Jillian Heilman

This statue was created by an artist who lost a child. August is National Grief Awareness Month, and for me, this month is about more than simply talking about grief. It is about talking about Halle. For a long time, I wasn't always sure what to say when people asked about her. Saying that my daughter died felt dark and daunting. I worried about making other people uncomfortable, and I didn't know if I was ready to face my own grief. Sometimes it just felt easier to avoid the conversation...

When a community comes together with a shared purpose, incredible things happen. Earlier this year, Lindsey joined us on the Strength Happens Podcast to share an ambitious dream: the FELI Class of 2026 had selected a community project to raise funds for an inclusive playground at Autism Inspired Academy (AIA) in Clearwater, Florida. Their goal was simple but powerful: to create a space where every student could play, grow, and belong. Today, we're thrilled to celebrate that dream becoming a...

B getting a breathing treatment after their double pneumonia diagnosis on New Year's Day. There are some moments in life that never leave you. For me, one of those moments happened in the middle of the night on New Year's Day. Our baby, B, was just eight months old at the time. It was around 1:00 a.m. when I noticed something wasn't right. I heard grunting over the baby monitor. I ran to the nursery. B was burning up and struggling to breathe. I called the nurse line, trying to explain what I...