained Grief Mentor based on shared experiences and preferences.
Communication is flexible and can include text, phone calls, email, or virtual conversations—whatever feels most comfortable.
The mentorship lasts 14 months, offering support through the many firsts that can follow a loss.
If you have questions about the program or would like to learn more before signing up, please contact the Grief Resource Team at GriefSupport@texaschildrens.org.