When John talks about his wife, Kristen, his love for her is unmistakable.
He remembers her strength, her devotion to family, and the trip they took together just months before she died. Christmas in Strasbourg. New Year’s Eve in Paris. Memories that remain vivid and precious.
After Kristen’s death, John and his two children faced the challenge no family wants to face: learning how to live with loss while moving forward together.
For grieving children and parents alike, finding the right words can be difficult.
“An 8-year-old and, at the time, a 4-year-old, words are hard,” John shares. “Forty-two-year-old words are hard.”
That’s what led John to Hospice of the Piedmont’s Kids’ Grief & Healing Family Support Group dinners, a monthly gathering where families who have experienced loss come together for a meal, conversation, and connection through art and music.
At first, it wasn’t easy.
“It was honestly jarring,” John recalls of attending his first dinner. Just a few months into his grief journey, he met families who were further along in theirs. “I couldn’t grasp how you could get from point A to point B.”
But over time, something began to change.
Surrounded by others who understood the heartbreak of losing someone they love, John and his children found a place where they could express emotions freely, share their experiences, and discover they weren’t alone.
“There’s nothing like being able to talk in a room freely with other people who are in the same horrendous situation as you are,” he says.
Slowly, the memories of Kristen became easier to hold.
Instead of immediately bringing overwhelming sadness, those memories began to reconnect the family with moments of joy, laughter, and love. John describes being able to think about his wife and remember the fun they shared, allowing happy memories to coexist alongside grief.
It is a reminder that healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means learning to carry love forward.
The video’s title, Infinity Squared, comes from a phrase John shared with his wife: “I love you infinity times infinity.”
Today, that love continues to shape how he and his children move through the world.
Their story is a powerful reminder that grief is not meant to be faced alone. With support, connection, and understanding, families can find hope even after profound loss.
As John reflects on his journey, he offers a simple but meaningful message:
“Get out there and appreciate life.”
Watch John’s story below and learn how connection, community, and compassionate support can help families navigate grief together.
Hospice of the Piedmont offers grief support services for children, adults, and families throughout our community. To learn more about upcoming Kids’ Grief & Healing Family Support Group dinners and other bereavement programs, please visit hopva.org/kids-grief-and-healing or contact our team.
