The Great Grief Quest: Volunteer Spotlight: Valerie & Phillip Shane
When Brandon Shane died from COVID-19 in June of 2021, it made headlines. A Springfield News-Leader headline announced, “Brandon Shane, leader of popular VisionCon events, dies at 31 from COVID complications.” Brandon was well known in the comic book, sci-fi, and fantasy fan worlds for leading the local Comic-Con-style festival. “He was a nerd, God […]
The Loss of a Brother & A Best Friend
When I was 17, my older brother Luke died from complications of epilepsy. His death was sudden and unexpected. He was only 20 years old. I watched my parents, once so steady and reliable, disintegrate into puddles of life’s most intense emotions. Within months, I became unwillingly familiar with the truth that “there is nothing worse than losing a child.” Thankfully, my family was surrounded by a […]