29. Charlie’s Guys: a wee boy’s death brings gifts to grieving siblings

Hear from a mother who , after the death of her precious toddler, Charlie, channeled her energy into giving to other families experiencing a similar loss. Extraordinary. Kjerstin Davies is a southern California native, raising her family in Colorado. She has always had a heart for children. Formerly, Kjerstin was an event planner and later, a child educator. Before she had any of her own she was a court appointed special advocate for foster kids for many years. She is the co-founder of Charlie's Guys, a nonprofit she runs for bereaved siblings.
It all started with Charlie and his brother. Charlie was born 21 months after his brother, creating a close brotherly bond that they both cherished. Things they enjoyed most were playing with their transformers, pretending to be transformers, digging for dinosaur bones, playing hide-and-seek, and swimming together.

One morning when Charlie was all but 23 months old, he passed away in his sleep. While the founders didn't know it at the time, Charlie had contracted a virus that compromised his body and left him with no symptoms until it became fatal.

Terrified to begin this journey, they were showered with love and compassion in the form of gifts, clothes, books, and experiences. Even their unborn daughter (due two months after Charlie passed) was showered with gifts. This generosity made their pain more manageable and they were able to see love in the midst of their loss.

This organization is born out of all the generosity they received. Now they want to give back to those who are also changed by this type of tragedy. You can find more at www.charliesguys.org, on Instagram and FB.