Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! As we turn the calendar to 2024, I want to share with you our renewed spirit of growth. You might have noticed in 2023 we changed our tagline to Growing through Grief, while maintaining our vision that No Child Grieves Alone.

Over the years, I have come to realize that the true deep long-lasting impact of Tu Nidito is that it opens those grieving up to the opportunity to grow in their grief which builds their resilience and in turn helps them navigate the grief that comes throughout life – not just from a death loss or a diagnosis. Past participants share that their time with Tu Nidito helped them throughout life’s transitions. Be it the loss of a friend or moving to a new area or transitioning to college, their memories of the tools learned through the connections made with peers sharing their journey in a Tu Nidito support group has made them stronger in navigating all that life presents.

This year as we focus on the  social emotional growth of our clients we will also strive to grow our community support through our Grief Education and Train the Trainer workshops, building a compassionate community of acceptance and understanding for those grieving. As we share this knowledge across school campuses, community organizations and throughout the business sector, we are certain that grief will be recognized for what it is – a powerful emotion that is life changing.

This year we will continue to grow our support groups, offering additional group nights and alternative programming. We are determined to support all the grieving children, teens, young adults and caregivers who need us. We will meet them on their journey and support them through their growth, launching into a new chapter of life that integrates their grief into their daily lives - helping them thrive.

We look forward to the growth that 2024 will bring to every life that Tu Nidito touches.

Yours,

Liz McCusker, 

Executive Director

BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Supriya Bakshi

In 2024, we would like you to get to know Tu Nidito’s Board Members. Our Board members are devoted to our mission to create a compassionate community of acceptance and understanding for those grieving a serious medical condition or death of a loved one. They each give of their time, treasure, and talent to ensure Tu Nidito operates effectively with strategic direction, fiscal responsibility and oversight. Their north star is our vision “No Child Grieves Alone”.

This month, we introduce you to Supriya Bakshi. Supriya joined our Board in 2018 and serves as the Board Secretary. Liz (our Executive Director) shared, Supriya is a real champion of Tu Nidito.  She readily shares our mission and the importance of our work throughout the community and through her networks, especially with her colleagues at New York Life and the New York Life Foundation.  She attends all of our fundraising events and also volunteers at family events to get a deeper understanding of the children her efforts support.

It is obvious that Supriya finds joy in her service to Tu Nidito. Just last month she accompanied the team as we surprised our 2024 Remarkable Moms. She is delighted in representing the Board on those reveals.

Supriya is mom to two, a son and daughter. In fact, her daughter served as a volunteer facilitator in our Children to Children support groups.

MEET OUR 2024 REMARKABLE MOMS!

MIMI COOMLER

Mimi is the mother of two, Brody (18) and Caroline (14). She is a devoted mom who is raising her children with the values of compassion, integrity and inclusivity. Her children accompany her to community events to ensure they are integrated into our community and understand how they can help others who are not afforded their privilege. Mimi is passionate about the welfare of mothers and children. 

She is a past Board Chair of the Women’s Foundation of Arizona which works to create equity for women and girls.  Her son’s diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes has made her advocacy for children’s health very personal – she visits each family at TMC whose hospitalized child has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.  She wants these families to be heard and to acknowledge the grief associated with the diagnosis and share that there is hope. 

Mimi wants a better future for her children and children everywhere and works tirelessly to ensure that they are central to her focus on the health and well-being of all Southern Arizona. In addition to being a Remarkable Mom, community volunteer and advocate, Mimi serves as the CEO of TMC Healthcare. 

CINDY & ANNE JORDAN

Cindy and Anne Sarabia Jordan are mothers to three children, Grady Jordan (15), McKenna Sarabia (27) and, Rylie Sarabia (deceased).  Together they are compassionate and caring parents who always put their families first while devoting their careers to providing healthcare solutions that have been transformative for providers and patients alike. Cindy and Anne are the founders of Pyx Health, which is a national mental healthcare company based in Tucson focused on providing support to those dealing with the mental and physical health of those coping with loneliness and isolation. 

The impetus for Pyx Health was Anne and Cindy’s personal journey through the mental health challenges of their daughter, Rylie. For over a decade they navigated the ups and downs of her mental health roller coaster. Learning from her that it was her profound loneliness that caused her to spiral. With this knowledge they took a deep dive into understanding the science of loneliness. They realized that little was being done to address the mental and physical effects of loneliness. To address the gaps in service and care, Pyx Health was born.  Their efforts are effecting change for tens of thousands across the country. Cindy serves as the CEO of Pyx Health and Anne serves as the Executive Director. 

WENDY KURTIN

Wendy is mother of two, Taylor (15) and Connor (11). Wendy and her husband Tim dealt with infertility and realized their greatest blessing with the adoption of their two children. Both of the children have faced challenges but are thriving because of Wendy’s positivity and determination to provide every opportunity for her children. 

Wendy personally has battled breast cancer and is now navigating her husband’s serious medical condition.  Wendy approaches life with enthusiasm. She is a tireless leader instilling in her children that they can do anything they set out to accomplish.
 In the midst of her personal hardships, Wendy puts others first and has always been focused personally and professionally on women and children. She maintains volunteer leadership roles with Kids of Steele, National Charity League and a host of other organizations focused on the needs of women and children.   In addition to being remarkable mom and volunteer, Wendy serves as the Vice President of Provider Clinics for Northwest Healthcare.

MARSHA MOON

Marsha is mother to two children, Sunday and now deceased beloved son Christopher. Marsha’s son was killed in the line of duty in 2010 in Afghanistan. He enlisted right out of high school foregoing a baseball scholarship to be of service to our country.

Marsha accepts the death of Chris by sharing his story. As a Gold Star mother, she holds herself responsible to provide support to other Gold Star families. She founded Wreaths across America in Tucson. Every December, through Marsha’s efforts, wreathes are placed on every service member’s grave at East Lawn Cemetery, where Chris is laid to rest. 
In addition to championing Wreaths Across America and supporting Gold Star families, Marsha is a breast cancer survivor, caregiver to her father and support to her sister who is battling cancer.  She makes time for all who need her, especially her daughter and three grandchildren. 

MELISSA RITCHEY

Melissa is mother of two, Izaiah (13) and Emma (6). Melissa approaches everything she does with strength and discipline and selfless compassion and commitment.  She never misses an opportunity to be present for her children and witness them grow and thrive. In the midst of the pandemic, Melissa’s mother (best friend and role model) lost her hard-fought battle with cancer. Although her grief was pervasive, Melissa was able to accept it and guide her family on their grief journey. 

Melissa is now the matriarch of her family and is committed to keeping everyone as connected as her mother did.

 Melissa’s love for pediatrics shines through her nursing career whether at the bedside or in leadership roles. She is an exceptional mentor holding her teams with wisdom and readily shares her knowledge and expertise with those she works with. Because of her motherly ways she is deemed the “Mom” of the Children’s Clinic where she serves as the Chief Clinical Officer.  Melissa has served Tu Nidito for 9 years as a Board member and after the death of her mother, a client attending our peer to peer support groups with her children.

YVETTE RODRIGUEZ

Yvette is mother of three, Ritchie (13) and twins Elijah and Josiah (9). Her twins beat all odds and survived a very difficult pregnancy that has left them with health challenges. Her mother was diagnosed with cancer and passed just two months before the twins were born. Yvette became the surrogate mother to her four younger sisters.  Her grief did not stop there as her brother died suddenly from an accidental overdose, followed by her grandmother’s death who was her 2nd mother and father’s death early 2023 6 weeks apart from each other.

Through all of this, Yvette has been a steady presence for her family, creating a sense of normalcy and joy for her sons and sisters. Yvette leads by example, willing to share her journey with others helping navigate their paths. She talks openly about the brother’s drug overdose to help others understand the danger of fentanyl. In the education community, she shares information about advocating for the rights of children with special needs since her twins both have Autism. In addition to all of this Yvette serves as the Program Coordinator for the Aviation Technology Program at Pima Community College. 

Happening at The Nest this Month...

Grief is a journey no matter if the death of someone you love was expected or sudden. It's unique and looks different for all of us. This month our middles and teens are exploring their grief journeys – where they started and where they are now – on large road maps hanging in their sharing spaces. The visual depiction of their grief on the road allows them to share their own personal stories while also seeing the common ground we all share when someone we love dies.

Our littles are learning that they are not alone in their big grief feelings too and just how special they are, just like snowflakes.  The windows of their sharing circle rooms are decorated with all their unique and personalized snowflakes. 

One of the emotions many of us share during our grief journeys is anger.  This month we are practicing positive ways to release our anger and calm ourselves from blowing slow big bubbles to help us calm our breath to learning how to take our bodies from tense, rigid muscles like uncooked spaghetti to calm, soft cooked noodles as we let go of our anger. The teens are also making lists on giant post-its of healthy ways they can express big angry feelings. 

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