THEY ASK ANYONE WITH
INFORMATION ON HER MURDER TO
CALL CRIME STOPPERS AT 305-471-
TIPS. IN NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE,
MARYBEL RODRIGUEZ, CBS4 NEWS.
NOW, WE AT CBS4 ARE
COMMITTED TO BRINGING STORIES
ABOUT WHY MENTORING MATTERS.
THE TOPIC OF DEATH CAN BE
AWKWARD AND OVERWHELMING AND
FOR MANY OF US, THE PAIN OF
LOSING A LOVED ONE CAN BE
UNBEARABLE.
AS YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE,
CONNECTING WITH SOMEONE WHO
KNOWS YOUR GRIEF CAN BE A
LIFESAVER.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE WORD
HOPE MEANT UNTIL THE DOCTOR
SAID THERE WAS NONE TOO THERE
WAS NONE.
REPORTER: HIGH SCHOOL CAN BE
TOUGH.
JACKSON HAS AN EXTRA CHALLENGE.
HE NAVIGATES THE TEEN YEARS
WITHOUT HIS MOM, WHO DIED OF
CANCER, LAST YEAR.
I LOST MY MOTHER IN 2015 AND
MY FATHER -- YOU KNOW -- WE
HAVE RELATIVES AND GREAT FANS
THAT SUPPORT US THROUGH
EVERYTHING.
WE WERE LOOKING FOR PERSPECTIVE
AND FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO THAT
UNDERSTOOD GRIEF AND WHAT IT'S
LIKE TO LOSE A FAMILY MEMBER.
REPORTER: WHEN JACKSON LOST
HIS MOTHER, REBECCA, HE
WOULDN'T TALK TO ANYONE ABOUT
IT.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, HE FOUND THE
WORDS.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HOPE WAS
AND THEN I SAW MY MOM SMILE.
REPORTER: AND HIS FATHER
CREDIT THE ABILITY TO TALK
ABOUT IT TO THE MENTORSHIP AND
SUPPORT HE RECEIVED AT THE
CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT CENTER,
WHERE HE COMES ONCE A WEEK TO
FIND COMFORT IN PEERS THAT KNOW
FIRSTHAND THE GRIEF AND LOSS HE
EXPERIENCES EVERY DAY.
FACILITATORS ASK OPEN-ENDED
QUESTIONS AND EVERYONE
INTRODUCES HIMSELF AND THE
QUESTION WILL BE LIKE -- IF YOU
HAD A FIVE-MINUTE PHONE CALL
WITH THE PERSON YOU LOST, WHAT
WOULD YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT?
REPORTER: ONE OF HIS
SUPPORTERS LIVES WITH HIS PAIN.
BRENT IS A TEEN MENTOR.
YOU COULD FEEL LIKE YOU
DIDN'T HAVE TO TRY OR DO
ANYTHING, OR EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T
TALK ABOUT IT, YOU KNEW YOU
WERE THERE FOR THE SAME
PURPOSE.
SHE DECIDED TO GIVE BACK AND
COMFORT OTHERS.
IT IS A PERFECT THING FOR ME
TO DO.
I LOVE IT AND COME EVERY OTHER
WEEK AS FACILITATOR.
I GET SO MUCH OUT OF IT, EVEN
14 YEARS AFTER MY MOM'S DEATH.
I GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT EVERY
TIME.
IT GIVES ME A LOT OF HOPE.
REPORTER: SHE DOESN'T HAVE
ALL THE ANSWERS, BUT SHE KNOWS
HOW TO LISTEN AND TO SUPPORT
THESE TEENS.
YOU WILL BE OKAY.
YOU WILL HAVE BAD DAYS, BUT
MANY MORE GOOD DAYS AND YOU
HAVE TO KEEP GOING.
WHOMEVER THAT PERSON WAS THAT
YOU LOST, THEY ARE PROUD OF YOU
AND WANT YOU TO DO THE BEST YOU
CAN.
REPORTER: OVER THE LAST YEAR
WITH HIS HELP AND HEARING
OTHERS WHO UNDERSTAND, HE HAS
GOTTEN HIS LIFE BACK ON TRACK,
PULL UP HIS GRADES AND MAKE
PLANS FOR COLLEGE.
I KNOW THAT I DON'T HAVE TO
BE DOWN RIGHT NOW.
EVEN IF I AM, IT'S OKAY.
I KNOW BOB WOULD WANT ME TO BE
HAPPY BUT.
REPORTER: THE CHILDREN'S
BEREAVEMENT CENTER HOSTS GROUPS
IN DOZENS OF MEETING PLACES IN
BROWARD AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.
ANYONE CAN FIND SUPPORT AND
HAVE A CONVERSATION AND TO
LISTEN.
IT'S FREE AND FACILITATED BY
VOLUNTEERS AND THEY ARE LOOKING
FOR MORE HELP. VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT CBSMIAMI.COM.
I'M GLAD WE DID THE STORY.
WE TALK ABOUT MENTORS HELPING
WITH CAREERS AND SCHOOL.
IT MAKES SENSE THAT SOMEONE
GOING THROUGH A MAJOR LOSS
WOULD ALSO NEED A MENTOR, A
DIFFERENT KIND OF MENTOR.
IT'S DEVASTATING AND A LOT
OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW A RESOURCE
LIKE THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM.
THEY KNOW NOW.