How the Nguyen Family Found Hope
One morning in April, 2022, Van Nguyen opened her door to a police officer, whose emotionless words— “I need to tell you your son is dead”—changed her life forever.
Nathan, just 18, died in a tragic car accident after his senior prom. Van and her three-year-old daughter, Phoebe, were devastated. The goofy, kind-hearted boy they adored would never again walk through the door. Their lives were shattered.
While Van was surrounded by a loving community of friends and family, she felt isolated in her grief. She was sure nobody understood the despair that consumed her.
That fall, Van suffered a stroke. Her doctors said her heart had been so weakened by her grief it nearly gave out. Diagnosed with “broken heart syndrome”, Van realized she needed help not only for her own sake, but for her daughter.
“I wanted to stop living. But I knew I had to make a change for Phoebe.”
When a family friend suggested Calm Waters, Van’s first priority was Phoebe. Nathan had always made Phoebe feel special and important, she didn’t know where her adoring big brother had gone. She was sad and confused, constantly crying for him. With her therapist, Phoebe opened up about Nathan and her grief.
Phoebe’s transformation was incredible. Van watched with relief as she started talking about Nathan again—telling stories of their adventures together. Today, Phoebe is a confident (and sassy!) five-year-old who has found joy in the memories of her big brother.
Calm Waters exists to serve families like Van and Phoebe, ensuring they do not grieve alone.
Seeing the impact Calm Waters had on Phoebe, Van joined a grief support group with other parents who had lost a child.
At first, she felt apprehensive. How could she share her grief with strangers? But in that group, Van found a community of parents who understood her pain. The first session was hard—her chest tightened as she cried with the others—but when it ended, she felt something she hadn’t in months: hope.
“At Calm Waters, surrounded by other parents who had lost a child, I felt alive again.”
Van and Phoebe will always miss Nathan, but they know it is okay to live a full, robust life. Van no longer feels guilty for moments of joy, she has gratitude for the happy moments. She can look back on memories and photos with Nathan, laughing about his antics and smiling at the four-foot height difference between him and his sidekick little sister.
At Calm Waters, we rely on generous donors like you to eliminate barriers & provide FREE mental health support to grieving families, just like Van and Phoebe.
Your gift of $150 allows a family to begin their healing journey. Your donation will directly impact a grieving child and help them heal and find hope again.
Thank you for supporting Calm Waters!