Finding JaMia's Spirit

In "Finding JaMia's Spirit," we follow the journey of JaMia, a curious and optimistic 5-year-old girl. After the loss of her father, JaMia grapples with the concept of him being in a "better place" and feeling abandoned right before her first day of kindergarten. With the guidance of her wise grandmother, Gam Gam, JaMia embarks on a search for her father's ancestor spirit. Through a series of heartwarming moments with her mother, Denise, and flashbacks of her father, JaMia discovers that her father's spirit is always with her, providing comfort and strength.

My dad died from stomach cancer when I was 11. When I think back on it now, sometimes his death felt sudden, and other times it felt long and painful, but overall, it was a difficult loss. One of the things I absolutely hated was how every offer of condolence I received was that my dad “was in a better place.” Even at 11, I could not understand why my dad would willingly go to this “better place” and leave me, “his baby girl” behind. Practically, I knew what folks meant, but I didn’t understand why those were the chosen words of sympathy. This was my inspiration for “Finding JaMia’s Spirit.” I wanted to rethink how we communicate grief to kids and how they interpret and process loss and healing. This is a story that will resonate with families or anyone who has experienced loss, but particularly younger kids who might have a hard time understanding loss and need help with processing grief and moving towards healing. -Candace D. Patrick Producer/Director/ Writer