Affiliate Leader Focus: Beth Newkirk & Wendy Saffel, Affiliate Leaders of Helping Parents Heal - Seattle

Our May Affiliate Leader Focus shines on two wonderful moms who lead the HPH–Seattle Affiliate Group.

They offer both in-person and Zoom meetings, creating a supportive and loving space for parents. Those in their community are deeply grateful for all that Beth and Wendy do. 

Beth Newkirk:

I am a mother to three beautiful children, Erin forever 21, Steven forever 8, and Grant who is my baby at 29.

I was introduced to Helping Parents Heal through a reading I had with Tina Powers in 2012. When my reading ended she shared with me the names of two of her friends, Mark Ireland, and Elizabeth Boisson. They co-founded a group called, Helping Parents Heal in the Phoenix area. Whenever visiting Phoenix I would attend meetings. I was inspired seeing so many shining light parents thriving. I knew Seattle needed an affiliate group. For me it was the connection to other parents. We would meet in my home, go for coffee, and have guest speakers.

As time went on the group started to fizzle, then the pandemic….to be honest I am technology deficient, and ZOOM was not going to do it for me. Out of the blue I received a message from a parent wanting to meet for lunch. Within the first minute of meeting my now co-affiliate leader, Wendy Saffel, I knew HPH -Seattle was back and stronger than ever.

I have been on this journey for more than 25 years; through the years my grief has softened.

I love connecting with newer parents, they have taught me to slow down and appreciate the signs my kids send me.

~Beth Newkirk, Co-Affiliate Leader of HPH – Seattle

Wendy Saffel: 

Hello from Seattle! I’m so honored to co-lead the Helping Parents Heal group here, along with the wonderful and inspiring Beth Newkirk.

Just like you, I found myself on a journey I never expected or wanted to go on when my 20-year-old son.

Hugh passed from fentanyl poisoning in an accidental drug overdose — right at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. My boy Hugh lived with the beautiful spark and energy of a fireworks display, which he shone on all who knew him, and then all went suddenly dark in my life.

Each of us finds our own unique way through this. After having some profound and unexpected spiritual experiences with Hugh early on, my science- and fact-based background propelled me on a yearslong journey to understand what happens when we die, what and where the afterlife is, and how my relationship with Hugh can continue. I dove deep into the science of the survival of consciousness and what quantum physics tells us about the greater reality; I trained as a medium to see if afterlife communication is real (it so is); and I developed the tools to communicate with my son. It all showed me, with great evidence, that Hugh never went anywhere but here.

After I proved to myself that a continued relationship with my child is real and true and beautiful and sacred, the greatest joy now is just in experiencing Hugh and the signs he works so hard to show me. I now know that he has full sight of my life and walks with me, leading me on the path to my best self.

My journey to healing has shown me that joy can co-exist with grief and I’m committed to being happy, healthy, and purpose-filled because I know Hugh is watching and wants that for me.

Even though we all have our unique paths, there is one thing in common: we need the support of other people, and in turn, to extend our hand to help others. Helping Parents Heal is such an incredible and beautiful organization with so many superb resources on the website; hopeful, healing sessions with the gifted HPH providers; a treasure trove of videos on the HPH YouTube channel, and Caring Listeners available whenever you really need to talk to someone. The local meetings are a wonderful way to connect with other parents who know exactly what you’re going through, and to have the joys of talking about our children. We always, always love doing that! If there’s not a group in your area for in-person meetups, you can join any meeting online. There are many ways to connect and lift each other up.

I send you much love and hope for the peace that healing brings.

If interested, I share my path to healing—with tips and resources—in my book Never Really Left: Grief, Healing, and a Mother’s Unexpected Relationship with Her Departed Son.

~Wendy Saffel, Co-Affiliate Leader, Helping Parents Heal – Seattle
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