Grief is a journey that changes us forever. For me, it began in 2018 when I lost my son, Preston Bailey Hancock, at just 28 years old in a tragic vehicle accident. In those first days, weeks, and months, I wasn’t sure how I would make it through the next minute, let alone the rest of my life. A huge piece of my heart was missing. But while I was drowning in my grief, I knew I had to keep my family together—my other three boys needed me as they faced their own grief. I understood their struggle because I, too, had been a forgotten mourner after losing my brother in 1985. That experience taught me how dangerous it can be to ignore or push away grief.
During the early stages of mourning Preston, I unknowingly began a journey that would touch lives across the world. It started with something small: a few handmade charms. I created ten charms on simple business cards, each adorned with beads and trinkets, to give to family members during a celebration of life for my dad, mom, and Preston. At the time, I never imagined how far those little charms would go or how they would lead me to connect with so many people.
As I made more charms and began sharing them with others, one charm found its way into the hands of Hogan Hilling, an author who had also lost his son. Our shared experience of grief sparked something powerful, and together, we decided to tell our stories. This July, our book “Preston’s Charm: A Charming, Healthy, and Empathic Approach to Grief” will be published. In the book, I share my personal journey through the trials of loss—how I navigated the heartbreak and learned to move forward, even when I knew the grief would never completely go away. The book also includes Hogan’s story, as well as testimonies from others who found comfort and connection through Preston’s Charms.
The work I do now is deeply personal and healing. Through my website, www.prestonscharm.com, I create custom charms to honor loved ones who are no longer with us. Each charm is designed to reflect who they were—their hobbies, their favorite things, their spirit. I print, laminate, and attach the beads, jewelry, and trinkets to keep their memory alive. I also offer our book as a resource for anyone struggling to move forward with their grief. Soon, we’ll be launching T-shirts and other items, continuing to find ways to help others honor their loved ones.
Grief is not something we “get over.” It’s raw, messy, and a part of us every day. It isn’t just about death—it’s about the loss of dreams, the future we imagined, and the moments we’ll never have. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, no deadline for when it should end. We all walk this path differently, and that’s okay. What matters most is patience, empathy, and allowing ourselves to heal in our own time.
For those of us who have experienced loss, grief can teach us to listen to our hearts and grow. It’s a chance to honor those we’ve lost by living differently—by finding ways to serve others, keeping their memory alive, and putting ourselves back together, piece by piece. We may never feel whole again, but we can learn to live, love, and carry our loved ones with us in everything we do.
I hope my journey can inspire others to connect through their grief and find a way forward. If you’re navigating this path, know you are not alone. Whether it’s through creating charms, reading our book, or simply sharing stories, I believe we can all keep the memory of our loved ones alive while finding new ways to live.
Final Note: If you’d like a charm to honor someone special or need resources to help on your grief journey, visit www.prestonscharm.com. Remember, healing takes time—but with patience, compassion, and connection, we can move forward, keeping love alive.
With love,
Bridget Bagley
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