Twenty-two years ago, Lynn and Mike Smith experienced a loss no parent ever expects to face: the death of their 12-year-old son, Michael.
At the time, the Smith family was living in Beaumont. In the midst of unimaginable grief, someone told them about Bo’s Place.
They began making the drive to Houston with their family to participate in grief support groups at Bo’s Place. It was a long trip – about an hour and a half each way – but it became an important part of their family’s journey.
“Looking back, I realize how much it meant to our family,” Lynn shared. “It gave my kids something they really needed. I’ll always be grateful for what it gave to our family.”
What Lynn remembers most is not one particular activity or moment, but the sense of connection. Their family was brought together with others who understood what it meant to lose someone they loved. Parents had a space to talk with other parents. Children could spend time with other children who were grieving.
For the Smith family, Bo’s Place offered something they desperately needed: a place where they did not have to explain their grief.
Lynn remembers the children participating in activities together, creating art, and even making handprints that became part of the special memories they created at Bo’s Place. She also remembers the family dinners that started each support group evening at Bo’s Place.
“We were able to get together as a family,” Lynn shared. “Everybody’s so busy when they’re in high school, and just being able to have that evening with our family, and then meet other people who had gone through the same thing…”
Those evenings around the dinner table at Bo’s Place became meaningful moments for the Smith family. In the midst of a season defined by an empty seat and an unimaginable loss, Bo’s Place gave them an opportunity to gather, connect, and begin creating new memories together.
And the impact lasted.
Years later, Lynn and Mike remain connected to Bo’s Place and are supporters of the mission. Their family’s connection continued through their involvement with the organization, including family members who have served on the Bo’s Place Board of Directors and who have chaired the annual Hearts of Hope event.
But Lynn’s experience with Bo’s Place also gave her an understanding of something larger: grief support should be accessible to every family who needs it.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lynn saw someone close to her struggling with loss. Her housekeeper had lost her husband and was grieving deeply. Because she spoke primarily Spanish, Lynn remembered Bo’s Place and reached out.
The connection was made. Her housekeeper was able to participate in Spanish-speaking grief support virtually.
“She loved that too,” Lynn shared.
For Lynn, it was another reminder of what Bo’s Place can mean to a grieving family: someone who understands, a place to belong, and the opportunity to heal alongside others who have experienced loss.
More than two decades after Michael’s death, Lynn still carries the impact of those early days at Bo’s Place with her.
Her story is a reminder that grief does not have an expiration date – and neither does hope.
The Smith family came to Bo’s Place during one of the hardest seasons of their lives. They found connection, understanding, and a community that helped them move forward while continuing to carry Michael’s memory with them.
Today, their family remains part of the Bo’s Place story.
And Michael remains part of ours.
Because when a family walks through the doors of Bo’s Place, we hope they leave knowing they are not alone.
