On April 22, 2015, I received news that no parent ever wants to hear.
My 21-year-old daughter, Abbie, and her fellow Georgia Southern nursing students were on their way to the last clinical rotation of their college careers. A delay on I-16 at 5:45 a.m. and a distracted driver led to a seven-vehicle wreck that took the lives of Abbie and four other students, becoming one of the most horrific tragedies in Georgia history. At that moment, the life stories of these five beautiful young women ended and their families, and the nation, felt the heartache.
I knew I wasn’t the only one to have this experience. Yet, during the many days and nights that followed, I often felt I was the only one battling the loneliness of my child’s death. The pain and the grief were both isolating and suffocating.
One of the ways I found my way through the grief was to give back. I became a certified grief counselor and started sharing Abbie’s story, letting others know who she was and what fed her heart and her mind. Abbie was an athlete and a lover of Christ, and she would have been a brilliant nurse who offered kindness to each patient. As Abbie’s sister Anna says, “Her smile sent automatic comfort into your heart.”
In 2016, I also founded the Abbie DeLoach Foundation (ADF) to continue the good work Abbie began. ADF has proudly presented over $1 million in scholarships, reflecting the qualities that exemplified Abbie’s life — a love of nursing, education, athleticism and world missions. It is headquartered in Savannah, Georgia.
Now, through ADF Resources LLC, a subsidiary of ADF, I’m compiling a book titled “A Journey We Share” to offer support to parents and guardians who are grieving the loss of a child. When it’s completed, the book will be filled with stories of hope from those of us who are traveling the same road. With 365 unique entries — one per page — it will offer comfort and a way forward through daily meditations that span a full year. More books may follow in a series.
To fulfill this vision for the initial book, to be published in 2022, my request of parents or family members who have lost a child is to share a story or memory about your child — along with inspiring words, observations or experiences that shined light and granted hope during the dark moments. Doing so will be like extending a hand to other families who are grieving that says, “Come along with us.”
You can learn more, ask questions and submit a 275-word story by visiting https://ajourneyweshare.com.
May you find comfort in your grief among those of us who share a similar pain.
Live inspired,
Jimmy
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