She was numb to the bone and struggling to find a way out. Then eight weeks after the tragedy she discovered she was five weeks pregnant and her world slowly began to shift.
"At first I thought how could I grieve a child and love another. I had all this guilt that was just eating me up. You think, you're a mum, you should be able to protect a child."
Looking back Kerlin said falling pregnant was what helped her get off drugs.
"Without the support of my loving husband, my children and my amazing energy healer Jenni Abbelnoor, I don't think I couldn't have got to where I am now."
Kerlin said she had seen so many people go down that dark road through medication and substance abuse until they are numb, rather than bring up the raw emotion and face it and let it go.
"It is very Western to pop pills if you have mental health issues."
The advice Kerlin wanted to give other grieving parents was to be true to yourself, listen to your inner voice and be conscious of your surroundings.
"There is more to this world than death and when you can find that connection with passed loved one and learn how to connect with them that's when you find that true peace."
Kerlin said she remembered her "ray of light" and the strength she carried.
"She was such a strong little human ... she was so capable, constantly climbing and jumping and way above her age. So confident, I always felt as a mother she didn't need me much, she was potty trained, she would dress herself.