Dougy Center

Listen to episode 326 of Grief Out Loud to hear Jana's conversation with Susie and Nick Shaw.

When Susie and Nick Shaw’s nine-year-old son William died in a skiing accident, their world shifted permanently. In the six years since that day, they've found ways to carry their grief and stay connected to William while continuing to honor the boy who inspired so much good in their lives and in their community.

In this deeply moving conversation, Susie and Nick reflect on William’s life—his empathy, his humor, and the motto he created for himself the year before he died: “Be Yourself.” A simple but powerful phrase that inspired their nonprofit, William’s Be Yourself Challenge.
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of child death, trauma, and detailed descriptions of the day William died.

Whether you’re a parent or a caregiver who's grieving, a supporter of one, or someone walking alongside a family coping with heartbreaking grief, this conversation highlights the power of honesty, connection, and intentional grief work.

A parent’s grief for a child is so profound that words don’t feel adequate. We may often feel it’s easier to avoid the topic altogether. This, Susie Shaw says, is exactly what not to do. She talked to "Modern Love" about the death of her son William and how to show up for a grieving parent. https://nyti.ms/4pezAeb

Thank you Bridge to Kids for being dedicated to increasing awareness about the importance of supporting children and families through grief through the Bridge to Kids Pro-am 2026 golf tournament. Because of your generosity of $100,000, more families will know they do not have to navigate loss alone. Support at this level has an outsized effect — helping ensure that children, teens, young adults, and their caregivers can continue to access grief support without barriers, at a time when compassionate community matters most.

Special thanks to the Bridge to Kids team, and especially Erik Krieger, Aalok Shah and Anne Turchi, who played such a huge role in bringing this even to life and including Dougy Center in the process.

Thank you to Erin Phillips who expertly and professionally planned countless details with professionalism, responsiveness, and steadfast commitment every step of the way.

We are incredibly honored to have been included in this golf tournament event and cannot wait to see how Bridge to Kids continues to grow this meaningful tradition in the years ahead!