March 17, 2017 started out like any other day for Kimberly Verner, her husband of 24 years, Dwayne, and their seven children. It ended in sudden, tragic fashion.

The Verners first-born son, Darion, never showed any signs of sickness that morning as he gathered his belongings to attend his high school near Chicago. The 16-year-old later played basketball in gym class. But after returning to the locker room when class ended, Darion collapsed for no apparent reason. The cause was determined to be Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, a genetic condition which hardens your heart muscle and can make it tougher for blood to pump through.

Sadly, Darion never made it home from school that day.

The family was stunned and consumed with grief. But in their time of loss, life had to move forward for them. Kimberly, who had worked with non-profits for several years prior, including our local Goodwill in Sumner County, always had a heart for helping others. She knew that painful tragedies could be turned into good growth, layer by layer, and she allowed God to heal her individually so she could help others, including her own family. The Verners started therapy to work through Darion’s death together.

On one weekend, the Verners attended Grief Takes a Hike, an immersive nature experience for bereaved families. It was after that time of community that the family came up with the idea to start their own non-profit, Matters of the Heart, to honor Darion and help others who have felt the pain of the heart condition.

“Matters of the Heart is a community where you can laugh, cry, or be angry without judgement,” Kimberly says. “We want to give grieving families practical steps they can walk away with.”

Kimberly saw how important community was to her during her time of need and wanted to create that for others.

“I feel like even before [Darion’s death] I was always in a position of helping,” she explains, “but he had to leave in order for us to do this.”

In 2019, the Verners held their first worship concert along with workshops and videos detailing the difference between empathy and sympathy, what not to say to families who have experienced a loss, and how to deal with grief during life. Kimberly has written a 30-day devotional, also titled Matters of the Heart, to help others day by day.

Last November the family held an event in Nashville and they plan to extend their efforts into Robertson and Sumner counties in the near future. This September, the family is hosting their first annual gala in Memphis to fundraise for The Heart Institute at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. All proceeds will go toward the hospital and the evening will be filled with a delicious dinner, entertainment, and heartfelt stories of hope and overcoming.

At one time after her son passed, the deeply faithful Kimberly asked God all her lingering questions. She says he answered every one of them, leaving her with peace.

“The way I love my son now is through this. All things work together for good.”

Visit Kimberly's website and YouTube channel. Learn more about Matters of the Heart. Have family or friends in the Memphis area? Be sure to share this article with them, so they can support Kimberly's fundraiser for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

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