Volunteer Appreciation

At Tides, our volunteers are the invaluable pillars of our organization, especially in providing vital grief support to our participants. Their dedication, compassion, and selflessness shine brightly as they extend their hearts to those navigating the challenging journey of grief. These volunteers are the heartbeat of Tides, offering a comforting presence, lending empathetic ears, and providing invaluable guidance. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to each and every one of them, as they truly embody the spirit of giving and empathy. Their unwavering commitment not only enriches the lives of our participants but also strengthens the very fabric of our organization.

We invite all our participants to express their appreciation by sharing a note of gratitude to our remarkable volunteers by visiting link. Your words of thanks will undoubtedly uplift their spirits and inspire them to continue their invaluable service.

Support for Thomas

Rosalie Fay (named after her great grandmother) was born on the evening of Thursday, September 28, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rosalie was a full-term, healthy baby, but there were complications during the labor induction, which caused Rosalie to lose oxygen for a period of time in utero. After an emergency c-section, Rosalie was not breathing, resuscitated several times then rushed to the NICU.  Friday night, the doctor discovered Rosalie was in multiple organ failure due to hypoxia. She passed away around 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 30, 2023.

Michelle Yarwood and her son, Thomas (8) are grieving the death of Rosalie Fay, Thomas’s cousin. The grief surrounding these tragic events enveloped Thomas, who was with the family through the early tears, confusion, and emotional turmoil.

“After Rosalie died, I immediately emailed Thomas' principal, guidance counselor, and second grade teacher to let them know what happened and that Thomas would need support,” Michelle says.

A friend reminded her of Tides, and Michelle reached out to ask that Thomas be put in Tides school programming at his local elementary school.

“At this time, I was seeking guidance and help from the school and even looking for a grief counselor because Thomas was having trouble sleeping at night and was very angry.”

After Rosalie died, Thomas’s grandmother bought several children's books for Thomas about death and grieving. But when Michelle tried reading to him, he became angry and she realized that particular approach was not helpful for Thomas. Thankfully, Tides support had a different result and ended up being “an overwhelmingly positive experience" for Thomas.

“I realized the books were too direct in their discussion of death,” Michelle says. “I think the more indirect and expressive outlets Tides provided Thomas taught him ways to grieve and cope that worked for him. Since joining the program, he has started drawing and painting pictures that remind him of Rosalie.”

Thomas took a major step at Rosalie’s remembrance service in December and was able to play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star on his electric guitar in memory of the song her parents sang to her in the NICU. Though he was upset during the service, he was able to perform the song and Michelle, a proud mother, could recognize the healing taking place.