Hope and Connection at Dustin's Place

Dr. Adame writes a regular column in the Culver Citizen.

On the October 16th issue, she wrote about hope and connection at Dustin's Place.

You can read the content of the article below.

As a pediatrician, I’ve been honored to walk with families through some of their most difficult journeys. Every doctor remembers their first patient death. Mine came during my internship in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. An eight-year-old girl came in with septic shock. Despite the best efforts of top PICU faculty in the country, she died.

She left behind parents and a sister just two years older. Over 20 years later, I still think about that family.

• What was their last car ride home from the hospital like?

• Did they eat dinner that night?

• How long before her sister returned to school?

• Do they still think of her every single day?
  
  These questions stay with me.

Childhood Grief in Indiana

According to the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM), 1 in 10 Indiana children will lose a parent or sibling before age 18. That’s more than 150,000 Hoosier children—a number that jumps to 355,000 by age 25.

The death of a loved one is an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) that can have lasting effects, including:

• Decline in school performance

• Higher risk for mental health struggles

• Even early death
  
  Most grieving children report that emotional support fades within just three months—long before healing begins.

In Marshall County, we are fortunate to have Dustin’s Place, a nonprofit offering hope and connection for grieving children and their families.

This fall,Dustin’s Place moved into anew, expanded facility at Lifeplex designed to better meet community needs. With comforting, age-specific spaces, it’s a haven for young people and their families navigating loss.

Their services are completelyfree and include:

• Peer Grief Support Nights

• School-Based Groups

• Acute Crisis Grief Support
  
  Using the respected Dougy Center model ,Dustin’s Place ensures each child can grieve at their own pace, surrounded by understanding peers and supportive adults.

You’re Invited: Annual Gala – November 14th, 2025

In support of advancing the mission that no one grieves alone, Dustin’s Place will host its Annual Giving Hope Gala on Friday, November 14th atFour Winds Casino in South Bend.

The evening will feature:

• Stories from Dustin's Place families

• A silent auction and dinner

• Live music and dancing with Blammo
  

  All proceeds go directly to providing grief support for local children.
  
  Grief is not something kids simply “get over.” It’s not a disease to be cured. But with the right support, they can find space to live with loss—and grow with it.
  
  To donate, get involved, or register for the gala, visit:
  www.dustinsplace.org

Would you like to learn more about Culver Peds services?

Explore our Services page to learn the ways we can support your family's healing journey.