Megan Crase is the mother to four children, 3 she sees every day and 1 that she carry’s in her heart. In 2010, at just 17 weeks gestation, Megan lost her son Garrett. “Losing my son taught me how strong I was, and it taught me what I was supposed to do with my life.” Megan is the Co-Founder and Chairperson of Garrett’s Project, a nonprofit that her husband Adam and she started after the loss of their son. Through Garrett’s Project they work to help families that have lost a child. “I would have never been able to help so many families through the loss of their children if it wasn’t for the precious child God allowed me to hold for 17 weeks. Losing my son was one of the hardest things I have had to face. Helping others is something that allows me to heal, and allows me to make sure that other people know my son’s name.”
Megan also loves to volunteer and give back whenever and wherever she can. She is on the Missions and Christian Education Committees at her church and is the sole leader of many of the programs for Garrett’s Project including their Angelversary Program and their HOPE Dog Program.
Losing her son Garrett isn’t the only challenge in life that Megan has faced. At the age of 19 she became a mother to her eldest son Elijah. “When I was a teen mother, my mother’s co-worker told my mom that I would not graduate college now. That stuck with me and I made sure that even after ups and downs and having my 3 other children I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management and Business Administration.” Megan used the bible verse “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” to keep her focused and it allowed her to know that when she didn’t have the strength to push through, he does.
Megan’s support system through everything is her mom, Grandma Pursley, Aunt Mari, her husband Adam, and great friends. “My Grandma Pursley is my inspiration and my hero. She gives so carelessly to everyone around her, she is amazing. My husband Adam has been through a lot in life and still has one of the biggest hearts I have ever seen. I am proud to have a husband that works hard to help me help others as well as help raise our children and keep our other child’s memory alive.”
Megan hopes one day to work with a hospital to be the person that is called in to help a family when they have lost a child. “I would love to be there to listen, comfort, and let them know all of their options, things I didn’t have.” Megan also plans to grow Garrett’s Project. They are currently working on getting their 501c3 so they can apply for grants and offer new programs to the community as well as expand to offer programs outside of the community.
For more information about Garrett’s Project, please visit www.garrettsproject.org.