Author turns grief into book, plans to donate profits to Valley Medical Center

Published 1:51 pm Friday, October 17, 2014

Even though Jennifer Westby’s mom died in 2009, she can still remember what she looked like, sounded like and how she laughed. Her memories are vivid because of the legacy career that sprouted from the tragedy of her mother’s death.

Roberta, Jennifer’s mom, had a brain hemorrhage and died six days later at Valley Medical Center. That same year, turning grief into something positive, Jennifer wrote a book, “Six Days of Kindness, Grieving with Love and Purpose,” inspired by her mother’s kindness and the kindness she received from the community and Valley Medical when her mother passed.

Now, Jennifer wants to donate $60,000 to Valley Medical Center from her future book sales to return that kindness. Valley wrote off Roberta’s medical expenses as she didn’t have any medical insurance at the time of her death.

Friends, family and hospital staff showed kindness and thoughtful support for Jennifer and her two brothers, Kyle and Ryan, and sister Valerie during their ordeal.

“So the book is now going back to the kindness that was started by my mom’s legacy and at the hospital and giving back to the hospital that was so kind to my mom,” said Jennifer.

Roberta was known for her acts of kindness. She would often do little things like pay for people’s coffee in front of her or behind her in line at coffee shops. On the website for her book, Jennifer describes her mother as hilarious, strong and positive.

“She was the type of person who could be in Hallmark, down the card aisle just dying of laughter because she was having so much fun,” said Jennifer.

Taking from her mom’s acts of kindness, Jennifer’s book centers on performing acts of kindness every month for six days, between Oct. 19 and 24. For her first act of kindness, she bought a man’s coffee at the Lakewood Forza, following the incident there where four police officers were killed.

Jennifer wasn’t sure if she should go to the coffee shop at the time, but was reassured by the 911 operator, who took the barista’s call that day. The operator posted on Jennifer’s Facebook fan page when Jennifer asked for a sign as to whether or not she should go. Her other acts of kindness have included making cash donations to various causes and giving people money for groceries.

Jennifer, who used to suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, said she’s learned a lot through grief she wants to pass on to others.

“It made me realize how much I wanted to do something to make an impact in my mom’s honor, but also to show my kids and keep my mom in our lives,” she said.

Jennifer is just starting to sell her self-published book. Since she wrote, “Six Days of Kindness,” she has also started a grief makeover business to help those who have lost someone to death or divorce. Her support team of stylists, photographers and counselors transform the grieving person in three to six months and check-in after that time. Jennifer realizes there is no set timeline for healing from a loss, but says it’s a way for a person to start the process.

“It’s a complete makeover, but it’s a makeover on the inside as well,” she said. “We’re helping people grow themselves, develop themselves personally in honor of that person or situation,” she said.

Jennifer gets nominations for grief makeovers from all across the country and has taken two people so far through the process. Currently, she has five to six people in the works.

“I’ve learned so much from grief and while it’s not fun and it’s horrible,” she said. “Depending upon whether you’ve lost somebody or through a divorce or something, there’s always a nugget of information to learn about yourself to make yourself better.”

To learn more about Jennifer’s book and grief makeovers, visit her website at www.jenniferwestby.com.