Remembering Dec 1
Grief is a mysterious thing. A loss like ours settles over you in a way that feels as if it changes you forever. It stays at the front of your mind, and yet—contradictorily—you’re blindsided by the shock all over again in the rare moments you forget they’re gone.
Still, we search for the good. Sometimes that’s all we can do. And of all the beautiful rays of light Natalie radiated, her ability to push forward in the darkness is the one we hold onto most tightly today.
Today marks two years since the calls that shattered our world. Two years since we sat in a hospital room hearing updates filled with hope, only to have that hope slowly stripped away. Conversations that felt like they were spoken in a foreign language. Organ donation. Funeral plans. Music. The sound of machines. Holding her hand and never wanting to let go.
It is only because Nat was so vocal, so bold, and so unwavering in her desire to make the world better that we’re able to keep going. We know—deeply and certainly—that this is what she wanted. So we move forward. Through pain, joy, tears, and triumphs, we keep choosing to LOVE LIKE NAT.
If you would like to help carry on Natalie’s mission, please consider contributing to the Love Like Nat Foundation.
LOVE LIKE NAT: Bridging Stabilization to Lasting Recovery
The unofficial campaign “Love Like Nat” began on December 1, 2023—the day we said goodbye to a beautiful soul who touched the lives of so many. At memorials, it is often said that the person being honored lit up every room, was a friend to all, or had the brightest smile. While such words can sometimes feel cliché, they carry a deeper truth: everyone is someone’s brightest light, kindest soul, and most beautiful smile. That belief is the heart of the Love Like Nat Foundation —a reminder that every person has inherent worth because they are deeply loved by someone.
Each of us carries a past that shapes our sense of worth, safety, love, trust, and belonging. No one chooses the weight of addiction or the struggles of mental illness. These are not sudden decisions but deeply personal journeys, often rooted in experiences of trauma, pain, and survival. Natalie’s story reminds us of this truth.