Michelle D. Hord of Hope Warrior, Inc.

06/07/2026

Today marks nine years since Gabrielle was taken from me, and this year, I am grieving the recent loss of my father too.

The only thing that brings me peace is believing my mother, my father, and my Gabrielle are together now. Whole, healed, and surrounded by love.

If you feel moved to honor Gabrielle today, a gift to Gabrielle’s Wings will help carry her light forward for children who deserve the chance to dream bigger: https://givebutter.com/gabrielleswings

Forever 7. Forever loved. Forever my baby girl. 💜

05/12/2026

“It’s quieter in some places. Fuller in others.”

Grief and love can live side by side — especially on days that ask us to remember, reflect, and feel more than one thing at once.

I’m honoured to have my story, “After Unimaginable Loss, She Chose Motherhood Again,” featured in Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper as part of the Architects of Change series.

https://www.mariashriversundaypaper.com/after-unimaginable-loss-she-chose-motherhood-again/

It is a deeply personal reflection on motherhood after loss, the tenderness of Mother’s Day, and the courage it takes to open your heart to love again.

If this season has brought up complicated feelings for you, I hope this piece reminds you that you are not alone.

02/12/2026

We will all experience loss, but we don’t have to do it in silence. Michelle Hord knows this better than most. After the tragic loss of her daughter, she realized that "no words" shouldn’t mean "no support." We are honored to have Michelle join us for a special 3-part series, Never Can Say Goodbye where we will explore collective grief, storytelling, and how to live with fewer regrets.
Michelle D. Hord

02/05/2026

❤❤❤ on Oprah Daily today.

When I suffered a personal tragedy, my bosses showed up for me in exactly the right way. Here’s how all leaders can do the same.

02/04/2026

Trauma doesn’t clock out. It lives in the body—and it shows up at work. I wrote about what a trauma-informed workplace actually looks like (and what it meant to me when I needed it most).

Read it on Oprah Daily: https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/wholeness/a70192814/trauma-informed-workplace/

02/04/2026

I’ll be part of Darnell Lamont Walker’s Reimagine series—real conversations about death, grief, and how we hold space for one another.

Join us on Wednesday, February 18 from 3:00pm - 4:15pm EST
Register today: https://letsreimagine.org/76768/never-can-say-goodbye-part-1-of-3

01/22/2026

Grateful to be a contributor to this wonderful platform. I wish that my family, friends and I would have had access to it in the early days, weeks and months after losing Gabrielle.

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Help Texts

01/21/2026

We are honored to welcome Michelle D. Hord as our newest Expert Contributor at Help Texts!

Michelle is a certified leadership coach, strategic consultant, and author whose work helps people navigate sudden loss, grief, and major life transitions. She is the Founder of Gabrielle's Wings and the President of Hope Warrior, Inc. Michelle brings 30 years of experience as a TV producer and Fortune 100 HR executive, supporting individuals and organizations to build resilience and thrive through change.

Michelle’s book, The Other Side of Yet, (an Amazon best-seller) offers both story and practical guidance—inviting readers toward comfort, grace, and growth when adversity reshapes everything. Her voice is shaped by traumatic personal loss, including the murder of her daughter, Gabrielle, in 2017. Michelle has discussed her journey on national programs including Good Morning America and MSNBC, and written for Oprah Daily.

As a Help Texts Expert Contributor, Michelle offers grounded, compassionate language for traumatic grief—support for grievers, the people who love them, and workplaces navigating return-to-work after loss.

Sign up at helptexts.com