Understanding My Smile

I remember a lot of tears, but I don’t remember crying.

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I recall being asked if I wanted to say anything to her as my mom was taken from her bedroom on the hospital bed—but I didn’t know what to say.

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I was six years old, and my mommy had just died from cancer. Everything changed. Home changed. Life changed. And it was hard. Even now, joyful moments can still be tough, because I long for her presence—her support, her advice, her love.

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When my grandmother died in May 2010, it rocked my world. That loss prompted me to return to school, hoping to brighten the future for children like me—confused, vulnerable, and lonely after loss. I enrolled in the graduate counseling program at Mercer University. This time, I was old enough to understand grief, and I didn’t like how it felt. My mind couldn’t rest knowing there were children experiencing emotions that even my adult heart and mind struggled to carry.

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That’s when I decided to do my part—to help change how families and communities respond to children who are grieving.

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Although that was the beginning, SMILE Project Empowers has grown into so much more.
What started as grief support has expanded into a broader mission of empowerment, education, and connection. We now offer programs that acknowledge the significance of our moments.

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And so, here I am.

 

My life experiences brought me to this place, and I’m honored to watch this vision evolve and reach more lives. I’m pursuing my life’s purpose, and my prayer is that your family will be positively impacted by SMILE Project.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me.

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With much gratitude, 

​​Hope