"I miss my Dad. They say he's better now that he's in heaven but I can't play footy with him anymore."

"I miss my Dad. They say he's better now that he's in heaven but I can't play footy with him anymore."

Rhys is six years old and has lived much of his life with his Nan. His Dad died recently after a long struggle with drugs. Rhys loved spending time with his Dad and had always hoped there would be a time when they could live together like a “normal family”. His Nan is trying to stay strong and positive for Rhys buy she hasn't had the chance to deal with her own grief over the death of her son. Rhys has not been back to school yet as his Nan is unsure how to tell the school that Rhys’ Dad died from drugs. She is afraid that the stigma associated with drug use will affect the way the teachers respond to her and Rhys. She wants Rhys to remain proud of his Dad and retain memories of the happy times they spent together. She worries about the hurtful things that children may say if they know the truth. Mirabel is helping Rhys and his Nan to make sense of their loss and look towards a positive future. A specialist education worker will help Rhys’ Nan to talk to the school and ensure he is supported by his teachers. In time, Rhys will attend Mirabel’s Therapeutic Groups for boys where he will meet other boys who share a similar past. He will be given the opportunity to talk openly about his Dad while experiencing the joys that childhood can bring.