Special Reports

(WCCO) A long tight, hug is a very personal and deeply emotional moment for Robin and Steven Woodwick. They're standing on something called the "Bridge of Hope". It's surrounded by dozens of heart-shaped stones which have been painted and placed with care to represent children who left this world too soon.

One stone says Reed played football, he was number 75. Sophia is gone. A family misses their little moose.

Drew, the son they called the "Red Thread", is in their thoughts about every hour of every day. The Woodwick's lost Drew shortly after his 17th birthday. He was on the way to football practice.

"He collided with a semi and there was just nothing they could do," said his mother Robin Woodwick.

That was three years ago and the Woodwick's life would never be the same.

"That first year particularly was a struggle a lot I don't even remember. It just hard getting up in the morning, it was hard breathing sometimes," Robin Woodwick said.

The pain will never go away, but this place helped to make it bearable. Faith's Lodge is a beautiful 12,000 square foot retreat on 80 acres in northern Wisconsin.

It's the dream of Mark and Susan Lacek, who wanted grieving parents to know they don't have to journey down a dark path alone.

"It feels so wonderful to be around people who get what you're going through and who understand and people who can be there for one another," declared Susan Lacek.

The Lacek's do understand. They bought the land and started the foundation that built the lodge.

Faith isn't just something that helped the Laceks through the worst time in their lives, Faith was their baby girl.

It was a nature retreat that also helped the Laceks heal after Faith's death. That's why they designed a path of inspiration through the woods with encouraging sayings. There are several balconies, all with breathtaking views, and a spacious up north feel.

"All of the common spaces actually have really beautiful views of the lake," Susan Lacek said. She wanted the water to be calming.

A playroom is available for families who attend the lodge with children. Guests can take part in group programs with professionals or reflect by themselves in one of eight beautiful suites.

Susan and Mark Lacek really put some thought into the design.

"It was really important to us when we were designing these rooms that they feel very comfortable and very cozy and private for people," Susan Lacek said.

It's also a place for families like the Doebberts. They're daughter Sophia has a life-limiting illness called SMA, or spinal muscular atrophy. This summer Sophia and other children with SMA spent a weekend at Faith Lodge's creating beautiful memories doing things most of us take for granted, like sitting around a campfire.

"We were all together and our kids could spend time together socializing and yet we still could maintain our home routine and the kids could drive everywhere. All three floors of Faith's Lodge was accessible and that was just a beautiful thing," said Sophia's mother Andrea Doebbert.

The SMA families were just grateful to have others to talk to who share their common experiences and special challenges.

"To get another father's perspective on how they're handling this was very refreshing and therapeutic and so wonderful," said Sophia's father Doug Doebbert.

Faith's Lodge is a place of reflection and healing, not sadness.

The Woodwick's planned to visit just one day but stayed four days. Finally, they found a place to help them move through grief.

Most of us are fortunate. We'll never completely understand how important Faith's Lodge is to those who really need it.

"It really impacted us very deeply and we both felt closer when we left. Also, I think in many ways felt even closer to Drew too," Robin Woodwick said.

 

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