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PARENT GRIEF
SUPPORT GROUP
What to Expect From Our Grief Groups
Losing a child to a substance use disorder can be lonely, isolating, and painful. LITT is here for you.
After speaking with a leader from our team, members are placed in a group to meet bi-weekly by Zoom. The intention behind these meetings is to discuss our grief, share memories of our children, and support one another.
Group leaders are also available for one-on-one confidential conversations and support.

There is no fee to join any of our group. LITT highly respects the privacy and confidentiality of our grief group members. Your information will never be shared outside of the organization.
Meet Our Group Leaders
Lisa Bertucci lost her son, Alex, on July 16, 2016, to an accidental overdose of heroin laced with fentanyl. He was 24 years old. Lisa, her husband, daughter, and large extended family did their best to support Alex as he fought his illness. They were devastated by their loss, knowing that Alex deeply wanted a life in recovery.
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Three years after the loss of Alex, Lisa started her work with LITT as a grief group leader. Lisa believes that if something good can come from something so tragic, it is most certainly the people she has met along the way.
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Lisa Bertucci is a Certified Grief Educator.
Sarah Sartipy lost her son, Bijan, on October 11, 2019, to a fentanyl overdose. He was 21 years old. The five years preceding Bijan’s death were chaotic and tumultuous for his parents and sister. Bijan’s addiction ravaged the family emotionally, financially, and spiritually. Sarah joined the LITT grief group not long after losing Bijan where she found a safe place to share and process the trauma around addiction and grief.
Sarah considers the parents in LITT an extended family and a soft place during the hardest times. She lives in Baltimore with her partner, daughter, and two dogs. As a grief group leader, she finds meaning in helping other parents navigate this painful journey.
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Sarah Sartipy is a Certified Grief Educator.
Lisa Filer lost her son, Aidan, on July 22, 2020 to fentanyl poisoning. Aidan was 22 years old. Lisa and Aidan’s dad struggled for years helping Aidan deal with his mental health issues and subsequent substance use disorder. Aidan completed his third rehab in 2020 and passed away six weeks later. Lisa, Aidan’s dad, and his older brother will always be devastated by their loss. For Lisa, the year following the loss of her son was one of confusion and soul searching. Eventually, Lisa returned home to Maryland and found LITT to be the community of parents she needed to process what had happened to her son and her family.
Lisa wants to help others process their loss through sharing and connecting. She believes that no one should be alone through this difficult journey and that through education and communication we can recognize that the sons and daughters we have lost to this illness were so much more than their disease. We can move forward and help destigmatize substance use disorder.
Kristin Seeberger lives in Baltimore, where she writes and leads grief support groups for parents
who have lost children to overdose. Her son James was 20, living in Portland, Oregon, when he
died unexpectedly in June 2020. His struggle with substances began as a teenager—primarily
benzodiazepines and Xanax. The stress of the COVID pandemic intensified his addiction, but
James reached out for help in the weeks before his death. Kristin holds onto his intention to
seek treatment and, above all, the enduring love between them.
After James died, Kristin found the LITT community—or perhaps it found her. Through evenings
spent sharing and listening to stories of loss and love, Kristin discovered that she was not alone.
The LITT community became a place where her grief could breathe. She deeply believes in its
transformative power: a space that is unassuming, nonjudgmental, and fueled by acts of
remembrance and connection.
Kristin recently completed an MFA at Bennington Writing Seminars. Her work centers on grief
and what remains after loss, exploring how writing and the natural world can create an
'elsewhere space' for healing. She co-leads the Grief and Love retreat in Sweden, using creative
practices to process and transform grief. Kristin is a certified grief educator with credentials
from David Kessler and Claire Bidwell Smith and offers one-to-one support for grieving parents.
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Maryrose Gans lost her son, David, on January 16, 2019, to fentanyl poisoning. David was 30 years old. He made his parents and brother aware of his addiction to opioids three years before his death. They loved and supported him throughout his journey, which was not hard, since there was so much about him to love. He signed himself up and attended several inpatient and outpatient rehabs. David hated his addiction. He relapsed and overdosed after months of sobriety.
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When Maryrose joined LITT to grieve her son’s loss, she formed some incredibly special relationships. Through them, she learned that life goes on even after such a tragic loss. Maryrose wants to help others navigating their grief and is leading a group of parents who are further along the grief journey. We all agree that our children were so much more than their disease.
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Daniel Ledesma lost his son, Oscar, on February 3, 2022, to an accidental fentanyl overdose. He was 17 years old. Oscar had dealt with anxiety issues during his early teen years. The Covid years were actually positive for him removing peer pressure and allowing him time to focus on his mental health. He returned to school for his senior year and joined a new group of friends who introduced serious illegal drugs to his life. As a family all gathered around him to help Oscar focus on changing his surroundings, graduating early and registering him for college. He attended his first substance support group, then tragically overdosed only hours later that evening.
Daniel was devastated and lost as a father for months. A dear friend, Robbie, saw Daniel’s desperation to find healing and peace. He researched parent support groups online and found LITT. The parent support group led by Lisa Filer was a turning point in his healing. After 6 months and with LITT in need of additional leaders to support new parents, he volunteered to lead a group for the organization. Daniel wants to support other parents through a community and “safe place” his group can provide. He recognizes a new grieving parent needs multiple resources and time to heal and process their tragedy. He is also very focused on raising awareness of the dangers of fentanyl with other teens and parents.
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Sandra Issa lost her 18-year-old son, MJ, on August 28, 2021 to an accidental fentanyl overdose. The previous year and a half had been challenging as MJ's growing addiction began to wreak havoc on family life. His substance use disorder stemmed, in part, from attempts to self-medicate after receiving multiple concussions while playing football. The family rallied and hired an interventionist in June who convinced MJ to go to a rehab facility. However, as he was 18 years old, MJ was able to check himself out after a handful of days. He died a month and a half later.
Sandra processed her grief on her own for over a year but discovered LITT after her daughter suggested she look for a support group. Within the confines of the LITT group, Sandra found a community with which she could share the sometimes messy complexities of loss and grief. As a LITT group leader, Sandra wants to help others process their grief in a safe space in a community with an abundance of honesty, warmth and support.
Prema Paxton lost her 20-year-old son, Lance, on April 30, 2022, to an accidental fentanyl overdose. Lance dealt with PTSD from a childhood trauma and at times took medication for anxiety. Embarked on a six-month visit from Sweden to California to see family and friends after covid, he was optimistic and looking forward to beginning his university applications. After a trip to the gym, he bought a fake fentanyl-laced “Percocet” pill from a friend of a friend, asking if it was a real prescription and being assured that it was. Lance took it, went to sleep that night and never woke up.
Prema’s family, including Lance’s four siblings and two step-siblings, gathered in California for a soulful ‘Celebration of Life’. As a family they set the intention to live life going forward in honor of Lance. This event brought all of them closer together and the love and support carried Prema back to Sweden. But once home she felt the full force of her grief. She soon found LITT, and it has been an oasis in the fire of her grief. She is grateful to have found a community across the globe that understands the unbearable heartbreaking open pain of loss, and the immense love that is experienced in the longing for our children. Prema also attends LITT’s support group for parents of those with a child active in their addiction or in recovery and received invaluable support for her eldest son now in recovery. She teaches gentle yoga internationally for love & loss, online, and leads rejuvenating yoga retreats in the Swedish countryside where she lives.
Prema is honored to be part of the LITT family as a grief group leader and yoga teacher. For her, it is an opportunity to give back and bear witness to the unbearable grief and profound love that we have for our children. She offers her service in honor of Lance and for all our beautiful children, and shares Lance's story on social media as part of her commitment to raising awareness of fentanyl poisoning.
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Dori Moreno-Korn lost her daughter Mia, on March 20, 2022, to an accidental overdose of a lethal mix that included fentanyl. Mia was 23 years old. She had been in recovery for three months before she relapsed and died.
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Mia battled with anxiety and an eating disorder, and eventually a substance use disorder. She was an artist and musician who traveled her last few years with her mandolin, busking, camping, and jumping on freight trains, always documenting her life in photographs along the way; the beauty, the hardship, and everything in between. She was vocal about her struggles and sought recovery several times.
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Dori came to LITT six months after Mia passed in search of a supportive group of parents who had experienced a similarly tragic loss. Within LITT she has found a place to safely process the emotions that evolve through grief and a community that welcomes the celebration of who Mia was. Dori is especially moved by the way LITT gives parents the opportunity to say their children’s names and tell their stories as often as they like.
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Lisa Rapuano lost her 26 year-old son, Nate, on June 6, 2023. He was alone in his apartment in San Francisco and was using cocaine laced with a fatal dose of fentanyl. Nate had struggled with substances, mostly alcohol, for years. After his father and Lisa’s husband of 27 years died unexpectedly in 2020, Nate self-medicated his grief and trauma, but eventually chose a recovery program in 2021. He worked very hard, got a graduate degree and appeared to be thriving. At the time of his death, he was working at a great job and seemed happy and independent. The sudden and shocking loss was unexpected.
Lisa and her husband raised Nate and his two younger sisters in Baltimore, where she still lives with her partner, dog, and cat, (except in ski season when she teaches little kids to ski in Utah). Lisa found LITT through a friend of a friend and soon learned there is a silent community of those who have suffered similar losses in every walk of life, many stalled in their healing due to lack of support. She joined a grief group almost immediately after Nate’s death and found it helpful to relate to others in similar situations as she continues to move through her grief. Lisa became a group leader to share the healing power of this experience as widely as possible.
Charlotte Starfire lost her son, Janaka Jaya, to fentanyl poisoning on March 11, 2023. He was 37 years old. Janaka Jaya, was Charlotte’s only child, and he endured ADD, depression, and anxiety since childhood, all of which may have led to a bio-chemical brain disorder resulting in SUD and ultimately the loss of his life.
Charlotte has navigated her deep grief by way of her meditation practice, yoga (she is also a 500-hour Yoga instructor) and with the support of her LITT support group. As a Grief Group Leader, she now shifts her focus to leading parents with the same compassion she felt from her original LITT family and by drawing on her mindfulness training as well as her lived experience.
Charlotte is a Certified Grief Educator
Kelly Gill lost her son, Randy, to an accidental fentanyl overdose on March 9, 2019. Kelly and her family worked together to support and love Randy as he struggled to fight an overwhelming battle. There is comfort for them all in the knowledge that Randy knew he was deeply loved.
Kelly is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Love In The Trenches. Her passion to lead LITT's mission is fueled by a determination to eradicate the shame and implicit bias around SUD and to promote healing through LITT’s support groups, harm reduction efforts and ongoing education.
As a grief group leader, Kelly strives to be a loving reflection of support for parents as they work through the profound grief of having lost a child to SUD.
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Charity Kiesel lost her son, Elvis, on April 7, 2022, to a counterfeit pill made mostly of fentanyl. He was just 18 years old. Elvis struggled with anxiety and began to self-medicate in his early teens. Despite his challenges, he showed remarkable courage by seeking help through rehab programs and therapy. His family was always encouraging and supportive. Losing Elvis was a tragedy for all who loved him, leaving a profound void in their lives. Elvis was a vibrant and funny young man who cherished spending time with his family and their beloved dogs.
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Shortly after Elvis’ death, Charity joined a LITT support group, where she found invaluable support and connection with others who have experienced the loss of a child with substance use disorder. Charity shares Elvis’ story to raise awareness about the dangers of counterfeit drugs and the opioid crisis, while also highlighting the importance of mental health support.
Angela McDougal lost her precious son Jack to fentanyl poisoning on August 7th 2023. Jack was 23 years old. Jack was a competitive hockey player, playing across the nation and in Canada. At age 15, Jack needed shoulder surgery that went horribly wrong resulting in a 3 month stay at Stanford’s Children’s Hospital. After multiple subsequent surgeries and daily IV pain medication, the family eventually realized Jack had become addicted to the pain medicine. He was in and out of multiple rehabs between the age of 19-23. Jack struggled with his sobriety, but always remained loving to his family Angela (mom), Jerry (dad) and older sisters, Nicole (28) and Gracie (27). He will always be remembered by them as a smart, kind and gentle man.
Angela describes LITT as a life preserver being tossed to her as she drowned in an ocean of loss and sorrow. The support she received from her group leader, Daniel Ledesma, and other wonderful parents in her grief support group helped her navigate life after an unimaginable tragedy. Jack was always helping those around him and Angela is honored to follow in his footsteps.
Leah Gallant lost her daughter, Charlotte, on November 12, 2022 to fentanyl poisoning. She was 19 years old. Charlotte and her boyfriend went on the app Telegram to find a dealer for ketamine. The dealer misrepresented fentanyl as ketamine. Fentanyl took Charlotte's life and left her boyfriend physically disabled.
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Leah knew she would need help dealing with the crushing grief of losing a child. LITT was one of several support groups she reached out to for help. As a self-described “reserved person”, Leah was desperate to connect with others who understood her grief. Her LITT group and leader, Daniel, provided her with that connection. Leah is now offering support to other parents who need the very connection she was in search of for herself.
Leah lives in Tennessee with her husband, Thomas. A mother of four, her oldest daughter, Taylor (28), lives in Pensacola, Florida and sons Clay (23), and Greyson (14) live in Tennessee. Her daughter Charlotte, forever 19, lives on in her family's heart.
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Christy Mitchell lost her daughter, Maria, on August 25, 2024 to a fentanyl overdose. Maria was 20 years old and had just completed a 15 month in residential treatment program the month prior to her overdose. Despite having an amazing, loving care team and sober network, she succumbed to the mental illness of anxiety, depression and substance use disorder.
Having been an active member of the parent support group where Maria was under treatment, Christy deeply understood that being present in a group helps to prevent a parent's isolation, shame, or guilt. After her daughter’s passing, Christy knew she needed to find a similar type of peer group to support her and found Love in the Trenches. Her LITT parent grief group provided a community of parents who understood the loss of a child and where they could come together to process their grief.
As a LITT grief group leader, Christy wants to offer hope, compassion, and support for others as they navigate their grief journey and volunteers her time in honor of Maria. Maria, her burst of sunshine, her compassionate and witty daughter that will always be remembered.
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Phyllis Peavey’s heart is forever marked by the loss of her son, Kyle, who tragically died at 26 from fentanyl poisoning in November 2023. Kyle’s struggles began early, at just sixteen, when he self-medicated to cope with the relentless pain of feeling like he never quite fit in. The weight of his mental health issues and a growing substance use disorder became overwhelming, especially after the death of his father from cancer when Kyle was nineteen. Grief compounded by his escalating substance use pushed Kyle into a tumultuous battle with addiction. Despite the hardships, he fought hard—admitting himself to eight rehabs, seeking sober living, and trying medication-assisted treatment—ever hopeful for a cure or relief.
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Kyle’s road was fraught with setbacks. After a brief stint in jail for a probation violation, he was determined to turn things around and return to sober living. Yet, just seven days later, fentanyl-laced drugs took his life. Through it all, Phyllis never lost sight of the good man inside her son. She supported him tirelessly, holding onto hope and love even in the darkest moments.
Living in Michigan with her two cats, Phyllis is committed to being a voice for Kyle and others affected by substance use disorder. Her mission is to help other parents navigate this deeply painful grief, foster understanding, and advocate for removing the stigma surrounding addiction. She believes in the power of compassion and education to change lives, ensuring Kyle’s story is a beacon of hope and awareness in the fight against this devastating disease.
Kelley Regan lost her son, Shane, at the age of 23 on March 18, 2024. He spent years cycling between recovery and relapse. Shane was loved and supported by family and friends. He was self-medicating because of anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD; generally using alcohol and benzodiazepines to cope. This led to many chaotic years coping with Shane’s SUD, car accidents, jail, and probation. He completed recovery programs 3 times, which would be successful for a while. However, in the spring of 2024, he died from fentanyl poisoning after using cocaine that was laced with fentanyl.
She found LITT one day after Shane’s death because she knew she would need support from other parents who experienced a similar situation. A year and a half later, it has been a truly remarkable experience. Kelley has found that the understanding and non-judgmental nature of the grief support group has been healing.
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Cathy McClintock lost her daughter, Hilary, on November 17, 2024, to an overdose of prescription medication. She was 40 years old. Hilary was a vibrant, compassionate, and quick-witted woman who filled every room with light, laughter, and love. She had struggled with mental illness for a long time and the challenges of finding healthy ways to cope. Despite her courage and her efforts, Hilary’s passing left an immeasurable void in the lives of those who loved her.
In the months after Hilary’s death, Cathy joined Love In The Trenches (LITT), where she found a safe and understanding space among others who shared the profound pain of losing a child. Through connection and shared compassion, Cathy began the difficult work of grief—learning to live alongside loss rather than trying to move past it.
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Now, as a Group Leader with LITT, Cathy is committed to supporting others as they navigate their own grief journeys. She continues to honor Hilary’s memory by fostering openness, empathy, and healing within the LITT community, helping other parents know that while the pain of loss never disappears, none of us have to walk through it alone.
Join Our Grief Support Group
LITT respects the privacy and confidentiality of its support group members. For this reason, we prefer to touch base with those considering attending prior to joining one of our groups.
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