There are moments in life that quietly change everything. Sometimes, they begin with a welcoming smile and a place where you don’t have to explain your tears. For Nallely Hernandez and her daughter, Zoey, that place was The WARM Place. Nallely’s story shares how a family’s search for support became a journey of healing, friendship, and hope through even the most difficult seasons.
When we first started attending The WARM Place, it was because I had lost my father. A year later, my mom passed away, and just four months after that, my brother died. I am so grateful that we were already part of The WARM Place when we experienced those heartbreaking losses.
The grieving journey is not easy, but The WARM Place has helped us navigate it with compassion and support.
I have made wonderful friends there who checked on me after my mom and brother passed away. They even reached out to The WARM Place staff because they were concerned about me. That kind of love and support means more than words can express. There is something comforting about sitting in a room with people who truly understand what it means to lose someone you love. The WARM Place is a safe space where you can talk about your grief, cry, and know you are not alone.
My daughter, Zoey, loves The WARM Place. It has helped her express her emotions and understand that it is okay to feel sad when you lose someone you love. She enjoys being around other children who understand grief because they have experienced loss too. Zoey often tells me, “Mom, I can be sad, and it’s okay to be sad.” She also loves talking about her Tío, Nestor, and how he saved five lives through organ donation.
My brother was an organ donor who saved five lives by donating his lungs, heart, kidneys, and liver. We were blessed with the opportunity to meet the recipient of his lungs, Chuck, who has since become family to us. I truly believe I found the courage to meet Chuck because of the encouragement I received from my group at The WARM Place and from my Group Director, America. They were my biggest cheerleaders throughout that journey.
The people at The WARM Place have become like family to us. Grief never truly goes away, but having a place like The WARM Place helps you learn how to carry it. It also gives you friendships that remind you that you do not have to walk this journey alone. I have seen firsthand how much this place has helped Zoey. She is more comfortable talking about her feelings, especially when she is sad, and that has been an incredible gift.
We love The WARM Place, and we will always be grateful for the hope, support, and community it has given our family.
