Podcasts about bereaved

乗用車が暴走し母子が死亡した事故から６年となり、慰霊碑に献花する松永真菜さんの夫の拓也さんと父の上原義教さんら、１９日午後、東京都豊島区東京・池袋で乗用車が暴走し、松永真菜さん、当時、と娘の莉子ちゃん、同、が死亡した事故から１９日で発生６年となった。 Bereaved relatives of a mother and a daughter killed by a runaway car in Tokyo's busy Ikebukuro district commemorated the sixth anniversary of their deaths Saturday.

Bereaved relatives of a mother and a daughter killed by a runaway car in Tokyo's busy Ikebukuro district commemorated the sixth anniversary of their deaths Saturday.

I am quite sure I have never spoken with a parent whose child had their own Wikipedia page, but Erin's son, Keenan Cahill, does. Certainly, when Keenan was born, Erin did not ever imagine that someday, he would become an internet celebrity. From an early age, Erin worried about Keenan and his growth and development. When Keenan was 12 months old, Erin mentioned her concerns to Keenan's pediatrician. Keenan was diagnosed with Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VI. The disease was not curable, but was treatable. He underwent a bone marrow transplant to slow the progression. Erin was told that his life expectancy was between 40 and 60 years, and they should expect medical complications throughout life.  Despite these challenges, Keenan wanted to be a regular kid, and Erin worked hard to make him feel that way. When Keenan wanted to play sports, Erin signed him up, although he could never hope to keep up with other kids. Nothing stood in his way. As Keenan started high school, he began playing around with the desktop computer he got for his birthday. He released a hilarious video of himself lip-syncing to Katy Perry's song, "Teenage Dream." People loved it, and soon it was played on The Jimmy Kimmel Show. His life changed forever. Keenan was off to do events to entertain people. Celebrities visited their home to be in Keenan's videos, but with this newfound fame, many had negative, hurtful comments. Just as Keenan did not let his disease hold him back, he didn't let those hateful comments hold him back either. Eventually, he graduated from college and was able to produce his own music videos.  Complications after heart surgery ended Keenan's life in 2022 at the age of 27, far earlier than expected. While the world mourned a Youtuber, Erin mourned her amazing son. As Erin shared his story, I just kept thinking about how he spread joy in his short life. That should inspire all of us, shouldn't it? Despite the grief and pain, we too can spread joy and inspire others. While we may not end up with a Wikipedia page, it will be enough to help spread some happiness or relieve a little pain in those around us.

More than 400 families who lost their loved ones in the Nova festival massacre and the ongoing war were hosted this Passover holiday at the seder of the Navah organization, which provides emotional support throughout the year to bereaved families. The Empty Chair project was begun more than two decades ago, as a way of creating a supportive space for recently bereaved families. Tehila Friedman, founder of Navah, spoke to KAN reporter Naomi Segal (Photo: Courtesy) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When grief left them speechless, award-winning authors Julia Park Tracey and Christine Walker turned to fiction—not just to cope, but to give their sons a voice that would live on forever.In today's episode, I'm joined by Julia Park Tracey and Christine Walker—two accomplished creatives who have transformed personal grief into meaningful art. Julia is an award-winning author, journalist, and publisher at Sibylline Press. Her historical novels The Bereaved and Silence are inspired by ancestral stories and deeply shaped by the loss of her stepson. Christine is a visual artist, designer, and writer whose novel Tap Dancing at the Bluebird, drawn from her grandmother's Depression-era diaries, was reimagined through the lens of losing her son, Quinn. Both women use their work to explore themes of loss, healing, and transformation.Throughout this episode, Julia and Christine share how their sons' deaths profoundly influenced their creative processes. Julia describes how grief deepened the emotional truth of her characters and led her to speak openly about loss, both in life and on the page. Christine talks about infusing her novel's character with Quinn's essence—his “quinescence”—to give him a lasting literary presence, and how painting helped her process pain when words failed. Together, they reflect on the healing power of storytelling and the ways creativity can offer connection, comfort, and a sense of continuity through grief.Tune in to episode 328 as Julia Park Tracey and Christine Walker share how channeling their grief into writing and art helped them honor their sons, process profound loss, and discover a lasting sense of connection, creativity, and healing.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Julia's story: Writing through historical grief and personal loss (1:14)Christine's journey: From garden journals to literary healing (6:12)Giving their sons a literary afterlife (9:40)How grief alters language and social norms (14:17)To tell or not to tell: Sharing a child's death publicly (17:24)Redefining happiness: Can we ever feel joy again? (23:39)Writing fiction as a healing tool for grievers (28:22)When grief silences you: Finding voice through action (31:45)Connect with Julia Park Tracey:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInFacebookTikTokGet Julia's books!Connect with Christine Walker:WebsiteInstagramXFacebookGet Christine's books!Let's Connect:Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How should workplaces manage when an employee has been bereaved, and what supports should be in place to allow those in mourning to deal with their work-life balance?Niamh Finucane is the Coordinator of Social Work and Bereavement Services at St Francis Hospice in Dublin's Raheny and Blanchardstown, and joins guest host Tom Dunne to discuss.

How should workplaces manage when an employee has been bereaved, and what supports should be in place to allow those in mourning to deal with their work-life balance?Niamh Finucane is the Coordinator of Social Work and Bereavement Services at St Francis Hospice in Dublin's Raheny and Blanchardstown, and joins guest host Tom Dunne to discuss.

When today's guest, Danielle, went into her 21-month-old daughter Lydia's room to wake her from a nap on Christmas Day 2022, she noted how peaceful Lydia looked. She began to gently rub her back to rouse her gradually, but Lydia did not move. Danielle started to jostle her a bit more and soon realized that something was very wrong. Lydia was not waking up. Danielle screamed for her husband's help and quickly called 911. Even as she drove to the hospital, Danielle says she did not realize the gravity of the situation. Lydia had died. They learned from Lydia's autopsy that she had a rare congenital mesenteric defect that caused a volvulus and bowel obstruction that day. Their previously healthy, smiley, chatty girl and only child was gone. All they were given when they left the hospital were the pajamas Lydia had been wearing - pajamas that matched Danielle's own. They had no idea what to do. She desperately wanted some guidance - resources to help navigate these first unimaginable days and weeks, but they felt alone.  Feeling lost, Danielle went home and started crocheting little white hearts. She buried Lydia with one in her hands and kept a matching one for herself. She crocheted hundreds of these tiny hearts, giving them away so others could remember Lydia's kindhearted spirit. Over the next weeks, Danielle thought more and more about walking out of that hospital with nothing but Lydia's pajamas. Within 4 months of Lydia's death, Danielle had started an organization in Lydia's memory that she named Love From Lydia. She began working with two local hospitals to help make care packages for grieving parents. Included in the package would be a pair of crocheted white hearts and information to help parents in this new, unexpected pain.  Over time, Danielle realized that she wanted to do more than send comforting words on paper. She wanted to help make personal connections. She created COPE (Connecting Our Personal Experiences) which works to match parents with other grieving parents who are at least a year out from the death of their own child, making sure that newly bereaved parents don't feel as lost and alone as she once did.

ShownotesAfter six long years of constant chemotherapy, painful procedures, many relapses, and a brush with death from the chickenpox virus, Donna MacLeod's daughter Erynne, died of leukemia at age 9. Her love of life, cheerful spirit, and devotion to Jesus inspired many. Being in her presence changed Donna as Erynne was a child of hope. In her early periods of grief, Donna began to write a spiritual companion to help others who were tending to their own grief.  We hope you enjoy this REPLAY of Andrea and Jennifer's conversation with Donna MacCleod as she shares her story and how the Seasons of Hope Journals came into existence. Our GuestDonna is a nurse, bereft mom, Catholic lay leader, bereavement ministry specialist, and author known for her unique Christ-centered program for those who mourn. Her bestselling Seasons of Hope ministry books now have an updated Leader's Guide: Bringing Comfort through Catholic Grief Support and four companion Journals: Finding Comfort in Your Grief (Ave Maria Press). Her writings on grief, loss, and faith also appear in CareNotes, PrayerNotes, and Caring Companions (Abbey Press) and other publications.She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing and has served as an oncology clinical specialist, nurse educator, administrator, and hospice professional. She was on the board of trustees of the former National Catholic Ministry to the Bereaved and is a member of the Catholic Family Life Association. You can find more information on Donna through her author link at Ave Maria Press found HERE. She can also be reached at seasonsofhope35@gmail.com.LinksSeasons of Hope SeriesJournaling QuestionsWhat struck you most about this particular episode?Have you ever used a journal on your grief journey? What benefits did you find in using one?Have you ever attended any sort of grief support group? What did you find helpful or not helpful about it?What are some things that have helped you explore your grief in different ways besides perhaps support groups or journaling?What is your mourning glory?This episode is in memory of Erynne MacLeod, Jacqueline and Angus MacLeod, Sundy and Isabelle Mann. 

Andy always loved dogs. I think he loved dogs so much because his personality was similar to a puppy's. He was always on the move and always excited to meet new people and to see new places. Over the years, Andy tried in vain to talk Eric into getting us a family dog. Eric came from a cat family. I came from a dog family. I am allergic to cats and Eric did not really like dogs, so our poor children ended up with pet fish instead. Once, when Andy was young, he asked me, 'If Dad dies, can we get a dog?' I was caught completely off guard but eventually had to answer that we could likely get a dog, but that we did NOT want Dad to die so it could happen. Just like Andy, today's guest, Debbie, and her daughter, Kelsey, have always loved dogs. In Debbie's memoir, My Grief Jar, Debbie relates the stories of the many dogs in Kelsey's life. As a young girl, Kelsey initially struggled with painful urination, which led to more and more struggles with chronic pain throughout her teen years and into adulthood. Throughout it all, however, dogs were a constant in her life, bringing her much joy. As an avid reader of memoirs, Debbie always said to Kelsey that someday 'something good' would come from all of the pain and suffering in her life. In all of the books that Debbie enjoyed, it seemed that the writer of the story would have 'something good' that would emerge from the tragedy they were experiencing. She was certain that would happen for Kelsey.  After Kelsey moved into her own home at the age of 27, she got a lab named Brody. Kelsey dreamed that Brody would become a therapy dog and visit nursing homes and hospitals, bringing a little joy to people living with chronic pain.  Although Kelsey's pain was not thought to be life-threatening, she died from a severe bowel obstruction before Brody was old enough to be trained. Tragically, Kelsey never realized her dream, but Brody and Debbie have been able to do so. Debbie knows she is bringing Kelsey with them on every visit she and Brody make. Although Kelsey didn't get to experience her 'something good' in life, she plays a huge part in it.

Frank starts the show talking about the latest surrounding the death of Miller Gardner, Brett Gardner's son. He then talks with Gloria Romero, an education advocate and the former Majority Leader of the California State Senate. They chat about the education system in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Allow Me to Live My Grief...: and Heal from the Inside Out by Mrs Ligia M. Houben Ligiahouben.com Amazon.com Validating the Bereaved and Raising Awareness in Our Society Ligia M. Houben presents us Allow Me to Live My Grief... and Heal from the Inside Out as an offering of love. This book is a deep and transformative guide, inspired by her personal experience of losing her mother. It is not only a heartfelt tribute to her mother's memory but also a compassionate companion for anyone navigating the painful journey of grief. Houben shares her personal story, offering her vulnerability to connect with readers, while also providing essential tools that help the bereaved feel validated and supported. When we lose a loved one and find ourselves in the valley of sorrow, we can feel alone, as if no one understands our grief. For this reason, thanatologist Ligia M. Houben offers us Allow Me to Live My Grief... and Heal from the Inside Out, so that you feel understood and accompanied in those moments when it may seem like your world has fallen apart. The author has dedicated her life, through seminars and workshops, to training others on grief and life transitions, and to supporting the bereaved in the most difficult times of their lives with care, compassion, and understanding. Her primary purpose has been to help others transform their loss and transform their lives. This book is both a testimonial and a manual of experiences, through which readers will learn: About the multiple manifestations of grief, Tools and strategies to process it, Clarifications of misunderstandings and common myths on the subject, The difference between “mourning and living through grief.” It also offers testimonials from people who have suffered the loss of a loved one, which the author refers to as “stories from the soul.” Additionally, Ligia teaches us how to accompany someone in grief and how to heal from deep within your soul while continuing to honor your loved one, who, though no longer with you physically, as the author says, “continues to live in your heart... for love is eternal.” Allow Me to Live My Grief... and Heal from the Inside Out is a profound book that not only provides readers with a sense of companionship during their darkest moments but also empowers them to transform their grief into growth. Through her personal story and professional expertise, Ligia M. Houben delivers a compassionate, supportive, and practical guide for anyone experiencing loss, offering them the tools they need to heal from within while honoring the memory of their loved ones. This book is an invaluable resource for both individuals and professionals in the field of grief support, as it tenderly bridges personal experience with therapeutic insight. It is a must-read for anyone seeking solace and practical strategies for healing after loss.About the author Ligia M. Houben is a grief expert and life transitions specialist. She is an inspirational speaker in life transitions, grief & loss, and personal growth. She lost her father when she was 12 years old, and that significant loss inspired her to write "Transform your Loss. Your Guide to Strength and Hope" and to create the system of transformation "The 11 Principles of Transformation" included in the book. Ligia has a Center in Miami, FL, The Center for Transforming Lives, where she provides individual consultation, meditation classes, and personal growth workshops. Now, The 11 Principles of Transformation® are offered as an online program.

Adlai Stevenson famously eulogized Eleanor Roosevelt, saying, 'She would rather light a candle than curse the darkness.' When today's guest, Sherri, first heard this quote, she knew that she wanted it to apply to her life as well. Sherri's youngest daughter, Conni, battled through addiction and mental illness for 10 years. Sherri stayed by her side for all of that time, supporting her through the good years as well as the bad. She attended 12-step meetings with Conni and learned about addiction during Conni's low moments and celebrated with her when it seemed she was beating the addiction at last. She learned to love and support Conni while hating her addiction. Months after Conni died by intentional drug overdose, Sherri thought of that famous quote. She had a decision to make - 'I can curse the darkness or I can light a candle.' It would be so easy to want to curse the ugliness of the world when watching a loved one battle addiction. It would be easy to simply sit in darkness after your child dies by suicide. However, Sherri did not make the easy choice. She made the heroic choice to light a candle instead.  Sherri realized that her journey with Connie taught her three valuable lessons. Firstly, Sherri has far more compassion for others in pain. Secondly, she is far less judgmental of others and their actions. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, Sherri is not afraid of ugly. She has lived through the ugliest of the ugly and is still breathing. Sherri knew that she could demonstrate to others that they can do the same. She started posting on Instagram as @itsalifeunexpected to show that it is possible to love and support people through addiction without losing yourself in the process. You see, Sherri knew that she was not going to be the last mom to watch their child battle addiction. She would not be the last mom whose child took their own life. Sherri also knew she wanted to be a light to those who would come after her. She wanted to hold a candle for them and work to light hundreds more along the path so they would not feel quite so lost and alone.

地下鉄サリン事件から３０年となり、東京メトロ霞ケ関駅で献花し手を合わせる遺族の高橋シズヱさん、２０日午前９時５９分、東京都千代田区１４人が死亡、６０００人以上が負傷したオウム真理教による地下鉄サリン事件は２０日で発生から３０年となった。 Bereaved family members and others on Thursday mourned victims of the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult's sarin nerve gas attack on Tokyo's subway system 30 years ago, which left 14 people dead and over 6,000 others injured.

追悼集会で、東京空襲犠牲者の名前を読み上げる大学生、２０日午前、東京都江東区８０年前の３月１０日未明にあった東京大空襲では約１０万人の命が奪われたとされ、都内の市民は終戦までに１００回を超える空襲を受けた。 Bereaved families and others held a memorial ceremony in Tokyo on Thursday to read out the names of victims of U.S. air raids on the Japanese capital during World War II 80 years ago.

Bereaved family members and others on Thursday mourned victims of the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult's sarin nerve gas attack on Tokyo's subway system 30 years ago, which left 14 people dead and over 6,000 others injured.

Bereaved families and others held a memorial ceremony in Tokyo on Thursday to read out the names of victims of U.S. air raids on the Japanese capital during World War II 80 years ago.

Transcript here. This episode featured Sasha Sienna as Laura, Karim Kronfli as Laura's Father, and Alan Burgon as The General. Directed by Ella Watts. Dialogue editing by Brad Colbroock. Sound design by Tal Minear. Music by Trace Callahan. Executive produced by Jamieson Ridenhour, Hannah Wright, Stephen Indrisano, Ella Watts, Pacific S. Obidah, and Tal Minear. A Bloody FM production. Find us online: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/redracula Ad Free Feed: bit.ly/dractober Merch: https://store.dftba.com/collections/re-dracula Website: www.ReDracula.live Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/re-dracula Bloody Disgusting Website: www.Bloody-Disgusting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I have been told that my podcast is an important part of the therapy process for many grieving parents. Today is the first time, however, that I have interviewed someone whose therapist instructed her to reach out to me and be on my podcast as a guest.  When Robyn's son, Drew (Andrew), was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2021, she was 'shocked, but not surprised.' She certainly had that shock of losing Drew, but Drew was a daredevil most of his life. He had no fewer than three accidents in the months before his death that could have taken his life, but he had miraculously walked away each time. After Drew's death, Robyn did everything she thought she should do. She started therapy. She decided to live life to its fullest and bought two kayaks to take up kayaking. She got a healthy diet plan and lost 50 pounds. She bought equipment to start her own podcast. Everyone around her said she was doing great, and from the outside, she looked like she was doing great. Her therapist, on the other hand, said, 'Robyn, you are not doing great. You are not allowing yourself to truly feel. You need to lean into your grief,' but Robyn did not listen. She kept on as she was, until eventually, she couldn't. The grief caught up with her. She needed to grieve. She started in a Compassionate Friends support group. A member of the group told her about my podcast, another 'Andrew's Mom' with a podcast. Hmm. Was this a little sign? In the meantime, Robyn had been going to her new therapist, who had been brainstorming ways that she could help others in her grief. "What about a podcast?" he suggested, "or a book?" Robyn went to her therapist one day and told him about my podcast. "So you emailed her, right?" the therapist said. "No," Robyn admitted. He suggested that she get out her phone and do it right then. She promised to instead email in the next week.  Robyn emailed me, and the rest is history. Months later, Robyn is sharing Drew's story with the world to help others heal. I am so excited to see the next steps of Robyn's journey and what this may lead Robyn to do in the days and months to come.

God uses a humbling process by which He changes people in order to bring reconciliation.

Layla Alsheikh is a Palestinian mother whose 6-month-old son Qusay became sick due to Israeli soldiers throwing tear gas in the village. When Layla tried to take him to the hospital, the Israeli soldiers prevented her family and delayed their arrival to the hospital for more than 4 hours. Layla's son passed away that night and Layla lived with her grief and anger for more than a decade. Layla started her healing process by joining The Parents Circle Family Forum, a nonprofit of over 600 bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families. She started her peace advocacy shortly after. She lectures around the world, hoping to humanize the Palestinian plight and stopping the cycle of violence.

I was so touched by talking with today's guest. Erin has been an elementary school music teacher for more than 10 years. Music was an important part of Andy's life, whether he was singing in the choir or playing the piano, drums, or French Horn. I often wonder how music would have shaped his future growing up. Although Andy said he wanted to be a pilot, Eric always felt he would have become a music teacher instead. Music touched him in such a special way. Andy's elementary school music teacher was important in introducing him to his love for music, so I felt drawn to Erin immediately.  Music played an important role in Erin's family life as well. After suffering from fertility struggles, Erin had a simple surgical procedure and quickly became pregnant with twins. As the twins grew, they both had Erin's love for music. They loved to dance and sing and Erin could see the joy that music brought to their lives. Then tragedy struck and 20-month-old Brennan died in his sleep a few days after being diagnosed with RSV. Erin didn't feel like she wanted to go on living. For months, Erin would go to bed at night secretly hoping that God make it so she did not wake up in the morning, but, each morning, Erin did wake up. People commented as to how strong she was, but Erin said she had no choice. She had to continue to be a wife to her husband and a mother to Avery so she kept going. This included returning to school and teaching music only days after Brennan died. Erin posted a picture of Brennan in her classroom and began to talk about him. Erin hopes that posting that picture will help others realize that she wants to talk about Brennan. In fact, I think she is an amazing example to others showing that it is healthy to talk about hard things like death, and not avoid them. People often wonder how Erin continues to work with kids every day after losing Brennan so suddenly, but Erin knows that is the best way to honor Brennan. Erin hasn't started a foundation or become a public speaker or done anything big and flashy. Erin teaches kids to love music just like Brennan did, and that is more than enough.

None of us want to be bereaved parents. We love the idea of being a new parent. It is a title we wear proudly. We love the first time our children call us mama or dada. Although many thoughts go through our minds when welcoming our new baby, the average parent certainly does not think that they could ever be a bereaved parent. Our children aren't supposed to die before us, so those thoughts don't enter our minds. When talking to Hollis's mom, Amanda, she is quick to admit that she does not want to be a bereaved parent. She wants to continue to be Hollis's mom, but she wants to be a regular parent and not a bereaved one. Of course, this is impossible. Amanda wants to continue to be Hollis's mom, which means she is a bereaved parent. In the almost two years since Hollis died, Amanda has started two new jobs. She dreads the questions that will invariably come asking about her children. How many children do you have? Four. What are their ages? This is when Amanda needs to take a deep breath before answering, knowing that this answer will now ruin someone's day. Amanda longs to be able to answer this question and not have the asker suddenly become awkward and start fumbling with words. She wishes that they could accept the simple fact that she gives when she says that her son passed away at the age of four, but she knows this will not happen. They will mumble an apology and avert their eyes. They likely will turn away and not ask her further questions about her family at all. They don't want to think too hard about being the parent of a child who died because they certainly don't want it to happen to them. This conversation makes me think more about the podcast and my social media accounts. My primary focus will always be helping bereaved parents heal, but perhaps a secondary focus should be helping everyone be more accepting of us as bereaved parents. I am so proud to be Andy's mom, and that means I am a bereaved mom. I never want to be ashamed to say it. Maybe announcing it will help others realize the term is not taboo, and they can accept us as we are today.

Young people in New York City are climbing on top of trains for thrills. The dangerous phenomenon, known as subway surfing, has been around for decades but is seeing a revival that sometimes ends in tragedy. There were six subway surfing deaths in New York in 2024. These tragedies are part of a global trend of deaths from social-media related challenges, as addictive app algorithms enthrall children and encourage users to make increasingly extreme content in a bid to rack up "likes". Our correspondents Jessica Le Masurier and Fanny Chauvin met the mother of a teenage boy who lost his life while subway surfing. She is one of a growing number of parents suing the social media firms Meta and TikTok for harming children. 

Can TikTok be therapy? After today's guest, Lindsay's 2-year-old son, Mason, died in his sleep due to complications from a febrile seizure, Lindsay felt lost. She didn't know what to do. She tried seeing two different therapists early on in her grief, but at the time, that didn't feel right to her. Lindsay says that she couldn't even begin to process her grief. That is when Lindsay turned to an unusual place. She turned to TikTok. Lindsay (@LinzMason'sMama) began making videos about Mason, showing him running around and giggling. Mason was never going to meet new people who would see his fun personality, but TikTok could introduce Mason to people all over the world. Lindsay also recorded herself while in the depths of her grief, showing anger, tears, and everything in between. As Lindsay posted these videos, she began to see comments back from people who thanked her for sharing. Thousands of people got to meet Mason and enjoy his silly antics, but Lindsay also became a voice for others as they saw her pain.  Watching Lindsay's videos reminded me so much of my journey in making the podcast. I started the podcast to help others in their pain, but that is not all that happened. As I shared my story and the stories of so many others, I felt myself slowly start to heal. Sharing stories led to amazing friendships and gradual healing.  I see that same process happening in Lindsay's life. It has now been two years since Mason died, and Lindsay continues to share her grief journey with her tens of thousands of followers. Many of those followers have become close friends, and people who have helped Lindsay begin to heal. So this leads us back to our original question as well as a few more. Can TikTok be therapy? Absolutely yes! Can podcasts be therapy? Again, the answer is yes. Can friends and support groups be therapy? Of course, they can. Whatever you do that brings you comfort and peace on your grief journey can be your therapy.

When today's guest, Samantha, became a mother, she was overjoyed. Although Raiden was diagnosed with developmental delay and autism early in life, Samantha did not let these diagnoses slow them down. Raiden went to different therapies and the family went on living their best life.  To me, almost 4-year-old Raiden seemed to be a little engineer. If a baby gate was up, he learned to pile up stuffed animals to get over it. Raiden figured out how to get out of the back door of the house despite the fact the family put a chain up to stop him, thus requiring them to put up a second chain. Whatever the obstacle, Raiden could figure out how to get past it. His family, friends, and even his therapists loved his spirit. Jumping on his trampoline while amongst hundreds of bubbles from a bubble machine would fill him with so much joy that he would be unable to contain himself. This is who Raiden was.  As much joy as that adventurous spirit brought Raiden, it ended up leading to his tragic death. On the last night of a family camping trip, Raiden woke up early before his parents or other family members. Although they had placed the zipper to the door at the top of the tent well out of reach, Raiden found a way to climb up and get out. He wandered to the lake where he drowned.  Almost immediately, Samantha found my podcast and began listening to the stories of other parents. These stories brought her comfort in her immense pain. She wrote to me only about 3 months after Raiden died, asking to share sweet Raiden and his story. While waiting for her interview to arrive, I received an email from Samantha that showed me just how special she is. She listened to an episode when I was 18 months into my grief journey and going through a very rough patch. I shared that I was sad that no one asked me questions about Andy anymore so Samantha did just that.  Samantha, only 4 months into her grief took that time to offer me comfort even though I am six years into my grief journey. That takes a very special person and helps prove something I have come to believe - no matter what our circumstances, grieving parents comfort each other best. Thank you, Samantha. Know that you and Raiden have touched my heart. Whenever I see a bubble machine, I will think of Raiden gleefully smiling and jumping through the bubbles.

This past year marked an important milestone for today's guest, LeeAnn. Aaron was killed in a car accident 18 years ago when he was 18 years of age. It never hit LeeAnn until last summer when someone asked her two questions: How long ago did Aaron die? How old was Aaron when he died? The answer to both questions was the same - 18 years. It was difficult for LeeAnn to believe.  LeeAnn says that she had two major epiphanies in her life. The first happened two years after Aaron died when she says she was in such deep darkness that she was simply existing. Her two sisters confronted her that day and asked, "Do you want to live? You are slowly killing yourself." LeeAnn had two other sons and family members who loved and needed her. She decided that she did want to live. She began to eat better and function - but she still did not feel joy. That second epiphany happened several years later. LeeAnn realized she was existing and not truly engaging with life. She was not feeling any true happiness. She made a drastic change then, leaving her marriage and moving out on her own. She learned to find joy again. LeeAnn eventually remarried and had a third major event in her life. LeeAnn and her husband were looking for a therapist to help with a family issue related to one of his children. LeeAnn was suddenly reminded that she had been given the name of a therapist by a bereaved mom over a decade before whom she had never called. Now, she called the number and made an appointment. The family issue was quickly resolved, but LeeAnn realized she had never properly grieved Aaron. She had made decisions to live and feel joy again, but she had not leaned into her own grief. She had tried to tuck it away, hoping it would resolve, but even after all that time, the grief sat there, waiting for her to pick it up and work through it. The therapist has been amazing for LeeAnn and beginning last year, LeeAnn volunteers to help other grieving parents in their journeys. She certainly hopes for them that it won't take 18 years to get where she is today, but she accepts that she couldn't have done it any other way. 

This week we are continuing our interview with Rochel, the bereaved aunt of sweet Sophie and psychiatric nurse practitioner. In this episode, we talk with Rochel about her other loss experiences (she's sadly an experienced griever) and how she uses writing and other modalities to integrate the losses into her life. We were caught off guard by how emotional this interview with Rochel was. Both of us felt seen and held in our grief in a way we rarely do with those who are not bereaved parents themselves... we hope you feel the same after this time with Rochel. Sending love to Sophie in the stars

"Medicine has reached the end of what it can do for your daughter. Our suggestion is that you take her home on hospice and enjoy her." These are the words that were spoken to today's guest, Nikki, on September 30, 2020. Before that day, Nikki and her family had been searching unrelentingly for someone who could diagnose and treat their young daughter, Felicity. Although they took her to various physicians and hospitals, they were never able to get a diagnosis. At the time of her death at 21 months of age, Felicity was a sassy thing who still weighed less than 9 pounds. For the next weeks, they enjoyed Felicity as much as possible. They loved her every single day. Nikki said that on the day Felicity died, Felicity's suffering ended, but her own truly began.  Child loss of any type is devasting, but it is especially complicated when there is no answer as to why the child died. When someone asks what happened to Felicity, Nikki has to answer, "I don't know." For years, Nikki lived with so much guilt, thinking that there must be something she could have done differently. There should have been a way to get more help. Nikki desperately wanted to find out what happened to Felicity. Eventually, though, Nikki realized that she had done the best she could with the information she had at the time. If hundreds of experts could not diagnose Felicity, Nikki could not either. Although geneticists are still looking for a diagnosis for Felicity, Nikki has turned her immediate focus on her living children. She says that while her grief has felt crushing, watching her children grieve Felicity has been even worse. The family talks about Felicity constantly. They do not hide from their grief. They acknowledge it and have learned from it. When Nikki's oldest son learned that his best friend's baby brother had died (Episode 271: AJ's Mom & Dad), he asked if they could bring him to see his friend, saying, "Mom, DI just needs a hug." Maybe Nikki and her family will never learn exactly what happened to Felicity, but they have learned one important life lesson. Sometimes, you don't need an answer - you just need a hug.

Grief is a deeply personal experience that affects each individual differently. In this episode of the Delgado Podcast, Dr. Jacob Sermeno, LCSW highlights the importance of distinguishing between adaptive grief, a normal response to loss, and complicated grief, which involves prolonged symptoms like avoidance, hyper-attachment, or significant daily impairment. Recognizing these differences helps clinicians provide tailored support to those struggling to process loss. Cultural factors and societal norms play a significant role in how grief is expressed. Jacob emphasizes the need for cultural humility, encouraging clinicians to create safe, nonjudgmental spaces where clients can process their emotions authentically. Whether navigating cultural expectations or personal barriers like suppressed emotions, clinicians can empower clients to grieve in ways that honor their experiences while promoting healing. Jacob also shares advice for those supporting grieving loved ones. Simple acts of presence, such as listening without judgment or offering a kind word, can provide immense comfort. He reminds us that grief is not linear and that it's okay to have both good and bad days. Whether you're a clinician or a friend, understanding and respecting the grieving process is essential to providing meaningful care. Conversation includes: The clinical distinction between adaptive and complicated grief. Signs of dysfunctional grief and when to intervene therapeutically. Strategies for clinicians to build rapport with grieving clients. The role of cultural humility in addressing diverse grief practices and expectations. How grief affects biopsychosocial functioning Addressing avoidance and hyperattachment in complicated grief presentations. Techniques to support emotional expression while maintaining professional boundaries. Practical advice for grief-adjacent individuals supporting loved ones or colleagues. Understanding the Kubler-Ross model: utility and limitations in modern practice. Encouraging self-awareness and self-compassion in the grieving process. About Dr. Sermeno Dr. Jacob Sermeno is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience addressing chronic mental health concerns, cognitive impairments, and aging-related challenges. His work spans end-of-life care in hospice and nursing homes, geriatric psychiatric program development, and mental health support within corrections. Jacob's research focuses on reducing recidivism among incarcerated individuals with Severe Mental Illness (SMI), where he has pioneered treatment and discharge planning initiatives for SMI-focused housing units in San Bernardino County. Committed to advancing the field, he aspires to a career in education to equip future professionals with evidence-based practices for working with vulnerable populations.

In this episode, we interview Judith's friend Rochel about the complexities of grief, particularly the loss of her niece Sophie. Rochel shares how she continues to build on her relationship with Sophie even after her death, and the ways in which she continues to celebrate her life. You may remember Rochel from a post we shared on our stories a few weeks ago, part of which is shared below with Rochel's permission: "Every year, I throw a party for my niece's birthday. Tomorrow, Sophie would have been 11. My sister once told me that with time and work, grief eventually moves from a constant heart-stabbing cry for what you've lost to an intermittent glow of gratitude for what you were blessed to have. It has taken years for me to be able to access the embodied knowledge that Sophie's transition from this physical plan, was just that - Her death was a shape-shifting..." Listen to the episode to hear the rest. ::: If you are interested in working with Rochel, you can reach her via email! Her Instagram is @rochelspang. ::: Support As Long As I'm Living podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/alailpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OR buy buying our MERCH at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bonfire.com/store/alailpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! ::: Follow As Long As I'm Living on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@aslongasimlivingpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, send us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aslongasimlivingpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠anchor.fm/aslongasimliving⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We would love to hear from you! ::: As Long As I'm Living is a podcast about life, love, and laughter after infant loss. Judith and Alina are rebuilding Happier Ever After one day at a time despite excruciating grief and trauma and offering support to grievers of all flavors, but especially those who have lost a baby to SIDS, infant death, birth accidents, stillbirth, TFMR, ectopic pregnancy, or miscarriage.

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Tycoons ex wife awarded huge pay out in High Court divorce Ukrainians hopes and concerns as Trump presidency nears Strangers Bar in Parliament closed after report of drink spiking White supremacist jailed for Worcestershire asylum seeker terror attack Cher Lloyd on making new music, Swagger Jagger and Liam Payne TikTok ban US Supreme Court upholds law that prohibits the app Bereaved maternity families treatment completely unacceptable Streeting Decoding Donald Trumps new official portrait US grounds SpaceXs Starship after test flight explosion The Traitors Harry and others spill secrets about Claudia and castle

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Ukrainians hopes and concerns as Trump presidency nears The Traitors Harry and others spill secrets about Claudia and castle Strangers Bar in Parliament closed after report of drink spiking Tycoons ex wife awarded huge pay out in High Court divorce TikTok ban US Supreme Court upholds law that prohibits the app Cher Lloyd on making new music, Swagger Jagger and Liam Payne Bereaved maternity families treatment completely unacceptable Streeting White supremacist jailed for Worcestershire asylum seeker terror attack Decoding Donald Trumps new official portrait US grounds SpaceXs Starship after test flight explosion

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Cher Lloyd on making new music, Swagger Jagger and Liam Payne Tycoons ex wife awarded huge pay out in High Court divorce US grounds SpaceXs Starship after test flight explosion Decoding Donald Trumps new official portrait The Traitors Harry and others spill secrets about Claudia and castle Ukrainians hopes and concerns as Trump presidency nears White supremacist jailed for Worcestershire asylum seeker terror attack Bereaved maternity families treatment completely unacceptable Streeting TikTok ban US Supreme Court upholds law that prohibits the app Strangers Bar in Parliament closed after report of drink spiking

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv The Traitors Harry and others spill secrets about Claudia and castle Bereaved maternity families treatment completely unacceptable Streeting TikTok ban US Supreme Court upholds law that prohibits the app White supremacist jailed for Worcestershire asylum seeker terror attack Ukrainians hopes and concerns as Trump presidency nears Cher Lloyd on making new music, Swagger Jagger and Liam Payne Decoding Donald Trumps new official portrait US grounds SpaceXs Starship after test flight explosion Strangers Bar in Parliament closed after report of drink spiking Tycoons ex wife awarded huge pay out in High Court divorce

Congratulations! You did it! You made it through Christmas and New Year's! I highly doubt any bereaved person has ever had these words said to them, but today, I say them to all of you. It is tough to be a grieving person during the holidays. It is difficult to see smiling, happy faces that seem to surround you everywhere you go. It can be challenging to spend time with whole families when your own feels utterly broken, but you did it. I really loved this week's podcast with Gwen. When she suggested this topic, I have to admit, I was a little hesitant. I had made it through the holidays. I wasn't sure I really wanted to go back and do a recap, but it turns out, it was very healing to revisit how things went over the past month. I certainly remembered the challenges, but this podcast helped me think about my successes as well. This was our 6th holiday season without Andy, and each one has been unique. We were home for Christmas for the first time and did far more of our 'normal' Christmas traditions. This year, attending church was far more difficult than other Christmases have been. The present opening part of Christmas, on the other hand, was probably the most fun one yet with far more smiles than tears. Talking with Gwen on the podcast this week helped me realize that I can feel a bit of pride for everything that I was able to do, even if sometimes I still shook with sobs. Tears are not signs of failure; they are a healthy emotional release. As you listen to the podcast this week, I invite you to look back on your own holiday season. You may have done all of your normal family traditions. You may have done none of your normal family traditions. You may have been at home with a few people. You may have attended big family gatherings. It doesn't really matter how you spent your time - you made it through. You are still breathing. You are still getting out of bed in the morning. Congratulate yourself. Celebrate. Take a deep breath. You deserve it.

I would consider today's guest, Kate, a born caregiver. I could sense her caring spirit immediately. Before losing her 12-year-old son, Ephrem, Kate worked as a birth doula and was in training to be a midwife. She loved supporting new young parents as they welcomed their new babies into the world.   After Ephrem died suddenly from complications from an aortic dissection, Kate no longer felt like she could continue working as a birth doula so she became a home health aide. One evening, Kate was assigned to be with an elderly man who was nearing the end of his life. Instead of offering support as a family welcomed new life, she sat with them as they prepared to say goodbye. Kate realized something that night - Ephrem's death had unveiled a new calling for her. She knew that hospice work was now what she was meant to do. Instead of supporting families as life entered the world, Kate would help people and their families at the end of life.   But hospice work was not Kate's only new calling. After Ephrem's death, Kate attended Luella's Lodge (a place near and dear to my own heart) for a retreat for bereaved parents. Kate found herself signing up for retreat after retreat. Each one gave her more strength. During one such retreat, Kate sat down with Carrie, co-founder of Luella's Lodge asking what she thought of the idea of Kate starting her own retreat center, fashioning it after Luella's Lodge. Carrie was thrilled.   Kate and her husband founded The Beekeeper's Well to offer support to bereaved families. Kate's dream is to eventually have a physical retreat center for bereaved parents in Southeast Michigan, but that will take time. For now, Kate offers weekly Sunday night drop-in Zoom support groups as well as grief coaching. Kate also hosts 'Home Retreats' anywhere in the US or Canada. These retreats are meant for smaller groups. Kate goes to a home (or often a weekend rental) and brings the retreat center experience to the bereaved. Kate finds local experts in yoga, breath work, massage, and other healing modalities and brings the magic of a grief retreat to grieving parents wherever they need it.

Kevin Byrne, retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Corps and an Airport Safety and Security Auditor, on South Korea's deadliest ever air disaster.

Christmas Day was always Mary's favorite day of the year and 2020 was no different. She was happy as she watched through the window as her husband made snow angels outside with their grandson. The day seemed perfect despite the fact that her son, Zach had been unable to come home to Indiana from where he was living near his dad in Texas. When Mary's husband came inside, he commented that he had missed numerous phone calls from Mary's ex-husband. Mary immediately panicked, knowing that something must be wrong with Zach. However, never in a million years would Mary have thought that her ex-husband would tell her the devastating news that Zach was dead. He found Zach in his apartment sitting on his couch with his nebulizer machine running. It is now known that Zach died from asthma complications on the evening of December 23rd. I feel like all bereaved parents struggle with the holidays. As I sat in church for Christmas Eve worship, tears flowed freely as I remembered Christmases past and longed for the days when Andy was with us. These days of joy and celebration do not feel very joyful when we are grieving, but then I think of Mary and others like her - parents whose children died on or around Christmas. It just adds another complicated layer to the grief. It would be completely reasonable to think that Mary might want to avoid Christmas entirely. She might want to just hide away during the whole Christmas season, but that is not Mary. Mary's faith has been an inspiration since I met her when she joined one of my support groups through Starlight Ministry in February of this year. Despite Mary's own pain, she has been an amazing listening ear and a source of comfort to all of us who are blessed enough to be in a group with her. After sharing with the group for the past several months, Mary made the decision to share Zach's story on the podcast. When asked if she might want to share Zach's story on the week of Christmas, Mary knew that was perfect timing. Just as Mary's honest presence helps our support group each week, her story will bless each of you as you listen during this hard Christmas week.

Charles Bock is honest from the beginning of his new memoir, “I Will Do Better”: He never wanted to be a dad. He was much more interested in pursuing his literary dreams than shepherding a child to adulthood. But his wife really wanted a baby. And he didn't think it would be right to tell her no. “In the book, I say: She wants to be a mom? OK. Let her. I'll continue with my ambitions. On weekends, I'll put on the Baby Bjorn, tell friends ‘we're parenting,' using that plural. That's what I thought I was going to do. I was going to put in my time, let [my wife] handle the heavy lifting.” But then Diana, Bock's wife, was diagnosed with an advanced form of leukemia when Lily was just six months old. She died a few days before Lily's third birthday. Bock had to step up.As he tells Kerri Miller on this week's Big Books and Bold Ideas, his new memoir “is about the emotional and physical journey, of this little girl with no mom who wants to go to the ball, and I have to grow up and be man enough to take her and handle it.” It's a conversation about parenting, about heartbreak, about maturing — and ultimately, about love. Guest: Charles Bock is the author of several books, including “Beautiful Children” and “Alice & Oliver.” His new memoir is “I Will Do Better.”Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts.Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.

Israel strikes Houthis after their attack on Tel Aviv. New UN pressure on Israel. Christians threatened in NE Syria. Analysis: Dave Eubank & Tony Perkins on the changing Middle East. Bereaved families blessed by 'Light to the Family' organization.

Israel strikes Houthis after their attack on Tel Aviv. New UN pressure on Israel. Christians threatened in NE Syria. Analysis: Dave Eubank & Tony Perkins on the changing Middle East. Bereaved families blessed by 'Light to the Family' organization.

45 minutes. Forty-five minutes does not seem like very much time, but it was a lifetime for Chris and Julie's first child, Faith, and it forever changed Chris and Julie. When the couple excitedly went to Julie's prenatal ultrasound, they first saw beautiful images of their baby but were then given devastating news. Faith was severely ill and doctors did not expect her to survive much longer. The couple was sent home expecting Julie to miscarry soon. Chris and Julie went home and began to pray. Certainly, they prayed for healing for their baby girl, but more importantly, they prayed that they might be able to meet Faith. Chris and Julie decided to make the most of this time of pregnancy. They talked to Faith, traveled with Faith, and even had a church dedication for Faith all before she was born. Then, at 37 weeks, Faith was born, and through a little miracle, her heart began to beat and her eyes opened. Chris and Julie got to experience the best 45 minutes of their lives, a time that they will remember forever. Then, just like that, the magic was gone. The hospital allowed the couple to spend the night with little Faith, but then the funeral director carried her away, and Chris and Julie had to continue living without their little girl.  Child loss is something that no parent expects. It is an incredibly isolating experience. As Chris and Julie slowly began to heal, they felt God calling them to help others experiencing this pain. They started an amazing organization, Faith45, which has two focus areas. The first is a mentorship program that helps match newly bereaved parents with a peer to walk beside them during their grief journey. They match the newly bereaved parent with a mentor with a similar story whether it be a miscarriage, stillbirth, or early infant loss. These mentors work to be the hands and feet of God, offering a listening ear and an understanding voice. The second focus of Faith45 is to offer Faith Boxes to purchase on their website. Each box contains 8-10 items to help newly bereaved parents in their grief journey. Through Faith45, Chris and Julie hope to give a message of hope and healing.

Today's guest, Lorraine's young son, AJ, had a smile that would light up a room. Although a heart murmur had been noted at birth, it was thought to have resolved. He was growing and feeding well, and Lorraine had no idea that serious heart abnormality was worsening. The murmur was again noted after a fall at 7 months of age, and AJ was sent to Cardiology where it was determined that AJ suffered from a condition called aortic stenosis. He was scheduled for a cardiac cath to assess the severity of the stenosis.  On the drive to the hospital that morning, Lorraine turned around and AJ gave her one of his famous smiles. That was one of his last smiles because, during the procedure, young AJ's heart stopped. Despite medical interventions, they were unable to save her sweet boy. To say that AJ's parents were horrified would be a vast understatement. The last thing that Lorraine wanted to do was leave her baby boy in a cold hospital morgue. This is when Martin House  Children's Hospice stepped in. When I think of hospice, I think of organizations that help support families whose loved ones are dying. Martin House certainly does this, but it is so much more. The staff from Martin House came to the hospital to take AJ's little body and keep it cool. They allowed his family to stay with him for a full week until they were ready to put him to rest. They offered grief support to Lorraine and her family for a full year. They were everything Lorraine needed when her whole world was falling apart.  In addition to Martin House, Lorraine began listening to the podcast only one month after AJ's death. She says the parents who told their stories on the podcast became her friends and support system. She felt less alone as she listened and she felt herself ever so slowly begin to heal. Now two years after AJ's death, Lorraine works to help other bereaved parents just as she was helped. She is a resource for Martin House helping them learn more about helping parents and now she shares her own story with Always Andy's Mom listeners so they too know that they are not alone.

When today's guest, Izumi, lost her young daughter, Alyce, to cancer, she felt like she had lost her identity as well. Izumi had given up her corporate job during Alyce's cancer treatment thinking that she would be able to go back after Alyce recovered. Unfortunately, that day never came, and Izumi felt like she had become a completely different person. Izumi no longer fit into the role. She struggled to imagine what her future would look like.  A friend approached Izumi, wondering if she might be interested in training to become a life coach. Not having many options at that point, she decided to apply and was even granted a scholarship. The coaching classes changed Izumi's life once again. She started the classes to try a different career path. What she found instead was a truer understanding of herself. She understood her grief and pain more fully. She could identify things that would activate her pain. She felt like, for the first time in her life, she knew her true self.  Around that same time, Izumi started attending virtual support groups for bereaved parents and eventually in different in-person groups. The first groups were specifically for parents whose children died of cancer, but Izumi then attended a general child loss group, where she learned that she could bond with bereaved parents no matter what their child's age or cause of death. Through Izumi's coaching training and support group participation, Izumi discovered a new purpose in life. The coaching class helped her find her true self, and Izumi knew that she wanted to share that knowledge with others. Additionally, Izumi wrote a book focusing on the child loss portion of her journey. She titles the book, 'Writing to Heal After the Unbearable Loss of a Child.' It is described as 'a book, journal and a conversation. If you're grieving, consider it your steadfast companion through the pain. If you're supporting a grieving friend, let it be your guide when words fail.' The book is available on Amazon and an initial complementary call for coaching can be scheduled here.

Today's guest, Linda, says that her life shattered the day a distracted driver killed her 26-year-old daughter, Andrea. Andrea had been living her dream life. She was happily married and an amazing mother to her 2-year-old son. Andrea was pregnant with their second child and worked as a social worker at a job she loved. Linda and Andrea were about as close as a mother and daughter could be. They were constantly texting each other, sharing bits of their day. Then, one afternoon, the texts just stopped. Linda was not concerned until Andrea did not pick up her son after work. Linda knew something was very wrong. From the moment police officers came to her door, Linda's life has not been the same. During those first days, Linda's husband needed to remind her to eat, shower, and brush her teeth each day. Every moment was a struggle, but ever so slowly, life became less difficult. Linda might have a good hour or two, then even half a day. Her healing process was not rapid, but instead a gradual improvement, happening over many years. Now, Linda is almost thirteen years into her grief journey. Linda is an inspiration to me, but not for reasons that people might expect. She is not an inspiration because she is doing 'really well', but because she acknowledges that there are still really hard days. Linda is honest and open about all of her feelings. She doesn't pretend to 'be over' her daughter's death because others think that she should be, and she openly shares when days are difficult. Three years ago, Linda decided to write a book documenting her grief journey. The book took her two years to write, and the result is a 'heart-wrenching memoir' that takes us on a journey 'through the full spectrum of grief with complex emotions'. Linda titled her book, 'The Road of Love and Hope' which is described as 'an epitome of how grief can be transformed into a legacy of love teaching the readers valuable guidance and management of emotions.' I am sure that it will help give hope to so many who are early in their own grief journeys. Thank you, Linda, for this gift. 

Choose Joy. This is the motto that today's guests, Jen and David, decided that their family would follow after a prenatal ultrasound showed that their fourth son AJ would be born with not one, but two newborn abnormalities. He had achondroplasia as well as a rare congenital heart defect. They knew that AJ was facing a complex medical future, but they decided that they would face all these struggles with joy-filled hearts. Throughout AJ's 44 days of life, Jen and David chose joy each day. David described AJ as a 'little man with a big purpose.' His life was a roller-coaster of ups and downs, but ultimately AJ's lungs were unable to heal and he lost his life. After AJ's death, you might think Jen and David would have given up their 'Choose Joy' motto, but this has not been the case. Jen knew that she needed to do something to help her broken family grieve and she needed guidance. Jen immediately signed up for several retreats at Luella's Lodge, some for her, some for her and David, and some for their whole family. The peace and comfort that Luella's Lodge offered was truly indescribable. Jen found herself being drawn back again and again. This is the point in the story when Jen's path first crossed my own. Carrie, from Luella's Lodge, and I decided to do a special retreat this past fall for Always Andy's Mom podcast listeners. Although Jen had never heard of me or the podcast, she was the host mom for that retreat. Over the past five years of doing the podcast, I have felt God's presence many times, but I never felt it stronger than during that weekend.  God knew I needed a video editing team to help with the podcast's social media presence. God also knew that Jen and David needed to expand their production company by working with organizations they felt passionate about. As our relationship began that weekend, we both felt that by choosing to work with each other, we were choosing joy. Together, we can help make podcast episodes and meaningful videos for grieving families everywhere. I envision AJ and Andy both grinning down at us from heaven, proud to see their parents choose joy. *If you want to join me next fall at Luella's Lodge, go to luellaslodge.org and sign up for the September 25-28th retreat.

Since this week's livestream fell on Veteran's Day here in the US, it made Gwen and I think about ideas of sacrifice and honor. We set aside this day to honor veterans and the sacrifices that they made while fighting to defend this country. Military awards are often given as an honor for military heroism or outstanding service. Over a military career, a serviceperson might earn many such awards which can be displayed on military uniforms.  Grieving people go through many sacrifices themselves after losing loved ones. We lose not only our child but often our sense of purpose and security. We lose our hopes and dreams for the future. We may feel that life is hardly worth living. We certainly don't feel we deserve to be honored with a medal.  I honestly feel like some days I am just barely hanging on, but I was challenged by two different people this week. The first was my dear, sweet aunt Penny who has been like a mother to me since the death of my mom in college. After listening to last week's podcast with David Kessler, my aunt wrote, 'Marcy, what you have done on your grief journey fills my heart with love. I know you won't like me saying this, but you are my hero.' She was right, I didn't like hearing those words at all. I am not a hero. I can think of dozens of people who are heroes, but that certainly does not describe me.  Then Gwen challenged me again in this episode. She asked grieving parents to submit names for awards they could earn in their own grief journeys. All of the answers were amazing, but some of my personal favorites were the Changed Heart Award, the Best Fake Smile Award, and the Got Out of Bed Award. She then asked me what my award would be. I was quick to think that I really didn't deserve an award, but then I thought of Aunt Penny and being her hero.  If I am her hero, then maybe I do deserve an award. And if I can be a hero, then we can all be heroes. We may not have a special day or be able to wear a uniform covered with medals, but we can honor ourselves and each other because what we are doing is heroic, even if some days, we only earn the Got Out of Bed award.

When David Kessler's publicist asked if he could come on the podcast to promote his newest workbook, Finding Meaning: Grief Workbook: Tools for Releasing Pain and Remembering with Love, I felt honored. David Kessler is one of the world's foremost experts on grief and loss. He has written six best-selling books over the years, including two that he co-authored with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. He founded the website grief.com, which boasts over 5 million yearly visits.  Despite these accolades, I admire David most for his approach to life after becoming a bereaved dad. When David's younger son, David, died suddenly in 2016, he found that he could not prepare for such pain. David says that he wanted to call every grieving parent whom he had counseled to say he hadn't understood the depth of their pain.  David told grieving parents to start therapy and go to support groups, but he did not know just how difficult that was for a newly bereaved parent. David says that it took him three times to get the courage to attend his first grief support group. He sat in the group staring at a table with his books on it, no longer the grief expert, but instead a bereaved dad. After the death of his son, David learned so much that he hadn't truly understood before. He learned that the pain of grief was incredibly deep, but if you took time to excavate through the pain, meanings could be revealed. With the blessing of the Kubler-Ross family in 2019, David wrote a new book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. Since the book was published, he realized that a personal workbook might be an even better way for people to find meaning in their lives. David says the workbook is a way to 'get the pain out of you and into the workbook.' It is a truly healing experience to complete the workbook. I want to close today with what David said to me at the end of our interview. 'See the meaning you are making in the lives you are touching.' Every time you talk to another person, you are making meaning, whether you go on a podcast to share your story with thousands or sit at a kitchen table and share with one person.

'Is life still worth living?' 'Will I ever be happy again? These are questions often asked by bereaved parents. They are asked quietly amongst other grieving parents or therapists. They are often left unsaid entirely but still plague us inside. We are afraid to voice them, afraid to think of what others might do or say - afraid that we will offend our living family members if they learn that these questions are in our heads. Today's guest, Jae Hee, was having these very thoughts in the months after her 5-month-old daughter, Alina, died of a genetic disease, but no one, not even her family, knew. From the outside, Jae Hee looked happy. She was cracking jokes at work. She was laughing and interacting with others, but on the inside, her passion for life was gone. As the weeks passed, Jae Hee wondered if life was always going to feel this way.  About two months after Alina died, Jae Hee started listening to the podcast and learned that she was not alone in her feelings. The podcast recommendation came from a friend of a friend whom Jae Hee later learned was a bereaved sister who started listening to better understand her parents' grief. As Jae Hee thought of her older daughter, she decided to sit down with this woman to talk with her. This new friend said to Jae Hee the same thing that a nurse told Eric soon after Andy's death. She said that after her sibling died, she never felt like she was enough for her parents. She said they were never truly there for her after the death of her brother. Their happiness was gone. This woman still loves her parents deeply, but she always wished that they could have a love for life again. This conversation profoundly hit Jae Hee. She didn't want her older daughter to live her life longing to see her parents happy. She wanted to truly be happy again. She thought of Alina and her short life - a life so much shorter than Jae Hee wanted it to be, but every second of it was filled with love. Jae Hee and her remaining family deserve all of that love and joy as well.  Is life still worth living? Yes, it is. Will I ever be happy again? Yes, Jae Hee and I can be, and so can you.