Classmate’s sudden death hits hard

Rockford, IL, students process their grief with help of K-9 Comfort Dog

When a fellow classmate who has sat next to you every day in school is suddenly no longer there, the hole he leaves in the school and the community feels hollow and heavy. In moments like this, words can feel small. How do you express such grief and loss?

For the students at Jefferson High School in Rockford, IL, the teens working through their classmate’s death were able to sit with their feelings and receive spiritual comfort by grief teams and Comfort Dogs the day after he died.

Aaron Johnson, 17, attended The Quad, a part of Jefferson High School where students can develop skills for future career paths. Bridget French, executive director of the program, said she hoped the dogs’ presence could provide a sense of comfort and peace to the students as they try to process this heartbreaking loss in a world that may already feel uncertain and overwhelming.

The four Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs and their handlers — Samson (Zion – Marengo, IL) with Barb and Eric Warmbold; Mary (St. Paul – Janesville, WI) with Gary and Judy Sullivan; Believe (Brookfield – Brookfield, WI) with Jeff and Kari Yesko, and Rejoice (Brookfield – Brookfield, WI) with Denise Skelly — were grateful to be with the students and staff during such a difficult time.

“It was a good feeling to be here for the administration as they struggled to steer the students through this tragedy as well as possible, and for the students who struggled to grasp what happened,” Skelly said.

The teenager will be remembered for his kind heart, his sense of humor, his intelligence, his outgoing personality, and the love he had for the people and animals around him. “Aaron had a way of making people feel cared for and he will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him,” his obituary read.
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The Lord’s spirit was reflected in how the Comfort Dog teams cared for the students and staff and especially shown through the Wisconsin teams who drove far from their own communities to help this grieving school.

“We pray that God’s peace would surround all who are grieving and remind them that they are never alone,” said Rejoice on her Facebook page.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.