In conjunction with school counselors and teachers, The Grief Heroes donations provide students with age-appropriate grief workbooks that help them understand grief and cope with difficult emotions.
In conjunction with school counselors and teachers, The Grief Heroes donations provide students with age-appropriate grief workbooks that help them understand grief and cope with difficult emotions.
In conjunction with school counselors and teachers, The Grief Heroes donations provide students with age-appropriate grief workbooks that help them understand grief and cope with difficult emotions.
Empowering Grieving Youth Through
Education, Music & The Arts
Our History
From Cancer Survivor to Advocate
- A Mother's Journey
Life's journey often brings obstacles we never anticipated, moments that feel almost unbearable. Yet, it's these tests of resilience that shape us, molding our strengths and pushing us towards paths we never imagined.
For me, surviving stage 3 colon cancer and becoming an advocate for grieving children was one of those unexpected turns, leading to a mission I never saw coming: helping grieving children and families find hope and healing.
What began as a mother's mission, has grown into a global team effort
Since 2011 with the support of countless volunteers, healthcare providers and educators, our and book donations have 25,000 across Denmark, Norway, Sweden the Faroe Islands, England, and the US.
The experiences gained through collaborations with hospitals, schools, and sponsors worldwide now form the foundation for the work we continue today under
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While my journey sparked the beginning, this is only part of the story
As a teenager, I tragically lost my beloved 11-year old cousin in a devastating car accident. This event shattered my perception of life's predictability, exposing me to the profound struggles faced by grieving parents and siblings, and became a cornerstone in the journey ahead.
I learned from a young age that I wasn't afraid to talk about death and grief, but little did I know how much these important yet difficult topics would be a part of my life.
I Lost My Friends
In October 2006, just days after celebrating my son's second birthday, I faced a pivotal moment in my life with a diagnosis of stage three colon cancer. This experience tested my strength and resilience, leading me to discover a depth of courage I never knew I possessed. This transformative journey marked the beginning of my mission to help others navigate critical illness and give back to the community.
Living in the uncertainty of the unknown, I faced my fears and embraced each day to the fullest, one step at a time.
When my friend Hanna passed away, I became the sole survivor of six friends who had been close during our battles with cancer. I was deeply involved in three of my friends' final moments, sitting by their bedside and striving to create a loving and peaceful atmosphere.
These experiences taught me two significant lessons: the importance of loved ones creating a peaceful and dignified environment for those nearing the end of life, and the need for grief tools for children and teenagers, a resource that was lacking.
In 2010, my family and I took a leap of faith and moved continents for a new beginning. During one of my morning walks, I clearly knew what to do moving forward.
A journey of passion, life purpose, and resilience began.
2004: Seven months pregnant and unaware of the cancer tumor that had already started growing inside my colon
Bringing Peace to Final Moments:
The AngelKIT Journey
Randie and I became close friends when we were both hospitalized after cancer surgeries. She passed away a year later in that same hospital. I realized how sterile and noisy hospitals can be, so I brought items to create a more peaceful environment. It's what I would have wanted for myself. A few years later, I created AngelKIT, inspired by what I used in Randie's last moments. With help from local volunteers, we spray-painted angels and assembled the first 300 kits in our Florida garage. My dad became one of the first recipients and passed away peacefully in a hospice in Denmark, surrounded by angels and calming music. Today, more than 25,000 families worldwide have either received an AngelKIT or been supported by one, providing comfort in their time of need.
2011: One of the first prototypes of
the AngelKIT.
Super Dog ZAM
a tale of hope & empowerment
My youngest son Andy embarked on my mission when he was seven years old. He had sadly lost his friend Noah to brain cancer. Andy went upstairs to his room and began writing aiming to bring comfort to Noah's grieving sister.
I vividly remember the morning when Andy revealed his book to me. As I read through the pages, I asked him "Did dad help you write it?" and he replied, "No, Mom, I wrote it in secret, because I really want to bring it to school and give it to Noah s sister".
The day arrived when Andy could bring copies of the book to school, and his teacher encouraged him to read it out loud to his peers. The heartwarming response from his classmates showcased the impact of the story. Later he read the book for all the other classes at school as well. The teachers appreciated the book donations, recognizing it''s value in supporting grieving students and initiating discussions in the classroom on how to support a grieving friend. It was clear to me, that easy accessible tools for teachers to help grieving students was urgently needed.
We printed Andy's book in 5000 copies and assembled ZAM's GIFT donations for hospitalized children. We received invitations to go to Denmark and speak in front of patients and healthcare professionals. We brought two suitcases of donations for the hospitals to distribute. The media got hold of the story, and Andy was interviewed by multiple news outlets which caused countless people to call us, and showed the need for the grief resources. We couldn't provide for everyone in need, just the opportunity to make a difference one child at a time.
Simultaneously, Andy also served as a guest lecturer at Stetson University, where we taught classes on the art of dying, inspired by one of my self help books. I was immensely proud of his courage to stand in front of an audience and share a child's perspective on grief along with his suggestions on how we could support children. A lot of times we had calls from families who needed guidance, and Andy would be attending the online calls to give his input from a child perspective.
Children truly are gifted and more resilient that we give them credit for, and despite the heavy topics, my son learned to talk about life's most difficult issues, giving him the life skills support peers and co workers effected by trauma, grief and loss of loved ones.
In 2013, Susan and Andy Binau embarked on incredible journey to Denmark spreading joy by donating the amazing book "Super Dog ZAM to hospitalized children!
2015: Launching the Super dog ZAM Grief Series
The Super Dog ZAM Grief Workbooks
In 2014, the journey of the Super Dog ZAM's Grief series for children began, with my role as a co-facilitator for a children's grief group at a local church. It presented a challenge as we lacked proper grief tools and had to rely on improvisation.
The program director expressed the struggle in finding age-appropriate grief resources online, spar a new initiative. I wanted to provide the grief workbooks we, which led me to embark on research and development, using Super Dog ZAM as a key character in the books.
I invited a group of children, facilitated by Andy, to help gather their input. Before the books were published, I received valuable feedback from teachers and child psychologists.
Introduction to the Super Dog ZAM Grief Series
Wings of Love Fundraiser
& Book Launch
In 2015, we unveiled the Wings Of Love Fundraiser and book launch as a beacon of hope for local families facing adversity. The special occasion was dedicated to supporting families in need, including a dear friend battling stage four breast cancer and a family coping with the loss of a child. We recognized the profound tool that critical illness and loss can take on families, both emotionally and financially. Only those who have walked this path can truly comprehend the challenges they face. Amidst the backdrop, the vent came to live when The Super Dog Zam made a grande entrance on a motorcycle, enchanting children and guest.
The unwavering support of the local Montessori School and it's talented students added a touch of magic to the event, showcasing dedication to caring for families in need. was amazing, and supportive and had their students perform on drums. Showing our families that we care, brought many tears, and although we felt we needed to do so much more, doing something always count.
ZAM with his creator, Andy Binau (11), on the day he arrived in Florida.
ZAM is a frequent participant at charity events, birthdays and school visits, continuing to bring smiles to children's faces.
Turning Setbacks into Strength
From health crisis to Serenity Academy Creation
In 2016, I faced a health setback that led to emergency surgery due to a nearly fatal bowel obstruction. The surgeon told me I was lucky, because apparently I had so many scar tissues from my cancer surgery. During my recovery, I felt a strong desire to be of service, and initiated the creation of Serenity Academy, an online course featuring inspiration videos and resources for those facing -end of-life challenges and caregivers.
The course content were derived from my books "The art of dying" & "The Parent's Guide". The next two years, I collaborated with individuals in need of such resources to test and refine the content. The work is ongoing, and my ultimate vision is to have the courses available on a portal accessible in Hospitals and Hospices nationwide.
In this TV interview I share the story
behind Serenity Academy
The Grief Heroes Foundation
In 2019 I founded the Grief Heroes Foundation with Andy and my partners. In a local news paper Andy shared his motivation for joining the cause. He expressed, "When my mom asked for my help, I was fully committed. Andy., who is fortunate to have parents who both survived cancer, felt compelled to give back to less fortunate children. At fifteen years old, he spearheaded our first donation project. "We engaged with communities where we shared our mission, and I reached out to people in my network to gather feedback and explore how we could assist. Teenagers, teachers, and school counselors responded positively. Recognizing the need for grief resources, we developed the Grief Heroes Kits.
During COVID-19, we connected with Emily, Kloebbel, a teacher in Putnam school district in Oklahoma We discovered that teachers lacked tools to help grieving students,, and school counselor often operated at a $100 budget per year to support traumatized children. This realization fueled our commitment to provide assistance.
We translated our workbooks into Spanish and Italian to expand our reach and conducted online seminars to educate teachers and counselors on effective methods to utilize our grief tools. We also facilitated brainstorming sessions with educators to develop the best strategy for the logistical distribution of our donations.
Andy became a spokes person in the media during COVID-19, discussing topics such as coping with grieving teenagers during the pandemic. He was interviewed on TV, radio and podcast in the US and Canada
Join Us in Making a Difference
- Whether through donating, becoming an ambassador, sharing your story, or offering support, join us in bringing hope and healing to grieving children.
As we look into the future, we appeal to sponsors, corporate partners and individuals to join us in our mission.
While I have self financed all endeavors up to this point, I need others to support our cause and take it to the next level. Our dedicated team are prepared to create a digital platform with tools and books, and we have a strategy for how we can implement free grief support nationwide in collaboration with schools and organizations. Together, we can make a lasting impact and leave a meaningful footprint in this world. Please reach out to us today to be a part of something truly significant.
Thank you for reading and your time,
With love
Susan Binau & Team Grief Heroes
