Kelly Zajfen Opens Up About the Loss of Her Son Georgie (Exclusive) [Video]

In 2022 Kelly McKee Zajfen, 44, the co-founder of Alliance of Moms, a non-profit that supports pregnant and parenting teens who are in the foster care system, had her world shattered when her bright and lively 9-year-old son Georgie suddenly contracted and succumbed to a viral illness.

Now in a moving first-person essay, she opens up to PEOPLE exclusively about the crushing weight of the loss and how she and her family, including husband Julian and daughter Lily, are facing each day.

Helping her find a small bit of solace is the act of giving back, which she continues to do through Alliance of Moms and Alliance for Children’s Rights. “It has allowed me to have purpose, and to see what’s in front of me,” she says of her work with the organizations.

Below, in her own words, she discusses how she and her family have been coping after tragedy — and why she never wants the …