My Dad, Michael - or as the Quinn side of the family called him - Mickey, was funny, kind, giving, and a wonderful dad. He valued his family greatly and understood how important quality time was with us.  We went boating every summer, staying in Michigan at our Aunt and Uncle's lake cottage (still one of the closest spots I feel to him). We played Yahtzee, Uno and I swear he won every game of War we played! He always watched the Lone Ranger with me on Sunday mornings.  These were some of my favorite times with him. We had family fun nights and cookouts. He coached my brother and sister's basketball teams. He loved my mom unconditionally and wholeheartedly. He taught me so much...

In my 8 short years with him before he died. On April 12, 1980. He was 38 years young.

I miss him immensely and find that my work at Brooke's Place has been incredibly healing and fulfilling, because of the loss of this very important person in my life.  I've been involved with Brooke's Place for eight years as a board member, volunteer, donor, and friend. Brooke's Place will always be a priority for me in regards to my time, talent, and treasure. They helped me work through my grief as an adult that I carried deep in my heart as a child. 

They have a wonderful organization that supports children and families who are grieving, providing peer-to-peer support programs, individual therapy services, Camp Healing Tree, and community education around childhood grief. The power of kids being around other kids who are going through their grief is so important. It's hard being a kid and processing all of the enormous and complicated feelings and it's hard being around people who don't understand how to help.

 Brooke's Place knows how to help.

There is still so much work to do. I am hoping you will help me, Brooke's Place, and all of the kids who are struggling right now with unresolved grief. 

Please consider sharing your own memories of my Dad or your loved one you may have lost, and consider making a donation to an organization that is critical to children going through one of the toughest things they will ever have to experience in life. Also please share our posts on Facebook, and join me in wishing Brooke's Place a very Happy Birthday today. 

20 never looked so good but I bet 40, 50, 60, looks a whole lot better! Your donations will help us serve grieving children and families now and in the future.

I'm proud to be a part of it and I bet my Dad is pretty proud too. He would have loved for us to have this type of support. I'm so grateful I have Brooke's Place now.