05/20/2026
I’ve been living with grief for more than 22 years, and along the way, I’ve learned a thing or two about love, loss, family, and healing.
Nineteen years ago, on 5/20/07, my life changed forever. As a senior in high school, I changed my college plans and stayed home with my family because nothing felt more important than being together through the unimaginable. No parent should ever have to bury a child.
That loss shaped the course of my life. It opened my eyes to the many ways people experience grief — the unspoken expectations, the complicated family dynamics, the pressure to grieve “correctly,” and the loneliness that can come with profound loss. I knew then that I never wanted anyone to feel alone in their pain, and that promise ultimately led me to become a therapist.
I feel incredibly blessed to do this work every day. TPJHealing was built from grief, loss, resilience, and the healing journey that followed. And if I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing you as your therapist, please know that, in many ways, it is because of Mikey.
Today marks 19 years of life after him. So much time has passed, yet his memory, his smile, and his Dennis-the-Menace spirit continue to ripple outward and impact others in beautiful ways.
If you have lost someone you love, I hope you continue to speak their name — openly, proudly, lovingly — no matter what anyone else thinks grief should look like. ❤️🪽
