Heartfelt Haywood

06/19/2026

Some history on how children’s grief programs got started…

Happy birthday to Dougy Center Founder, Bev Chappell!

Dougy Center’s roots began when Elisabeth Kübler-Ross asked Bev to check in on a boy named Dougy who was sent to OHSU, a hospital in Portland, for treatment for an inoperable brain tumor. Bev and her husband Allan, a pediatrician, had become friends with Elisabeth after attending her lectures.

At age 13, Dougy started corresponding with Elisabeth, knowing she was a key person in the dying and death field. He wanted to know why people wouldn’t talk to him about the fact that he was dying. In his brief time at OHSU, he made an indelible mark with staff and kids his age, encouraging them to share their hopes, dreams, and fears.

Their time with Dougy inspired Bev and Allan to open their home to families who were anticipating the death of a family member, or who had a family member die. From that first small meeting in their home in 1981, Dougy Center has grown into the leading U.S. peer grief support center in the field, with more than 500 programs across the country and around the world based on The Dougy Center Model.

We truly appreciate all Bev has done for grieving children and families!

06/19/2026

A model in the United States that got the children’s Grief movement started!

Executive Director, Brennan Wood, was on AM Extra talking about our new Westside expansion coming in 2027! We are so excited to share this with our community and thank you KOIN AM Extra for your support of children and families who are grieving! Watch the full segment here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTomUA0V3aU&t=14s

06/18/2026

Come join us tonight!

05/21/2026

We can’t wait to see you at our next Healing Hearts half-day camp 💜

Let us know your favorite moment or memory if you’ve attended in the past, we’d love to hear what you loved most!

04/28/2026

Just a reminder to mark your calendars!

04/28/2026

No one in Haywood County should live, grieve, or die alone. Swipe to see how we’re doing something about it. →

Join us May 28th for an intimate community dinner conversation. Spots are limited — link in bio to RSVP.

04/22/2026

Want to make a difference in Haywood County, North Carolina?

Here are 3 ways to support folks moving through grief and caretakers in our community right now.

Plus — following, sharing, and commenting on this post are free ways to show your support, too 💛

03/16/2026

Please come to the next movie for our Heartfelt Haywood movie nights. Please note there is a change of venue. We are at Wells Event Center in Downtown Waynesville.

The movie, Timbuktu, is gracefully assembled and ultimately very disquieting. Individual and societal loss and grief, all with tragic consequences, come together in this powerful film with a very timely message. The film won’t tell you what to believe or think but will lead you to your own conclusions. At just about an hour and half, you don’t want to miss this film!

Pre- and post film discussion.

We hope to see you there.

01/29/2026

🎬 Very Sad Movie Nights
(sad, yes — but thoughtful, tender, and worth watching together)

Join us for our February Very Sad Movie Nights screening, featuring The Son’s Room, an intimate Italian film about family, grief, and the slow, uneven path toward healing after loss.

📅 Wednesday, February 11
⏰ 6:30 PM
📍 Wells Events & Reception Center
33 Wells Event Way, Waynesville, NC

Directed by Nanni Moretti, The Son’s Room offers a quiet, deeply human look at how a family copes when the unthinkable happens — and how meaning and connection can reemerge over time. The film will be followed by a relaxed, guided discussion led by Dr. Cristina Francescon. Light refreshments provided.

These monthly movie nights are about gathering gently around hard topics — no pressure to share, just space to reflect.

🎟️ Free and open to the community
🌐 heartfelthaywood.org

With gratitude to Wells Events & Reception Center for hosting and the Haywood Health Foundation for funding this series.

01/27/2026

Due to the extreme cold here in Western North Carolina, we made the decision to postpone our Community Forum—because caring for one another starts with safety.

We’re grateful to share a new date and we hope you’ll join us:

🗓 Thursday, February 26
⏰ 5:30–7:00 PM
📍 33 Wells Events Way, Waynesville, NC
✨ Registration is open again (link in bio).

This Community Forum is for anyone who feels called to help build a culture where no one dies alone, no one grieves alone, and caregivers are supported and valued. Whether you’re a caregiver, a griever, a health professional, or simply someone who believes in showing up for one another—you belong here.

A meal will be provided, and we would love to gather with you. 💛

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post.
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