One Year Later: Hilda Harouni on Finding Purpose, Daily Rituals, and Building Luvline in Her Son’s Honor

“Purpose has become my anchor.»

For Hilda Harouni, the past year has been defined by two parallel realities: grieving the loss of her son, Dr. Benjamin Harouni, and stepping into the responsibility of carrying forward his vision through Luvline, the dental floss brand he created. In February 2024, Dr. Benjamin Harouni was building a vision for a better kind of oral care company when his life was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence while doing what he loved most: caring for a patient.

A gunman entered the practice and opened fire, killing the 28-year-old dentist whose life had been devoted to helping others. His death devastated his family, friends, patients, and the broader community.

As Luvline marks its first anniversary, Hilda reflects on a year shaped by loss, purpose, and the daily effort to keep moving forward. Loss, according to Hilda, has reshaped every aspect of her daily life. Despite the relentless drive to make Ben’s dream of spreading smiles come true, she’s simultaneously confronting relentless pain in remembering:

“Some days, it feels like yesterday that I spoke to him. Other days, it feels like a lifetime ago. Grief has a way of bending time. The calendar keeps moving forward, but part of your heart remains attached to a moment that changed everything.”

«On the mornings that feel especially heavy, I remind myself that I have a choice. I can stay in bed under the blanket, which is something I did for the first few months, or I can carry my grief forward with purpose.»

When faced with such tragedy, Hilda had every reason to stop. Instead, she chose to rise every morning, and built Luvline into a reason for others to rise too. At first, her focus was on survival.

«In the early days after losing Ben, I wasn’t focused on healing, I was focused on surviving for my other two sons.»

But over time, she found herself relying on the same philosophy that inspired Ben’s vision for Luvline: the power of finding love in your small daily actions.

“When time feels stuck, my daily habits help me keep moving. I’ve learned not to underestimate small daily acts. They create momentum when you’re struggling to find it. One healthy choice, one task, one act of kindness at a time. Those small habits don’t erase the grief, but they help me carry it while continuing to move forward.”

“Over the past year, I’ve come to realize that I am more at peace when I bring his love, his values, and his vision with me into each new day.”

With time, this small daily habit became her mission. She often reflected on the last words her son spoke to her before his life was taken, and they became her driving force. They became her reason to rise.

«The day before Ben was taken from us, he called me and shared exciting news about Luvline. I can still hear the passion in his voice. He wasn’t just talking about a product; he was talking about a vision. That conversation became my motivation and my compass.»

That sense of purpose extends to Hearts Over Hate, the nonprofit initiative established to honor Ben’s memory through acts of kindness, community support, and assistance for the families of victims of violent crime. With every box of LuvLine sold, $1 goes to Hearts Over Hate. It’s the same idea that gets her out of bed, made tangible: a small act of care for yourself becomes, in the same motion, a small act of care for someone you’ll never meet. A minute spent tending to your own morning sends something outward to a family living through the kind of loss Hilda knows intimately.

«After losing my son, Ben, there were days when simply getting through the day felt impossible. What keeps me grounded is knowing that his story is still making a difference. Continuing his vision through Luvline and Hearts Over Hate gives meaning to my days and reminds me that love can continue long after loss.»

As LuvLine enters its second year, we’re celebrating more than a brand. LuvLine is a reflection of the belief that small daily actions matter, that kindness can create lasting impact, and that loss can be transformed into a legacy.

«Every time I wanted to stop, I remembered why this mattered. Luvline wasn’t just a product—it was a dream Ben poured his heart into. Finishing what he started became a way of staying connected to him.»

One year ago, that legacy was a single box of floss and a son’s belief that a smile could change a life. Today, it rises every morning with the parents who refused to let his dream end.

What began as survival has become a mission carried one small act at a time, and what began as one family’s grief has become an inspiration to everyone who has ever had to choose to keep going. For Hilda, that choice renews itself with the sun:

«Each morning is an opportunity to ask myself one simple question: ‘How can I honor Ben today?’”

A year in, her answer is the same one she offers anyone still searching for a reason to rise. Start small. Be kind to yourself, then pass that kindness on. And never underestimate the quiet power of a single daily act, repeated with love, to carry you somewhere you never thought you could reach.

This is more than floss. This is why we rise.

Hilda Harouni is available for interviews about turning grief into purpose, the daily rituals that sustain her, and building LuvLine in her son’s honor.

About LuvLine
LuvLine is a premium dental floss created by Dr. Benjamin Harouni and carried forward by his parents, Hilda Harouni, RDH, and Dr. Jack Harouni. Its pre-expanded SoftFloss is infused with Vitamin E, Hydroxyapatite, and Xylitol, and made without PFAS, PTFE, or other harmful chemicals. It comes in two signature aromas: Orange/Cinnamon and Mint/Eucalyptus. With every box sold, $1 is donated to Hearts Over Hate. Learn more at luvlinefloss.com.

About Hearts Over Hate
Hearts Over Hate is a nonprofit founded in memory of Dr. Benjamin Harouni to combat violence through education, community, and support for families affected by violent crime.