Former Medical Device Executive Urges Texans to Support Grieving Families

SOUTHLAKE, TX – After a three-decade career in the medical device industry, Bryan Scott McMillan has turned his leadership focus to a different kind of challenge: helping grieving families. Following the death of his wife to cancer, McMillan experienced the isolating nature of grief and has since dedicated himself to supporting others through organizations like The WARM Place and Camp Sanguinity. He also founded Families with Holes, a nonprofit that connects grieving families with practical support and counseling resources.

Now, McMillan is sharing a simple yet profound message: showing up matters more than having the right words. "People think they need the perfect words," he said. "The families I have met rarely remember exactly what someone said. They remember who kept calling three months later. They remember who brought dinner on an ordinary Tuesday. They remember who stayed."

Grief is more prevalent than many realize. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 3 million people die each year in the United States, leaving millions of spouses, children, parents, friends, and coworkers to cope with loss. Research also indicates that about one in twelve children will experience the death of a parent or sibling before adulthood, underscoring the widespread need for grief support.

Despite these numbers, many grieving families report feeling isolated after the initial weeks following a loss. "We rush toward people immediately after a funeral," McMillan said. "Then life speeds back up. Grief doesn't. The hardest conversations often happen months later, after everyone else has gone back to normal."

Drawing from his executive experience, McMillan believes communities already possess the tools to make a meaningful difference. "In business, we solved problems by paying attention and following through," he said. "Helping grieving families works much the same way. Listen first. Keep your promises. Stay consistent."

The CDC has identified social isolation and loneliness as significant public health concerns, linked to higher risks of depression, heart disease, dementia, and other serious conditions. Supportive relationships can improve emotional well-being and help individuals recover more effectively after major life events. This underscores the importance of ongoing community support for those who are grieving.

McMillan emphasizes that you don't need to be a grief expert to help. He encourages people to become dependable neighbors, friends, coworkers, and family members. "I've watched volunteers change someone's entire week by doing something as simple as driving a child to practice or dropping off groceries," he said. "Those aren't small things to the family receiving them. They're huge."

For those unsure how to approach a grieving person, McMillan advises honesty: "If you don't know what to say, say that. Then sit down and listen. Presence beats perfection every time."

Simple actions can make a significant impact. McMillan suggests calling someone who has lost a loved one and asking how they are doing, marking important anniversaries and birthdays to check in, offering specific help instead of a vague "let me know if you need anything," bringing a meal or helping with errands weeks after the funeral, inviting grieving friends for a walk or coffee without expecting them to talk, listening without trying to solve every problem, supporting local grief centers through volunteering, encouraging children to express grief in their own way, continuing to reach out long after others have stopped, and sharing what you've learned to help others understand meaningful support.

"My hope isn't that everyone becomes a counselor," McMillan said. "My hope is that more people become the kind of friend who keeps showing up. That's how stronger families and stronger communities are built."

McMillan believes leadership extends beyond the workplace. Whether leading a business team or supporting a grieving neighbor, consistency, compassion, humility, and the willingness to act are what matter most. "At the end of the day," he said, "people rarely remember your title. They remember how you treated them when life became difficult."

Supporting grieving families begins with simple, consistent acts of care rather than perfect words. Practical help, regular check-ins, and patient listening can reduce isolation and remind families they are not facing loss alone. Every individual has the ability to make a meaningful difference by showing up, staying connected, and offering steady support long after the initial wave of sympathy has passed.