A grief support group for mothers who have lost children, or for those in the community seeking support, has been organized by a faith community nurse in Boyd County, Kentucky.
The group, called “Hope While We Wait,” meets once a month, but more often if necessary. Founder Brigitte Carroll, a registered nurse and faith community nurse, has been involved with community-based support grounds for over 12 years. She received her FCN training from the WVU School of Nursing roughly a year ago.
“As a nurse, I encounter and interact with a lot of people,” she said. “Most everyone I come in contact with is hurting in some way, physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, etc. During the busy workday, I don't always get the opportunity to focus on the deeper needs of clients. As a FCN, I recognize these needs and volunteer in the community I live in to offer more help, education, and hope to those hurting.”
Carroll has a master's degree in nursing education and is a nurse educator at St. Mary's School of Nursing in Huntington, West Virginia. She also volunteers as a nurse at Legacy Ashland Church for Send Relief/Love Well once a week. With this organization, evening meals, clothing, snacks, Bible study, prayer, and nursing services are provided to individuals experiencing homelessness and underserved clients. Carroll checks blood sugar levels, blood pressures, and makes referrals to other agencies as needed.
Carroll strongly believes that faith community nursing is important, and that other nurses should pursue it. Carroll is currently working on starting a grief support group at Legacy Ashland Church and she will be leading Griefshare starting in August 2026.
“The work that Brigitte is doing in her community speaks to her advocates heart, and advocacy is the core of our beloved nursing profession,” said Dr. Angel Smothers, Associate Dean for Community Engagement at the WVU School of Nursing.
Funding for this work has been made possible through the Pallottine Foundation of Huntington. If a nurse is interested in taking the training, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Smothers at asmothers@hsc.wvu.edu. Scholarship support is available for nurses in counties supported by this foundation.
-WVU-
sm/8/3/2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu