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Edition November 2026 · The Killebrew journal
Presented by Heather Killebrew · kllbrw.com
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Every time I stand beside an old tree, I think about the years it took to grow. Losing Dawne in 2016 chan…

A contributor perspective from Killebrew, presented by Heather Killebrew.

Conceptual close-up portrait of Joey beside a mature tree, wearing a black T-shirt, with short salt-and-pepper hair and a thoughtful expression. Warm sunlight filters through the foliage in the background.
Conceptual close-up portrait of Joey beside a mature tree, wearing a black T-shirt, with short salt-and-pepper hair and a thoughtful expression. Warm sunlight filters through the foliage in the background.
Every time I stand beside an old tree, I think about the years it took to grow. Losing Dawne in 2016 changed the course of my life. At first, grief was simply something to survive. Over time I began imagining Wildwood, a tree farm where people could plant in memory of someone they love and return to see those memories take root. I want to learn the land, raise healthy trees, and make room for stories that deserve to be remembered. I do not have the farm yet. I have a purpose shaped by loss and sustained by love. I cannot change what happened to Dawne, but I can spend the years ahead building something that honors her and offers others a little hope.
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