When Michael met Truth in his college humanities class he instantly recognized her as a woman he wanted to know.
One day during one of the breaks they started talking.
"She wanted to travel. She wanted to know things. She was full of energy and had great values," Michael said. "She loved her family and animals and would do anything for them. She was in pre-med and I was an art major. We had a lot in common."
After a year they got married and spent the next seven years enjoying life together.
We spent a lot of time just her and me traveling and having fun," Michael said. "Then one day we were like 'okay, we're ready to bring new life into this world and to share it.'"
Soon Jack and Lucca came along and they joined their life traveling across the world to Michael's home in Austria, hiking in Yosemite, going to the beach and exploring the outdoors.
On their 12th anniversary, Michael and Truth went to Monterey to celebrate when suddenly Truth died of unexplained natural causes.
It was at Jack's preschool that Michael learned about Jessica's House. "There was a packet about Jessica's House in Jack's cubby at school," Michael said. "When I read about the support, I knew we had to go."
"Coming to Jessica's House has made every day possible. There was a time when I didn't feel like going anywhere, but coming to groups helped me gain my footing again," Michael said. "It gives us a safe place to open up and share what we're going through. When something like this happens, you feel alone. No matter what people say or who wants to help, you feel alone."