My name is Rob Hauser and I’ve been a proud Kate’s Club Buddy and Ambassador since 2019.  This is my story of how I got involved with Kate’s Club and how it’s impacted me and my grief journey.

As my recovery journey began, I was tasked with writing my father a letter, who died when I was 5. This proved to be the most emotionally challenging work. It took me weeks to gather the courage to write simple words to him.  Unmanaged grief had followed me my entire life up to this point.  

While in treatment, I saw a CNN’s Hero segment that inspired me. It featured Imagine Centers For Coping With Grief, in New Jersey. And how the children of the program were navigating their grief, something I had never done. I called them to get involved. 

They led me to Kate’s Club. Even though I was in the thick of processing my own grief and confronting suppressed feelings, I needed to be a part of something that was bigger than me and my struggles. So I began taking the hour trip to the Clubhouse from sober living until I moved to Atlanta in 2020.

My first clubhouse solidified my commitment as I recognized myself in these children. The Welcome Circle is such a difficult and powerful experience. I was envious of their emotional maturity as they shared who the person was that died in their life. Their ability to verbally express their grief is something I knew I had to continue to be a part of and support in any capacity I could. The work these kids do, that feels more like play, is remarkable.  And although I recognize that I am truly valued as a Buddy, it only continues to heal that 5 year old in me who is now able to say out loud that “my name is Rob, and my dad died”.