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When my parents died within four months of each other—both of esophageal cancer—I wondered if the rest of my life would be defined by grief. As their only child, the loss was unimaginable. At just 30 years old, none of my friends could truly understand the depth of my pain. I felt alone, unsure how to move forward.

Fortunately, my family had turned to HopeHealth Hospice for support. Their team was extraordinary in my parents’ final days, giving me the gift of peaceful memories—my father comfortable and calm, my mother beautiful and at rest. And even after they were gone, HopeHealth reminded me that support would be there whenever I was ready.

Eventually, I reached out. My first Zoom session with my grief counselor, Diane, wasn’t easy. It took time for me to open up. But over 18 months of one-on-one sessions, I began to better understand myself, my grief, and what healing could look like.

One of the greatest gifts Diane gave me was encouraging me to share my grief with others—to become part of HopeHealth’s community of support. I’ve always been someone people turn to for guidance, and I thought about how my parents, both teachers, showed up for their students. I knew I wanted to do the same for others navigating loss.

For the past three years, I’ve volunteered with Camp BraveHeart, HopeHealth’s summer camp for children who have lost a loved one, and the Weekend of Hope and Healing, an annual retreat for grieving adults. These programs are different, but the transformation I see is the same. In just a short time, people go from feeling anxious or alone to sharing stories, expressing emotions, and connecting through their shared experience of loss and grief.

Being part of these programs has supported my own healing in ways I never expected. There’s something powerful about realizing you’re not alone.

Today, five years after the loss of my parents, I’ve been reflecting on what makes HopeHealth so special. It’s not just the care provided in life’s most difficult moments—it’s the human connection at the heart of everything they do. For 50 years, HopeHealth has comforted patients, supported caregivers, guided families through grief, and built a community where no one has to feel alone. I am one of so many whose life has been changed by that care.

I know my grief will always be part of me. But when I look to the future, I see possibility. I see opportunities to help others feel less alone, to share what I’ve learned, and to carry forward the compassion my parents showed every day. Thanks to HopeHealth, I have a community walking beside me every step of the way.

It is an honor to share my story—and to thank you for your generous support of HopeHealth Hospice & Palliative Care.

With my best wishes,
Jay Jeannotte
Grateful Son and HopeHealth Volunteer