Gina Nuzzo's Validation with her son River through Lisa Wilcoxson
Posted
-
- Oct
- 19
- 2026
by Elizabeth Boisson
I had the opportunity to attend a gallery reading with Lisa Wilcoxson through Helping Parents Heal in Phoenix.
I wasn’t sure if my son, River, would come through, but he did. And the experience was incredibly affirming and comforting.
Right before leaving for the reading, I felt called to drop a specific stone in my purse. One of the first things Lisa asked was, “Did anyone drop something special in their purse before coming?” I was amazed.
She described seeing a bunch of paper clips and anxiety filling the body. I recently left a domestic violence situation that involved an enormous amount of evidence, paperwork, and paper clips, during a season filled with so much anxiety.
She asked about rocks, which was especially meaningful. During my last months with River, we would sit by the lake together, organizing rocks and throwing them into the water. I have photos of him carefully organizing his little collections.
Lisa also described seeing River wearing shirts with symbols or images that he might not have fully understood because they were more adult in nature. This was an incredibly specific connection because River, at just 2½ years old, often wore band T-shirts, including the Ramones. It was such a sweet and unexpected detail that felt so uniquely him.
She brought up making a bear and walking on tiptoes. It wasn’t until afterward that I remembered my daughter, Sky, had just made a Shrinky Dink bear at camp, and my youngest son, Indy, my youngest pranced around on his tiptoes.
She also brought up reading a chapter book, which was wild to me. My children are 3 and 5, so our bedtime routine has always consisted of picture books. But just a few days before the reading, I had started reading my own chapter book aloud to them. My daughter specifically called it a “chapter book” and asked if we could continue doing that together.
Lisa also mentioned a colony of ants. In the moment, I couldn’t make the connection, but afterward I remembered that last year we had thousands of ants coming into our courtyard. I had never thought of River through those little visitors before, but it made me wonder.
One of the most impactful moments was when Lisa began rubbing her tummy. At first, I felt hesitant to share that River had passed from a medical condition involving his tummy. But something moved me to say it out loud.
She also described seeing River sitting in my lap, and she returned to that image more than once. River was still nursing when he passed, and my lap was exactly where he so often was. It was one of the most familiar and intimate places we shared.
The accuracy and specificity of Lisa’s reading were simply incredible. Some things resonated immediately, while others unfolded in the moments afterward as I began making connections.
More than anything, I left feeling such a beautiful sense of comfort and affirmation. To feel River’s presence, to recognize these little pieces of our lives, and to feel that he was right there with us was an extraordinary gift.
I’m so grateful to Lisa and Helping Parents Heal for creating a space where we can continue to feel connected to our children and the love that never leaves us.
~Gina Nuzzo
Please watch the YouTube video by clicking here.
- Lori Burke's Validation with her son Kevin and her daughter MaryEllen through Shelly Wilson
- View All