My Story
The day my daughter died, my life divided into before and after.
On August 17, 2008, my 11-year-old daughter, Chanell, died after a sudden asthma attack. I was pregnant, already a mother to two sons, and suddenly living in a world I no longer recognized.
For years, I carried much of my grief quietly. I continued showing up while struggling to understand who I was after such a devastating loss.
Today, I use my personal experience and education to create honest spaces where others can feel seen, supported, and less alone.
One of the last photographs of Chanell.
HER NAME IS CHANELL
Chanell was more than the day she died.
Chanell was my daughter. I had eleven years with her, but I will be her mother for the rest of my life.
When she died after a sudden asthma attack, I was pregnant and already raising two sons. The world continued moving, even though mine had stopped.
For a long time, I internalized my grief. I showed up, cared for my family, and carried pain that most people could not see. The years have passed, but my love for Chanell has never become past tense.
Her smile is one of the many things I will always remember.
WHY I DO THIS WORK
My experience led me to grief education.
I did not become a Certified Grief Educator because I figured grief out. I pursued this work because I know what it feels like to be expected to keep functioning while carrying a loss that changed everything.
In June 2024, I became a Certified Grief Educator. Along with my master’s degree in Business Management and Leadership, my lived experience shapes how I educate, guide, and build community.
I created The Grieving Moms so bereaved mothers would have an honest place to remember their children, speak about what still hurts, and feel less alone. I do not believe grief needs to be fixed or rushed. I believe people deserve support that honors their loss while helping them remain connected to their own lives.
Education & Training
Master of Science in Business Management and Leadership
WHAT IS A CERTIFIED GRIEF EDUCATOR?
A Certified Grief Educator is committed to providing the highest level of grief support through education, experience, and insights into the often unacknowledged rocky terrain of grief.
Certified Grief Educators completed a certificate program designed by world-renowned grief expert, David Kessler. They bring his unique methodology, tools, and decades of experience to help people navigate the challenges of grief.
Official description provided by David Kessler Training.
ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Transformation Academy
Transformation Life Coach
Self-Care Life Coach
Life Purpose Coach
Confidence Life Coach
Meditation Coach
A GENTLE PLACE TO BEGIN
You do not have to figure what comes next alone.
The Present Again Check-In will help you pause, notice what has changed, and choose one manageable next step. If you are looking for ongoing connection, you can also join the Rebuilding Her Community waitlist.
Certified Grief Educator
Supporting bereaved mothers as they rebuild life after loss at their own pace.
© 2026 Paula P. Griffith. All rights reserved.