Hope After Heartbreak: A Look Back At 2017's Stories Of Courage

As journalists, we are all too often summoned to write the stories that break hearts and bring tears. Stories of unspeakable loss too gaping to grasp, as mothers and fathers, families, lose beloved children and loved ones to the raging opioid epidemic, horrific accidents, devastating suicides and other terrible tragedies.

But somehow, some way, there are brave individuals who rise from the depths of unfathomable despair and devote their lives to helping others in a myriad of ways, raising awareness and funds to change boating laws and legislation, helping those in need in our hometowns in memory of a beloved daughter or son, shattering the stigma of addiction and suicide.

These are the stories of hope after heartbreak, of men and women who have found themselves living with pain almost impossible to bear — and yet, together, they have found a way to find hope and help others, so that no other family ever has to endure the nightmare they've experienced.

This is dedicated to the heroes in our communities who work every day to find hope in the most heartbreaking of tragedies. Together, all of you are making a difference.

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Patch photo courtesy Drew Scott.