Carrie is a mother of two: Colin is a vivacious and loving eight year old, and Courtney, an angel that left this world all too soon. Carrie and her husband, Patrick moved up to Flagstaff in 2004 after her husband was offered a promotion within his company Sysco Foods of Arizona. Moreover, Carrie decided to pursue a Master’s in Counseling. She graduated in May of 2006 from Northern Arizona University.

Prior, to her arrival to MISS, she completed her undergraduate degree at ASU in Communications.

Carrie, Patrick, and Colin lost Courtney on December 22, 2002. The holidays have definitely had new meaning. Courtney’s death was sudden, unexpected, and like many similar tragedies unbelievable. The autopsy revealed tracheal bronchitis/blocked airways. Courtney was 18 months old. The heartache and torment of not being able to hold their baby anymore was the worst nightmare to ever come true. Carrie loved tickling and kissing her daughter’s little feet as Courtney smiled and laughed. That is a sound a parents yearn to hear. Now there is an irreplaceable silence. However, there is faith and hope that someday-somewhere her laugh will be heard again. At the hospital, Carrie was given information that led her to the only light after such a dark tragedy…The MISS Foundation.

Carrie and her family joined MISS a month or two after Courtney’s death. In the fragile and most vulnerable time of their lives, they realized it takes great love and courage to face such a frightening journey. More importantly, they were not alone on their passage. After a few months of going to MISS, and with extensive personal and professional counseling, Carrie also got involved with Catholic Social Services, offering her support and working with other parents who had lost children. She worked with diverse age groups (parents who lost infants to losing adult children). She has gained her strength and determination through education, working with others, and listening to what others have experienced. Most of all, strength comes by honoring the memory of her dear Courtney. If you ask her she will tell you Courtney is her driving force. “I would not be the person I am today, if it was not for my daughter.”

At first, there was no one who could grasp her grief and disbelief. No one that had actually gone through what she was encountering. The support was there but not the understanding. There became a lost connection to a world that once was. Then, she came to MISS and met Joanne with nothing to offer but grief, pain, hopelessness, and heartache. MISS honored and welcomed her family’s broken heart. She made new friends and relationships with individuals/parents who knew what it was like to be in her shoes. Together they all walk this journey.

Carrie and her good friend Tanja Loveday will be co-facilitating up in the high country. These two happen to meet by buying homes next to each other, and finding out that they were in the same program at NAU together. Fate? Both have become close-good friends (as well as their boys Colin 8, Tristan 10). Also, MOST IMPORTANTLY they want to reach out to the Northern community and offer help to those who have experienced the loss of a child. They believe NO ONE should ever be alone.

Carrie@missfoundation.org