Chapter of national organization deals with family illness, death, started by student
Kelly Hudson uses tragedy as an inspiration to help others going through similar experiences.
The Westland sophomore was overwhelmed with distress last semester when she lost her best friend, and two weeks later, learned her mother was diagnosed with stage-four brain cancer.
Though her grades began to slip and she felt alone, her parents encouraged her to stay in school. Hudson said she is glad she stayed, though it was not easy.
“Anybody would be so strong through something like this,” Hudson said. “You don’t realize how strong you are until you are truly tested and you have to be.”
Hudson found an outlet when she stumbled upon the Students of AMF website.
Students of AMF is a national organization that supports college students grieving the illness or death of a loved one through peer support groups and service projects.
David Fajgenbaum, AMF founder and board chairman, said grief and death are a large part of what college students deal with, and the organization provides them with an outlet. The organization's name is a dual acronym standing for Fajgenbaum's mother, Anne Marie Fajgenbaum, and Ailing Mothers and Fathers.
Fajgenbaum started AMF six years ago as a promise to his mother, who was diagnosed with brain cancer two weeks prior to him beginning at Georgetown University. He said AMF has become an embodiment and reflection of her.
“(AMF) is about being there for one another,” Fajgenbaum said. “Another part equally as important is going out and being proactive. It’s about taking grief and honoring a loved one by participating in service events.”
Fajgenbaum said he is happy with the impact the organization is having, as it appears in more college campuses, and hopes that it will continue to grow.
He also said Hudson’s initiative to make AMF a registered student organization at Central Michigan University is admirable. CMU is the 40th national chapter.
“Oct. 4 is a day I will always remember,” Hudson said. “It was the day AMF got approved as an official RSO and received good MRI results for my mom. I even adopted a cat, Pudding.”
Hudson said bringing the RSO to campus is something that has kept her not only busy, but positive and proactive.
AMF is not a counseling service, but a peer-to-peer support group.
“You never know who’s going to need it,” Hudson said. “Grief doesn’t discriminate and neither does AMF. We hope you never need our resources, but if you do, we are here.”
Tammie Fogal, limited-license psychologist and temporary faculty in Academic Advising and Assistance, is the academic adviser for CMU’s AMF Chapter.
Hudson was a student in Fogal’s AAD 102: Academic College Strategies course. As Hudson shared her experiences with death and illness with the class, it became a healing device.
When Hudson approached Fogal about being the adviser, Fogal said she was honored.
“Kelly is truly an inspiration,” Fogal said. “As an adviser, I don’t want to play the main role. I just want to be there for the students in the way that they need me to be there.”
Along with Fogal, sophomores Josh Martin from Clarkston and Cody Roe from Westland have been Hudson’s biggest support.
“We’re mainly there for moral support,” Martin said. “I’m also a type of insanity insurance (for Fogal) with everything she puts on her plate.”
AMF will have its kickoff meeting at 6 p.m on Oct. 26 in Pearce Hall 225.
