Komen: Bereavement Center Helps Families Cope With Loss

MIAMI (CBS4) -- When a woman dies of breast cancer, her family is often left with devastating grief and finding help to cope with the loss may be even harder. But there's a place in Miami that helps families pick up the pieces, and they do it for free.

"Grief is an adjustment process. It's a healthy process and it needs time," explains Dr. Mindy Cassel of the Children's Bereavement Center.

Dr. Cassel has been running the Children's Bereavement Center for 13-years. It's a place where people who have lost someone dear to them can meet with others their own age to talk about their feelings.

"We don't do counseling. We don't have an agenda. We don't tell people what topics they're going to deal with. Their agenda is our agenda," said Dr. Cassel.

After years of successfully helping young children, her non-profit organization realized there were more people to help.

"Whether you're a 4-year old or you're a 40-year old, it's really important to have others around you who are going through what you're going through," explained Dr. Cassel.

For that reason, the Center started the Lift from Loss group for adults like Angelique Millis.

"We're going to fight this, we're going to get this, we tried everything we could," said Millis referring to her attitude while her mother battled breast cancer. Sadly, Angelique's mom Vicky died of breast cancer a year ago.

The loss left a huge void in her life.

"She was like my number one cheerleader," said Millis. "It took me about 5 months to really reach out to anyone."

When Angelique finally did reach out to the Children's Bereavement Center and the Lift from Loss group, she found people who felt a lot like she did.

"I remember driving home on the way, after, the first group, and being like, 'Wow, I wish I would have done this so much sooner'."

Many participants feel the same way.

"They start out as victims. They leave as helpers. They're there helping others and that's very empowering," said Dr. Cassel.