Kellie Kaminskas’ Story
From CT State Gateway Alumni to Author: Kellie Kaminskas’ Journey from Grief to Healing Through Writing
Kellie Kaminskas’ path to becoming a published author is one that intertwines personal tragedy with professional growth. After graduating from Gateway’s Drug and Alcohol Recovery Counselor program, Kellie’s life took a heartbreaking turn when she lost her husband to a drug overdose. This moment changed her forever, but it also became the catalyst for her decision to write a book—one that would help her young son understand the complexities of grief and loss.
While the idea of writing was born out of necessity, it quickly became something much larger. For Kellie, the process of crafting her book was both a therapeutic release and a way to channel her pain into a resource for others. As she wrote, she found herself revisiting her time at Gateway, where she learned the importance of empathy, communication, and patience. These skills, originally developed in her counseling work, became critical in shaping her ability to speak on difficult topics like death, addiction, and healing.
Kellie’s journey wasn’t without challenges. Writing in the midst of grief, she sought to find language that her son, and children like him, could relate to. Her son served as both a source of inspiration and an unofficial editor, giving feedback and helping her shape the narrative. “He was my first audience,” she recalls. “I would read him pages, and his reactions helped guide me in making the story accessible to young readers.”
In 2023, Kellie’s book was finally published. The months following its release were a whirlwind. From speaking at book signings to sharing her story at local community events, Kellie found that her message resonated not just with children, but with adults as well. “Many people would come up to me at signings and say, ‘I needed this when I was younger,’ or even, ‘My inner child needed this now,’” she said. These interactions reaffirmed what Kellie had always believed: grief is universal, but often unspoken, and the silence around it needed to be broken.
Kellie’s dedication to helping others heal, both as an author and a counselor, continues to drive her work. Reflecting on her time at Gateway, she often credits the program with giving her the foundation she needed to confront her own trauma and guide others through theirs. “My work with youth battling addiction taught me how to listen with empathy and respond with care—skills that are just as valuable in writing as they are in counseling,” she shared.
Looking ahead, Kellie is not only focused on expanding her writing but also on continuing her advocacy for families affected by addiction and grief. Through her speaking engagements, she hopes to provide others with the tools to navigate their own emotional journeys, much like she did.
And while her professional life is full of new opportunities, Kellie remains grounded in the very reason she began this journey in the first place: her son. “I wrote this book for him,” she says, “and I hope that in sharing our story, others will find the strength to heal and the courage to talk about the things that are hardest to say.”
To purchase her new book visit: https://www.kelliekaminskas.com/
Celebrate Alumni Success at the Hall of Fame
Kellie’s story is one of many incredible journeys we’re proud to share. Help us continue to celebrate alumni achievements and support current students by joining us for the Gateway Community College Foundation’s Hall of Fame event. Your participation and contributions will help provide essential resources and scholarships to future Gateway success stories.