Matt Wallace Explains How Restorative Getaways Support Grieving Families in HelloNation

The article explores how time away can give families space for rest, remembrance, and connection after losing a child.

MADISON, Wis., Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- How can families cope with grief after losing a child? A HelloNation article featuring insights from Matt Wallace with Nevaeh's Rae of Hope in Madison, Wisconsin, explains how a restorative getaway can provide time for families to grieve, remember, reconnect, and spend meaningful time together.

The article explains that losing a child changes family life while everyday responsibilities continue. Parents and siblings may experience sadness, anger, confusion, or numbness while still managing work, school, bills, meals, and other needs. Time away from these demands can give family members an opportunity to slow down and focus on one another.

According to the article, a restorative getaway provides that opportunity in a different setting. Families can rest, talk, and spend time together without following the same busy schedule they face at home. The experience is not intended to make grief disappear, but rather to create space for family grief support without expectations about how each person should respond.

The article explains that every family member may experience child loss grief differently. One parent may want to talk frequently about the child, while another person may need quiet time before sharing memories. Children and teens may also respond in their own ways. A supportive grief experience gives each person room to process emotions at a pace that feels natural.

A change in routine can also encourage family connection through simple experiences. Families may share meals, take walks, sit near the water, or spend a quiet afternoon together. The article notes that family connection does not always require a serious conversation about grief. Ordinary moments together can become meaningful during a difficult time.

The article also addresses moments of laughter and enjoyment that may happen during a trip. Child loss grief can involve many emotions, and experiencing happiness does not mean a family has forgotten the child they lost. Families can continue remembering their child while also making new memories through shared experiences.

Practical assistance can make these opportunities more accessible. The article describes how Nevaeh's Rae of Hope provides fully funded trips to Florida for families after the loss of a child, covering travel, lodging, and other trip expenses. A fully funded family trip can remove financial concerns that might otherwise prevent a family from taking time away.

The Florida setting can also provide a temporary change from places closely connected with a family's loss. Home may contain meaningful memories along with painful reminders. The article explains that spending time somewhere different can offer a short change of pace while allowing families to continue carrying those memories with them.

The article emphasizes that a restorative getaway is different from grief counseling or therapy and does not replace professional care when it is needed. Instead, it offers another form of family grief support through privacy, rest, and shared time. A supportive grief experience can include sadness, comfort, remembrance, laughter, and quiet moments without requiring grief to follow a particular path.

The article concludes that grief after losing a child can remain part of family life for many years. A restorative getaway cannot change that loss, but it can provide time away from everyday demands. Through a fully funded family trip, opportunities for family connection, and space for remembrance, families can spend meaningful time together while continuing to navigate child loss grief.

What a Restorative Getaway Offers Grieving Families features insights from Matt Wallace of Madison, Wisconsin, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America's Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative "edvertising" approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation