Bereavement program has ripple effects
Taped inside Sgt. Travis Brunner’s duty vest is a little fleece “Feelie Heart.”
He’s carried the pocket-sized symbol of comfort throughout his 16-year career at King County Sheriff’s Office and for 14 years on top of that — ever since his brother Ryan passed away at age 12.
Remembering Ryan
Following that tragic loss, Brunner’s parents brought him to Bridges Center for Grieving
Ryan left the world too soon at age 12.
Children at age 10.
Bridges aims to be a safe place for children ages 4 to 18 to grieve as they grow. Support services like peer groups and youth bereavement camp are offered at no cost to families, thanks to donations through Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation.
Reflecting on his Bridges experience, Brunner remembers learning how even after death, the person lives on with their loved ones.
“I still recall that first Christmas — making Christmas ornaments and doing things around specific holidays to help solidify that,” he shares. “They’re gone, but they’re still in your memories. They’re still with you.”
Connecting with community
The Bridges program also gifted Brunner with his Feelie Heart, providing something tangible for him to hold onto in his grief. Today, he uses it as a connection point with the community he serves.
“It shows the human side of us in law enforcement,” Brunner explains. “We do have the same raw emotions around tragedy that everybody else does.” In fact, he frequently reaches out to Bridges for additional Feelie Hearts to pass on to the public and share about their available resources. 
“Recently we had a tragic fatality accident in my district,” Brunner says. “A community was impacted, as well as three families where three children died on scene and so did one of the mothers.
“In that wreck, I’ve kind of grown a little bit with the family, and I shared my testament to them, gave them the hearts and told them about Bridges,” he continues. “All three families have surviving children, and knowing where to get help was a relief.”
A testament of donor impact
Bridges has served over 12,000 children from more than 6,100 families since 1988, helping them process, cope and heal. From day one, these vital services have been free because of community generosity.
“Thirty years later, I’m a testament to those donors,” Brunner says. “Still to this day I carry that heart, and I still provide guidance to families at work. I have a true and deep appreciation for all of them.”
