I hope your summer has been filled with moments of peace, connection, and joy amid uncertain times.

As we move through the second half of 2026, I reflect with deep gratitude on the incredible people, individuals, families, and organizations I have had the privilege of walking alongside this year.

Hand Holders continues to grow in beautiful and meaningful ways, and I want to share a few highlights with you. It is an honor to be part of the conversations and communities that remind us of the strength of the human spirit and the importance of compassionate support through life's most profound transitions.

Holding Space for Grieving Families

I recently returned from my fifth FACTOR Conference and Healing Hearts Retreat with MIB Agents, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making life better for children and families facing osteosarcoma, a rare pediatric bone cancer.

It was an honor to gather with families affected by osteosarcoma and hold space for them as they navigate grief, hope, uncertainty, and love. This continues to be one of the most meaningful parts of my work, and I look forward to sharing more about this experience in my next blog post.

Supporting Care Partners

I have also been privileged to collaborate with Empowered Endings, contributing to dementia workshops and facilitating support groups for care partners.

Caring for someone living with dementia can be both deeply loving and incredibly challenging. I am grateful to create spaces where care partners can feel seen, supported, and understood, and be where they can connect with others who truly understand the complexities of their journey.

Bringing Grief Support into Hospice Care

Another rewarding experience this year was partnering with Topkare Hospice to present an in-service conversation for their compassionate care team. It was a wonderful opportunity to share the mission of Hand Holders and explore how grief support and end-of-life doula care can complement the exceptional work hospice professionals do every day.

Honoring the Journeys of Birth and Death

One of the most inspiring collaborations this year was working with the UCSD Jacob’s Medical Center Hearts and Hands Doula Program.

Together, we explored the remarkable parallels between birth and death doula work: two sacred journeys that invite presence, compassion, advocacy, and loving support during life's most transformative moments.

It was a beautiful reminder that life’s beginnings and endings are both worthy of gentle care.

Community, Connection, and Grief

I am especially grateful to continue my work with the Fanconi Cancer Foundation, supporting the Fanconi anemia community through support groups, educational workshops, and one-on-one grief and transitional coaching. I look forward to returning this October for my third Adult Retreat and Conference, where we will once again gather in community, share our stories, and remind one another that no one must carry life's hardest moments alone.

Earlier this year, I also had the honor of co-hosting the Thoughtful Talk series with Rhonda LoPresti throughout February and March. Inspired by our bimonthly Thoughtful Thursday gatherings, which we have held for more than four years, these conversations created opportunities for honest dialogue about grief, loss, and the realities of life transitions. The openness and vulnerability shared by participants made each gathering truly special. There is something powerful that happens when we give ourselves permission to speak honestly about the thoughts and feelings we are not comfortable talking about and are not encouraged to talk about.

Walking Alongside You

Perhaps most meaningful of all, Hand Holders continues to welcome individuals and families seeking one-on-one support with life’s uncertainties, challenges, and losses.

It is an incredible privilege to help people prepare, care, grieve, grow, and find their way forward by offering compassionate guidance through life’s most meaningful transitions.

Every story is unique. Every loss is different. Every transition asks something different from us. And no one should have to navigate these moments alone.

Thank you for being a part of the Hand Holders community. Your trust, encouragement, and willingness to embrace these important conversations continue to inspire me every day.

I look forward to sharing more resources, reflections, and opportunities to connect in themonths ahead.

May the rest of your summer bring you moments you remember fondly.

With care,

Lori