Podcasts about grief support

For Dr. Priya, the autopsy is just the beginning. What happens next can change everything for the families left behind. In this episode, Dr. Priya Banerjee joins Sheryl McCollum, to examine a side of autopsies that rarely makes headlines: the profound responsibility of communicating with families. Dr. Priya reflects on the power of empathy in the autopsy suite, the deep importance of walking families through trauma with care, and the surprising ways postmortem findings can protect the living. She shares raw personal experiences—from the loss of her own parents to advocating for grieving families left behind during COVID—and the critical role of cultural awareness, front-line staff, and honest conversations. Listeners will also learn how autopsies sometimes uncover hereditary conditions that can lead to lifesaving interventions for surviving loved ones. This is forensic pathology not just as a science, but as a service. Highlights: (0:00) The emotional weight of entering the medical examiner’s office (1:30) Debunking the ‘grim reaper’ myth of pathology (3:00) Personal loss and professional insight: How Dr. Priya’s grief reshaped her work (5:45) The unsung heroes of the ME office—investigators and admin staff (6:45) Why Dr. Priya insists on calling families directly (9:00) Launching a private autopsy service in response to COVID-era needs (13:00) Managing expectations: What autopsies reveal and what they can’t (15:00) Working with families and finding closure (16:30) Cultural and religious barriers to autopsy (24:00) Why refusing an autopsy can hurt future legal or health outcomes (27:00) The hidden legacy of genetic disease (30:00) Dr. Priya’s pet and power of early intervention About the Hosts Dr. Priya Banerjee is a board-certified forensic pathologist with extensive experience in death investigation, clinical forensics, and courtroom testimony. A graduate of Johns Hopkins, she served for over a decade as Rhode Island’s state medical examiner and now runs a private forensic pathology practice. Her work includes military deaths, NSA cases, and high-profile investigations. Dr. Priya has also been featured as a forensic expert on platforms such as CrimeOnline and Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. She is a dedicated educator, animal lover, and proud mom. Website: anchorforensicpathology.comTwitter/X: @Autopsy_MD Sheryl McCollum is an Emmy Award–winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, and the Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. She works as a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department and is the co-author of the textbook Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. Sheryl is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute (CCIRI), a nationally recognized nonprofit that brings together universities, law enforcement, and experts to help solve unsolved homicides, missing persons cases, and kidnappings. Email: coldcase2004@gmail.comTwitter/X: @ColdCaseTipsFacebook: @sheryl.mccollumInstagram: @officialzone7podcast

Since becoming a bereaved parent, several phrases have irritated me. One of the most bothersome things people say to me is, 'You are so strong. I could never do what you do.' I feel like that suggests they don't think they need to help me—that I can handle everything on my own without assistance. When I first heard about today's guest, Cristi, and the 'Mentally STRONG' method she developed, I wasn't sure if I would like it. However, because Cristi lost not just one, but three children, I thought I should give it a try. After our conversation, all my doubts melted away. When Cristi talks about being mentally strong, she doesn't mean being a resilient hero doing everything alone. Instead, Cristi teaches people to face their grief and sorrow directly, in community with therapists and other grieving individuals. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, Cristi believed in cognitive behavioral therapy and the power of positive thinking. But after losing her adoptive son Johnny to drowning and seeing her son Reggie—and later daughter, Miah, and husband, Bundy—suffer from DRPLA, a terrible degenerative disease, Cristi realized that simply thinking positively was not very helpful for those grieving. We can't just 'look on the bright side' and think positive thoughts after losing our children. That isn't realistic or natural. Cristi understands this too well. She writes, "Grief can feel overwhelming, like a weight that never lifts. It consumes your thoughts, leaves you feeling lost, and makes it hard to get through the day. It's an unpredictable journey that pulls at your heart. But in these moments of deep sorrow, there is space to feel, process, and find a path toward healing." The Mentally STRONG method isn't a quick fix for deep grief, but it can help you face and work through your grief. It can help you find purpose in life again. If Cristi can find purpose and experience joy after losing Johnny, Reggie, Miah, and Bundy, so can we. For more information and access to her book and documentary, visit mentallystrong.com.

Episode Summary: In this powerful and raw episode of Healing Starts With the Heart, grief specialist Sharon Brubaker asks a deeply uncomfortable—but necessary—question: What if the pain isn't the problem… but the key to your healing? Sharon breaks down why so many of us are still stuck in our grief—not because we're doing it wrong, but because no one ever taught us how to feel the pain instead of managing it. From performative grief to inherited patterns, she shares how unprocessed pain keeps us in a holding pattern of burnout, resentment, and silence. You'll learn how to stop performing, start feeling, and allow grief to finally move through you—instead of staying trapped inside your body.

✨ Episode Summary In this deeply personal and Spirit-led episode, Dr. Leelo Bush shares how a quiet moment of surrender led to a global movement—and how the same can happen for you. If you've ever hesitated because you didn't feel “ready” to step into coaching, ministry, or healing work, this message will break chains. You'll be reminded that God doesn't need you to be perfect—He needs you to be willing. Through powerful scripture, bold truth, and a heartfelt challenge, you'll discover why your story, your scars, and your “yes” might be the answer to someone else's prayer.    

In this deeply moving episode of Radio Medium with psychic medium Laura Lee, spirit brings healing and closure to Naomi from South Carolina, who never got the chance to say goodbye to her long-distance love before his sudden passing. Through vivid spiritual impressions and dream visitations, Naomi's late partner shares heartfelt messages of love, gratitude, and soul connection from the other side.

Dr. Ruth Hephzibah's journey epitomizes resilience and transformation, emerging from profound personal loss to dedicate her life to the realms of psychosociological rehabilitation and grief support. Having founded Grief to Grace International, she has dedicated herself to helping individuals navigate the complexities of loss and trauma. Her expertise is further encapsulated in her literary work, "A Pen that Rewrites Grief," and her engaging podcast, through which she extends hope and healing to those in need. Dr. Hephzibah's profound understanding of grief, borne from her own experiences, enables her to offer invaluable guidance and support to others navigating similar pathways. In this discussion, we delve into her impactful initiatives, the nuances of psychosocial rehabilitation, and the essential tools she employs to facilitate healing in those confronting grief.Dr. Ruth Hephzibah's odyssey, characterized by resilience and transformation, serves as the focal point of our enlightening discourse. With a profound commitment to the realm of psychosocial rehabilitation, Dr. Hephzibah has dedicated her professional life to the intricate nuances of mental health and grief support. Her journey commenced with the profound personal loss of her husband, an event that catalyzed her transition from a career in IT to her true calling in psychosocial rehabilitation. This episode delves into the genesis of her nonprofit organization, Grief to Grace International, along with Echoes of Life and Spice, which collectively assist individuals grappling with the tumultuous waves of loss and trauma. Dr. Hephzibah's experiences not only shape her professional engagements but also imbue her narrative with a sense of authenticity and hope, making her insights invaluable for those traversing similar paths of grief.Throughout our conversation, we explore the intricacies of psychosocial rehabilitation, a field that blends psychiatric understanding with social support mechanisms. Dr. Hephzibah elucidates her methodology, emphasizing the importance of personalized plans that cater to individual needs. By employing a variety of coping strategies, including mindfulness and journaling, she aids her clients in navigating their emotional landscapes. Her approach is underscored by a profound understanding of grief's complexities, as she articulates how unresolved grief can manifest in various forms, including substance misuse and anxiety. This discussion not only highlights the practical aspects of her work but also offers a poignant reminder of the healing power of compassion and connection in the face of profound loss.As the conversation culminates, we reflect on the key principles outlined in Dr. Hephzibah's book, 'A Pen that Rewrites Grief.' This work offers structured guidance for those grappling with loss, providing practical exercises that encourage self-reflection and emotional expression. The central tenet of our dialogue is the assertion that healing is attainable, with Dr. Hephzibah advocating for acceptance, self-discovery, and the importance of sharing one's experiences. Her journey serves not only as a beacon of hope for those in mourning but also as a compelling reminder of the strength that lies within the human spirit to overcome even the most profound of losses.Takeaways: Dr. Ruth Hephzibah's journey exemplifies resilience, illustrating the transformative power of grief support. She founded Grief to Grace International to assist individuals dealing with trauma and loss effectively. A Pen that Rewrites Grief serves as a guide for healing, offering practical interventions for grief management. Ruth emphasizes the importance of acceptance and forgiveness as crucial steps in the healing process. The podcast highlights various forms of grief, advocating for a compassionate approach to those suffering. Listeners are encouraged to share their stories and...

Today's guest, Jody, worked as an actor on Broadway for a year, but nothing had ever prepared her for the role she was required to play after the birth of her firstborn daughter, Lueza. After a completely unremarkable pregnancy, Jody suffered severe complications during childbirth, resulting in significant brain injuries for Baby Lueza. After suffering from horrible seizures as a young infant, they were able to stabilize little Lueza. Once they did so, she began to show a smile that would light up a room. Still, Lueza had significant delays. She could not sit, eat, or talk independently. At one point in time, Jody remembers looking at her husband and saying, "Will Lueza ever be able to sit up on her own?" Her husband's answer stuck with her: "She may be lying down, but she may be very happy." Over the years, Lueza proved her Dad right. She continued to be 'lying down,' but she was always very happy. She loved music, movies, and roller coasters. She would laugh and squeal and could let her family know what she did and didn't like with the slightest head movements. And her smile continued to light up the room.  Lueza had a profound effect on many people around her as she interacted with doctors and nurses in the medical community and her teachers at school. Over time, Lueza slowly developed more complications and died suddenly at home one night after getting what her family thought was only a little cold.  Then, Jody's life changed once again. She was no longer the mother of a medically complex child. She was now a bereaved mother. There were no more hospital visits. The medical equipment was no longer needed in the family home. Jody began doing arts and crafts as a form of healing. She attended spiritual support groups for bereaved parents. Most importantly, Jody began to write. Jody wrote a memoir about her life with Lueza that was years in the making. The title of the memoir was so fitting - 'She May Be Lying Down, but She May Be Very Happy.' This memoir was a story of her life with Lueza and a heartfelt thank you to all the people who had helped her over the years. A beautiful tribute for a beautiful girl.

For something that touches every one of us, many people still feel grief-illiterate. Whether it's impacting someone close to you or your entire community, it can be difficult to figure out what to say or how to offer support. In light of the recent flooding in Texas, I wanted to have a heartfelt conversation about collective grief, the grieving process, and what it truly means to show up for others in both the short and long term.I'm honored to have my client and Master Coach, Margo Fordonski, join me to offer her wisdom surrounding the grieving process. Margo is a trained grief educator who brings her professional insight and her personal experience with grief to this topic. We discuss how grief affects us individually and collectively, and how we can support one another when the unexpected happens.In this episode, you'll hear about specific ways to support someone who is grieving, how to offer help in the midst of collective grief, and why it's never too late to reach out—whether the loss happened recently or many years ago. Grief is hard, and many of us are afraid to say or do the wrong thing. Because of this, we often end up doing nothing at all. However, the more we normalize this universal, human experience, the more we can understand how to navigate grief and to support others. What you'll learn:The ripple effects of community tragedy and collective griefWhy every grief experience looks different–and grieving never has a deadlineThree specific tips for how to support someone who is grieving in the early stagesHow to be a steady presence for someone after a loss in the long-termWhy small actions—a text, sharing a photo, using their loved one's name—can help support someone who is grievingYou can read the full show notes here.About Margo FordonskiMargo Fordonski is a Master Certified Life Coach, Certified Grief Educator, and a twice-bereaved parent. After losing both of her children—most recently her son Andrew, who lived with brain cancer for 24 years—Margo has walked the long, complex path of grief firsthand. Her personal journey led her to a powerful calling: to support other mothers navigating life after the unthinkable. Margo helps grieving moms find peace, resilience, and renewed hope—not by “moving on,” but by learning how to carry their grief with love. Her 1:1 coaching approach is deeply personalized, meeting each mother where she is with compassionate guidance and tools that support nervous system regulation, emotional processing, and holistic healing. She guides her clients in healing at their own pace, rediscovering who they are now, and gently rebuilding a life that honors both their child and their continued growth. Her work is trauma-informed, heart-led, and rooted in the belief that grief is not something to fix—it's something to tend to with care, courage, and support. Through her coaching, writing, and lived witness, Margo offers a safe and understanding space for grieving moms to feel less overwhelmed, more connected to themselves, and begin to rebuild a life that holds both sorrow and joy.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margofordonskilifecoach Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margofordonski_lifecoach Website:

On this heartfelt episode of Radio Medium Laura Lee, spiritual medium Laura connects with Mercy from Florida, revealing powerful messages from beyond. Surrounded by angels—including Archangel Michael—and a beloved maternal spirit who once found comfort in food, Mercy receives emotional healing guidance rooted in love, forgiveness, and divine support. As she searches for meaningful answers to her pain, the spirit world reminds her the healing journey begins within. Laura shares her own story of healing through forgiveness, urging listeners to pair spiritual practice with medical care. If you've ever struggled to let go, find peace, or are curious about signs from your angels, this episode is for you.

In this episode Sascha and I explore what it's like to interact with reality mediated by different kinds of brains. We realized that one good way to describe our current experience is this: Sascha is a potion mage and I am a potion. This feels just right to me. I revel in her jars and shelves, feel grateful for my tremendous luck this time around and move off in the world more self aware and oriented.Along the way we discuss lions and panthers, spiders and iguanas, orb creatures, horses and Melon bank.We hope you find some expansiveness in this romp through a few of the endless ways to be consciously incarnate. 

Connect with us!I talk about grief support and care that actually landed. What would grief support that speaks your grief care language look like? That's what this is about. Grieving Unapologetically is brought to you by The Heart of Miss Bee, Inc. a 501(c)(3) organization that exists to honor the late Beverly E. Carroll. This episode is brought to you by The Heart of Miss Bee, Inc. which exists to honor the late Beverly E. Carroll.

When today's guest, Andy, lost his 18-year-old son, Heston, to suicide, he had a lot of time to reflect on life and finding one's purpose. Early in Andy's grief journey, he saw a visual that truly resonated with him. The image was of a framed picture that was completely black. The blackness represented the grief that, early on in one's grief journey, was all-encompassing. The darkness of the grief covered every part of the bereaved person's life. Then, there was a second image of a black rectangle the same size as the first. However, the picture frame was now several times larger, so that the black portion now took up only 5% of the frame.  The explanation is simple. The deep grief does not go away. The hole in our hearts remains. What we can work to change is the rest of our lives. We can grow and expand so that our lives are bigger than the grief. There are portions with love, joy, and happiness. They do not eliminate the grief, and the grief remains a part of the picture, but it is not the entire picture. The idea is not to get stuck in our grief, but to bring it along with us as we continue to experience life.  This past weekend, my (foster) son, Valeriano, got married. It was a beautiful wedding. There were lots of smiles and happiness surrounding the couple, but there were tears, too, as we had our first big family event without our Andy. Valeriano bought a special green pen to use to sign his marriage certificate to honor Andy. I put his picture and teddy bear on the seat where he should have been sitting. The new family picture included Andy's picture and teddy bear. We did not ignore our grief and forget about Andy on Saturday. We brought him along to be a part of the celebration. This is just what Heston's Dad, Andy, encourages as well. He brings Heston with him, feeling his presence. He has even released a powerful book, 'Overcoming Life's Toughest Setbacks: 15 Breakthrough Core Beliefs to Transform Challenges into Opportunities!' The book is available through his website, askandycampbell.com. If it's half as good as my conversation with him today, I know it will inspire many of us on our grief journey.

In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Manager at the Senior Alliance talks to Jennifer Frush, Executive Director for New Hope Center for Grief Support. They discuss the various problems and the situations that can cause those problems when dealing with grief. Everyone has a different way of grieving, and grief affects everyone differently. whether you're a senior, or younger or even a child. New Hope Center for Grief Support is a free advocacy and counseling organization that offers help for people who are grieving in many different ways. From support groups to individualized help to events and activities, New Hope can provide care for those who are grieving and feel like no one understands what they are going through. Great information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media. The post Inside The Senior Alliance – MI Options (Ep 58) appeared first on The Senior Alliance.

Today's guest, Jackie, says that her guiding purpose is based on a quote that she has written down and keeps close by. David Viscott wrote, "The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The work of life is to develop it. And the meaning of life is to give your gift away." Jackie says that is exactly how her son, Stu, lived his life and how she works to live her own.   Initially, after her amazingly talented, loving son, Stu, died by suicide, she lost herself. Stu had been living his dream life in New York City. He had his own apartment and worked at a job he loved as a barber, cutting hair. Then, mental illness invaded his life and took him away. Jackie was left feeling alone. Hope? What is that? Healing? That's impossible. She tried going to grief support groups but felt overwhelmed. Then, Jackie found an organization called Eric's House. Their vision is that 'no person who is bereaved by suicide or substance use will suffer these devastating losses alone.' Jackie said the organization saved her.  Ever so slowly, hope crept back into her life. Jackie didn't force healing to come, but it did, a little bit at a time. She joined one of their online support groups and then another. They gave her the tools that she needed to start rebuilding her life. She began writing an article for the organization's newsletter and started facilitating support groups for them as well. Over time, Jackie found a purpose for her grief.  Now Jackie compares herself to the old apple trees in her backyard. They appear to be 150 years old. They have branches dying each year and huge holes in them, but they persist. Each year, the trees blossom and look beautiful. They produce apples that feed the deer in the area. Whatever life throws at them, they keep going.  That is a great visual for our lives now. We may have huge holes inside and limbs that are missing, but we just keep going. As ugly as our lives may look from the outside, they can still produce beauty and help provide for others along our life's journey. We may not be who we once were, but we can still be amazing.

Welcome back to Groove with Portia.I'm joined by Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, known as Dr. B., who shares one of the most profound stories of pain, survival, and spiritual evolution I've ever witnessed. Dr. B. has endured the unimaginable—the loss of three children and her husband—and yet she still shows up in the world with purpose, compassion, and a fire to help others heal.We talk about her “Mentally Strong Method,” born out of necessity when faith alone wasn't enough to hold the weight of grief. Dr. B. opens up about how her spiritual beliefs have evolved, how she wrestled with anger, and why grief and trauma must be treated separately. She speaks from both lived experience and clinical expertise as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.We also get real about the self-help industry's anti-medication bias, the silence around spiritual conflict in therapy, and the way women often internalize pain—especially when navigating anger, depression, and the crushing expectations of faith communities.This episode is a safe space for anyone who's ever been told to “just pray through it,” for anyone navigating grief layered with spiritual conflict, and for those who feel like they're barely holding it together.If that's you—this one's for you.Connect with Dr. B: https://mentallystrong.com/

Maeve was a little girl who was born to be a big sister. As soon as she was able to toddle around the house, Maeve was bringing the family dog her favorite books to read and making sure he had everything that he 'needed'. Shortly after Maeve's second birthday, her little brother was born, and Maeve was truly in her element. She adored Declan and wanted to share everything with him. Baby Declan loved being a part of the 'Maeve show' as her mama, Tarah, described it. Declan would grin as his big sister laughed and danced around him. Life was good. Then, one day, that perfect life was destroyed. The little family was on a flight to DC. The flight had been delayed, so by the time the plane landed, Maeve had fallen asleep on her dada's lap. Tarah's husband tried to rouse her, and could not. Maeve was no longer breathing. He let out a scream, and both parents immediately started CPR. Their perfectly healthy 3-year-old daughter had died for no apparent reason while sleeping on her father's lap. Her official cause of death was Sudden Unexplained Death of Childhood (SUDC). Their world was shattered. Tarah first wrote to me less than two months after Maeve's death. She shared her story and asked to be connected to another mom whose daughter died of SUDC. Over the almost two years since that first email, Tarah has continued to email with family updates, show ideas, and eventually, about Maeve's Foundation, the charity that Tarah and her husband started in Maeve's memory.  Initially, Tarah just wanted to collect enough money to buy a bench as a dedication to Maeve. Then, that idea grew into sponsoring a memorial garden in Maeve's memory. As more people contributed to the foundation, Tarah knew they needed to grow.  The organization now has a new mission - Maeve's Wish. Maeve's Wish is working to provide 'a truly magical respite for children battling a chronic or terminal illness - a trip to Walt Disney World.'  Just as Maeve wanted to make her family dog and baby brother happy, she will help make precious family memories for others. We're pretty sure she will be laughing and dancing as she watches from heaven.

Families gathered for the first meeting of a new Parent Grief Support Group in Clark County, created to provide healing and community for those navigating the pain of losing a child. Organized by NWCAVE and led by co-chairs who have lived the experience, the group continues with a July 27 session in Battle Ground. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/parent-grief-support-group-offers-hope-and-community/ #griefsupport #ClarkCounty #NWCAVE #JaneOh #childloss #BattleGroundWA #traumasupport #ParentSupport #communityhealing #MindiThomas

Storytelling. It's my very favorite thing about doing the podcast each week. When I meet each guest, I am privileged to help people share their child's story with people around the world. I have come to learn over the past 300-plus episodes that this storytelling helps lead to healing for both the guests sharing their stories and the listeners who tune in each week. Emily learned about the power of storytelling years ago while writing her book, Birth Story Brave. As a perinatal mental health specialist, she recognized the importance for women to be able to work through their own birth story experiences to help them heal when things don't go as planned. Hundreds of miles away, Malhaley, a fellow perinatal mental health specialist, used the book with her patients as well, finding its 'storytelling as healing' theme to be extremely helpful.  Then, the unimaginable happened. Not only did Mahaley have her own birth trauma experience, but her daughter, Saachi, needed to be admitted to the NICU and died a few days later. Mahaley's world was rocked. She did not know if she would ever be able to work in perinatal mental health again, but as she did consider going back, she thought about Emily and her book. Mahaley knew that she needed to work through her own story to begin to heal. As helpful as Emily's first book was to Mahaley, she quickly realized that families whose birth story leads to their babies being admitted to the NICU needed something more. The birth story was important, certainly, but for these families, it was only the beginning. They need a guide to help them after the birth, when their babies start and sometimes end their lives in the NICU.  Mahaley interviewed Emily, and an idea was born. The two of them began to write another book, 'Your NICU Story: Reflecting on Your Family's Experience', which will be released in September. In it, they utilize the power of storytelling to help families navigate their own NICU experiences, whether they ultimately bring their babies home or not.

On this episode of Groove with Portia, I'm joined by grief recovery mentor, photographer, and author Helen Fernald, whose book Love, Helen: Letters to My Mother came from years of pouring her heart onto the page. After losing her mother, father, and experiencing two miscarriages, Helen turned to writing as a way to release what couldn't be said out loud. And through that process, she found her voice—and her healing.We dive deep into how creativity can be a lifeline through grief. Helen shares what it was like to cry while writing, wrestle with anger, and find peace in remembering. We also talk about the pressure to hide our pain, especially as women, and the importance of making space for real emotion—without shame.This conversation is an invitation to be honest with yourself about where you are in your grief and to trust that expression—whether through tears, writing, or silence—is powerful. Grief isn't the enemy.Sometimes, it's the teacher.Connect with Helen: https://helenfernald.com/

There is one question that this week's guest, Nicole (nicolebgebhardt.com), asks each client when she first starts seeing them as a life coach.   What are three things you love about yourself?  How did you answer this question? Was it difficult? Did you even come up with three things? I have to admit something. I had a hard time. As a mom, I can think of three things I love about my kids. As a wife, I can easily name three things I love above my husband, but when asked to look inward like this, I falter.  Nicole says that 85% of her clients have the same struggle. They can't name even one thing, let alone three. There was a time when Nicole had these same feelings. After suffering through two miscarriages and the death of her 9-week-old son, Samuel, from SIDS, she didn't feel like she deserved to be happy. Nicole turned to alcohol, and when her husband began abusing her, she felt as if she 'deserved' the abuse.  Even after having three healthy children, leaving her first husband, and meeting her 'Prince Charming', she still didn't love herself. Five and a half years ago, she decided to take her own life. After surviving that suicide attempt, her outlook on life changed. She chose to become clean and sober and focus on loving herself first. This certainly was not easy, but when talking to Nicole today, I can say that she, quite simply, radiates joy. Despite her past, Nicole does not let these experiences define her. Nicole realizes that she is not a victim. She is a survivor, and that is amazing. She is resilient, she is strong, and she is awesome.  Think about your own life for a minute. Think of all that you have gone through. Likely, if you are reading this, your child died. Perhaps you have suffered through abuse and addiction or tried to help a loved one through their struggles. Maybe you have lost other loved ones or your job, marriage, or home. Despite all of these things and more, you get up every day. You are strong and resilient. We all are.  Can I name three things I love about myself? Yes, I can. And so can you.

If you or someone you know has had to go through Grief related to the loss of a loved one crossing over to the other side, this is the episode for you. On this week's episode, Shanta is joined by Christine Marie Aitchison. In this powerful episode of Authentic Talks 2.0, host Shanta Generally welcomes trauma-informed healer and ceremonial guide Christine Marie Aitchison for a heartfelt conversation on grief, healing, and sacred transformation. Christine Marie opens up about her personal journey—growing up with a father who struggled with heroin addiction, a mother dealing with mental health challenges, and surviving a near-death experience that changed everything. Together, we explore the emotional terrain of loss, trauma, and the healing practices that help us move from pain to empowerment.Christine Marie shares insights from her 90-day healing journal, Grieve with Guidance, offering rituals, reflection, and real tools for anyone walking the path of loss and forgiveness. We also talk about the silence around grief, the weight of “not knowing what to say,” and the sacred power of presence. This episode is an invitation to heal—authentically, gently, and with grace.  Christine Marie will return for a future panel discussion centered around her journal—so stay tuned!Connect with Christine Marie:Earth & Energy Medicine SchoolWebsite: ChristineMarieHeals.comInstagram: @christinemariehealsBook: Grieve with Guidance (Available on her website and major retailers)Website:https://www.christinemarieheals.com/?msID=815c5e15-0e36-4451-a7ef-dfb83abaf278https://www.christinemarieheals.com/energymedicineschool?msID=589050f4-082f-43d7-899c-de02d118efe7Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Grieve-Guidance-support-journey-forgiveness/dp/B0F1C298JW?msID=c91c57e0-2c95-499e-84a7-6b8f90da246fApple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Spreaker | Castbox and more. Connect with the host:Instagram: @AuthenticTalks2.0 Email: AuthenticShanta@gmail.com Website: www.AuthenticTalks2.com Facebook: AuthenticTalks2 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/authentic-talks-2-0-with-shanta--4116672/support.

In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Manager at the Senior Alliance talks to Jennifer Frush, Executive Director for New Hope Center for Grief Support. They discuss the various problems and the situations that can cause those problems when dealing with grief. Everyone has a different way of grieving, and grief affects everyone differently. whether you're a senior, or younger or even a child. New Hope Center for Grief Support is a free advocacy and counseling organization that offers help for people who are grieving in many different ways. From support groups to individualized help to events and activities, New Hope can provide care for those who are grieving and feel like no one understands what they are going through. Great information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media. The post Inside The Senior Alliance – St. Joseph's Helpers (Ep 57) appeared first on The Senior Alliance.

What if we embraced death not with fear, but with love, dignity, and thoughtful planning?In this powerful and moving episode, hosts Robin and Al sit down with Dipti Purbhoo, Executive Director of the Dorothy Ley Hospice, to explore the essential, but often overlooked, role of hospice and palliative care in our healthcare system.Dipti shares her personal journey into the world of hospice, emphasizing the importance of early access to palliative care, community support, and the compassionate legacy that end-of-life services offer. From demystifying death to advocating for a proactive healthcare approach, this conversation is a poignant reminder of what it truly means to care for others and for the legacy we leave behind.Key takeaways:✨ Hospice is Heart Work – At its core, hospice care is about love, dignity, and showing up for people at their most vulnerable.✨ Start Sooner, Not Later – Palliative care isn't just for the final days; it can begin at diagnosis to support quality of life.✨ Community is Essential – Volunteers, donors, and grief support services form the foundation of holistic, accessible care.✨ Talk About It – Open conversations about end-of-life wishes empower families and reduce fear around death.✨ Care is a Legacy – Success isn't always about achievements—it's the lasting impact of compassion, presence, and advocacy.Connect with DiptiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dipti-purbhoo/Website: https://dlhospice.org/Connect with Us • LinkedIn: Robin Bailey and Al McDonald • Website: Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group

Episode 300. It's hard to wrap my head around a number that big. Hundreds of beautiful stories. Thousands of listeners. Later this summer, we will reach another milestone: the 7th anniversary of Andy's death—14 years of having Andy here on Earth and 7 years of Andy in heaven. Another concept that is so difficult to comprehend. In today's episode, Gwen plays host and interviews Eric and me as we discuss the podcast and its growth over the past six years. The addition of our videographer, Jen, has been an incredible blessing as she has created beautiful video clips to share on Instagram and Facebook (@alwaysandysmom). These videos have helped us all see the featured children in real life, so to speak. Over the next few days, you will be able to see Andy featured for the first time! We also talked about our recent family trip. Vacations can be difficult after losing a child. Part of us may feel like we don't want to make new, wonderful memories without our loved one. Certainly, there were moments of sadness and tears as we traveled, thinking of Andy and knowing how much he would have loved it. We made a point of taking Andy's teddy bear, Herky, along on the trip and capturing pictures with him every single day. Herky had his special pouch in the backpack and made appearances at St. Peter's Square, the canals of Venice, and the Acropolis. Our 'Herky pictures' certainly did not replace having Andy with us, but they gave us all a moment to think about him and feel like a tiny bit of him was there. As we start our next 100 episodes, I look forward to seeing what new changes lie ahead. The first addition will be the opportunity to share your child on the podcast in a unique way. While some people want to share their child on an episode, others may never feel ready for such a step. I was inspired by Michael's Madre, who offered to sponsor the full cost of her episode, which is $125. Now, I invite others to do the same. If you feel called to sponsor all (or part of) an episode in your child's name, visit the Donate Page on andysmom.com, and their name will be announced in the introduction. Thank you all so much for the love and support you have shown me. The podcast has blessed me in more ways than I could have ever realized. I cannot imagine what my life would be like today without it.

You feeling this episode? Send us a text!Pt 7/7. In this episode we get into the hard part of relationships. The ending. When does does us part. How do you move on when you have more love to give? The anger you feel about the other dying without you? The pain you feel about losing the other? The guilt you feel about wasting time. It's all part of grief and as soon as we start to let that part go then we can begin to live again. Well I don't want to ruin it for you. Tune in now. Support the show

"I'm good." This was a common response that Mary Beth's son, Michael, used when he didn't want to do something or go somewhere. "Michael, do you want to come with me?" "I'm good." It almost became a bit of a family joke. After Michael died 18 months ago at 21 years of age, his brother, a talented artist, wrote a cartoon depicting Michael in heaven. In the cartoon, his brother was longing to have Michael back with them, here on earth, with their family, so he called heaven. When Jesus answered the phone, he was asked if he could send Michael back home. Jesus responded, "Let me go ask him." Michael's response was typical Michael - "I'm good." The problem, of course, is that although Mary Beth is sure that Michael is 'good', Mary Beth is not. She and their entire family miss Michael terribly. Michael is the second of five sons in an incredibly close family. Although Michael had a long history of anxiety struggles, his family thought he was great. He seemed happy and was completing his college education with a degree in biology. He was a brilliant and talented young man with a bright future ahead of him.  Unbeknownst to his family, however, Michael was suffering inside. Mary Beth was shocked when she found him dead in the room where he had been living at his grandparents' house, and more shocked when they learned that he had taken his own life. After searching his computer, they found an unsent email where he described having homicidal and suicidal thoughts. He was suffering a mental breakdown and shared that he feared that he might kill other people. In that moment, he seemed to feel like the way to protect others was to die himself. Mary Beth did not know how she could go on living after losing Michael, but day by day, she is doing just that. Each day is a challenge, but Mary Beth continues to get up, go to work, and parent their four living boys. Does she expect to cry daily? Of course she does. Can she honestly answer, 'I'm good' when she is asked? Definitely not. But, until that day comes, Mary Beth clings to the knowledge that Michael is most certainly ‘good' up in heaven.

Connect with us!Grieving Unapologetically is brought to you by The Heart of Miss Bee, Inc. a 501(c)(3) organization that exists to honor the late Beverly E. Carroll. This episode is brought to you by The Heart of Miss Bee, Inc. which exists to honor the late Beverly E. Carroll.

I have long loved Faith's Lodge and, since the early days of the podcast, hoped that someday, I might be able to talk with someone from that wonderful organization. Now, that wish became a reality. Today's guest, Kelly, is not a bereaved mom herself, but she was at the side of her sister when she lost her 12-year-old son, Carter, almost 15 years ago. As I listened to Kelly, I was struck by how instinctively she did so much 'right' after Carter died. Logistically, she handled so much for her sister in those first days and weeks, but perhaps even more importantly, she kept Carter a part of their everyday lives in the months and years that followed. When holidays came, Kelly made sure that Carter was remembered. Kelly continued to ask for parenting advice from her older sister, asking, "When this happened to Carter, what did you do?" Shortly after Carter died, Kelly's sister's family attended a retreat at Faith's Lodge. Her sister shared that for the first time, she felt like she could fully be herself and not have to wear a mask and try to hide. Then, 13 years ago, while golfing at a charity golf event, Kelly was asked if she might consider leaving her job and becoming the executive director of a non-profit organization. She had no interest in leaving her job, but politely asked the name of the organization - Faith's Lodge. The tears came, and then, long hours of considering a career change. With her sister's blessing, Kelly started the job that has since become her passion. Under Kelly's guidance, the organization expanded to be even more than an amazing year-round retreat center. They developed a program for employers called 'Hope Works Here' to give businesses tools to help bereaved parents return to work successfully. This month, more big changes came to Faith's Lodge as they undergo a rebranding in order to more clearly define their mission and purpose. Their new name is the Child Loss Foundation. They still offer their incredible retreats at Faith's Lodge (although they hope to spread to additional locations). They still offer resources for employers, now called Child Loss at Work. Additionally, the organization merged with another Minnesota non-profit formerly called The BeliEve Foundation, in order to expand their mission of offering immediate financial support for newly bereaved families. I have long known that Faith's Lodge was a magical place, but now, I can't wait to see how many more lives they will be able to touch as they grow and expand.

How Understanding Death Can Help You Live More Fully — with Hospice Nurse JulieThis episode of Asking for a Friend is sponsored by Better Help. https://betterhelp.com/askingforafriendWhat if facing the realities of death could actually help you live with more intention, gratitude, and peace—right now?In this powerful episode of Asking for a Friend, I sit down with Julie McFadden, better known as Hospice Nurse Julie, a former ICU nurse turned nationally recognized hospice educator with over 15 years of experience and millions of followers online. Julie's mission? To normalize conversations around death and provide comfort, clarity, and dignity at the end of life.We explore:The most common experiences people have at the end of life—many of which are rarely talked aboutHow Julie transitioned from ICU to hospice, and what she learned about life in the processPractical advice for midlife women navigating aging parents and caregiving responsibilitiesHow to prepare emotionally and logistically for end-of-life situations—with grace and self-compassionWhy contemplating our mortality might be the greatest gift for living more meaningfullyJulie's new Nothing to Fear Journal offers a compassionate guide for reflection, planning, and healing—and this episode delivers the heart and honesty that midlife listeners crave.✨ If you're supporting aging parents, feeling overwhelmed, or simply curious about what a peaceful end-of-life journey can look like—this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode Sascha and I look at vigils, vigilance and hyper-vigilance. We consider how each state shows up in our lives and how they interact with each other. We offer personal stories and learn a little more about each other. 

In this moving episode of Radio Medium, Psychic Medium Laura Lee delivers a heartfelt message from the spirit of Andrea's late father.Her dad steps forward to acknowledge the emotional heartache at home and the fatigue a relationship has caused her. With gentle encouragement, he reveals that there is a divinely guided exit strategy in motion—one that offers hope and renewal. He suggests that a second home or new space may serve as a sanctuary, helping Andrea clear emotional clutter, recenter herself, and begin her healing journey. This powerful moment serves as a loving reminder that our departed loved ones are always near—offering guidance, love, healing, and protection, especially during life's most vulnerable transitions.✨ Tune in for a soul-stirring episode that reinforces the enduring bond between parent and child—offering insight, hope, and comfort from the spirit realm.

In this episode of Radio Medium, Psychic Medium Laura Lee delivers a healing and heartfelt message from the spirit of Joy's late mother. Her mother gently acknowledges that she heard Joy's call to reconnect from the other side and expresses deep gratitude for the care Joy gave during her final days—despite Joy battling her own illness at the same time. She also asks Joy to send her love to her granddaughter, who was close but not present at the time of her passing. The spirit lovingly notes that the granddaughter may question the connection, possibly due to distance or disbelief. This tender moment reminds us that our departed loved ones remain close, offering love, guidance, healing, and protection—especially during life's most vulnerable moments.✨ Tune in for a soul-stirring episode that reaffirms the unbreakable bond between mothers and daughters—both in life and in spirit.

In this moving episode of The Embryo Adoption Podcast, Executive Director Tamara Martin of Arrows in the Sky shares profound insights on navigating the complex grief of failed embryo adoption transfers and pregnancy loss. Drawing from her own hard journey, Tamara discusses how spouses may grieve differently and the vital importance of memorializing lost children. Plus, she shares her ministry's mission of providing free care packages with grief resources to families facing infertility and loss. Tamara's compassionate perspective provides validation for the grieving and guidance for those supporting them. Find this podcast helpful? Spread the word! Share, rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your audio.

In this deeply emotional episode of Radio Medium, Psychic Medium Laura Lee delivers a powerful and healing message from the spirit of Gloria's late mother. When Gloria seeks her mother's forgiveness for a difficult, last-minute decision about life support, her mother responds with unconditional love and grace from the other side.The spirit not only offers forgiveness but also acknowledges the strong emotional support surrounding Gloria—especially from her sister and her young daughter, who also resides in spirit. This heartfelt spiritual connection serves as a reminder that our departed loved ones remain with us, offering guidance, healing, and protection, particularly during life's most vulnerable moments.✨ Tune in for a message that will move your soul and reaffirm the enduring bond between mothers and daughters—both in life and beyond.

In this episode Sascha and I throw structure to the wind and invite you into friendship chatting about vigilance and loss. We discuss: outrage at day spas, prairie dogs, non-aquatic anemones, aikido and how it feels when we open the door to our pain and fear, and try to move and roll with it.Maybe this structure demonstrates one of the antidotes for hyper-vigilance: what comes when we feel deeply safe and therefore free to follow each other down whichever paths open up as far as they allow, then turn off or circle back and end up somewhere, though nowhere we intended. In the end we both like what we've found along the path and how our feet and hearts feel from the wandering. We hope you'll come along and maybe see sometime worth picking up along the way.

Host Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly shares from her heart, knowing that she'll experience loss and grief very soon in her life, coping with the very thing which she compassionately teaches that comforts others. Caregivers, doulas and professionals like Mary Anne are typically the first line of support as they assist other dementia patients and their family members to cope with serious illness, feelings of loss, and the end of life. But now, it's her time.  This episode begins with the celebration of a new building that is shared by both the Veranda Ministries and the Preferred Care Group. An extraordinary collaboration is available to both organizations as they learn and glean from each other. And then there's Doris' story. Doris is Mary Anne's sister and her life is in the balance of God's hand right now. The grief she is feeling about her younger sibling is the emotional response to loss, defined as the individualized and personalized feelings and responses that an individual makes to real, perceived, or anticipated loss. The last gift that Mary Anne will give her sister is her presence, her words and her gift of love.

In this episode, Emma Case, Planning and Advocacy Manager at the Senior Alliance talks to Jennifer Frush, Executive Director for New Hope Center for Grief Support. They discuss the various problems and the situations that can cause those problems when dealing with grief. Everyone has a different way of grieving, and grief affects everyone differently. whether you're a senior, or younger or even a child. New Hope Center for Grief Support is a free advocacy and counseling organization that offers help for people who are grieving in many different ways. From support groups to individualized help to events and activities, New Hope can provide care for those who are grieving and feel like no one understands what they are going through. Great information! www.thesenioralliance.org. Produced by The Senior Alliance and Blazing Kiss Media. The post Inside The Senior Alliance – New Hope Center for Grief Support (Ep 56) appeared first on The Senior Alliance.

From the first pages of reading the memoir written by today's guest, Sally McQuillen, I was quite honestly hooked. 'Reaching for Beautiful: A Memoir of Loving and Losing a Wild Child' is an absolutely beautiful story that Sally wrote after losing her 21-year-old son, Christopher, in a boating accident shortly after Christmas. Sally shares that as she raised Christopher, she often found herself worrying about him. Christopher is described as a 'wild child' who suffered from addiction and loved to take risks. He lived every part of his life in a big way. Parenting Christopher was truly a roller coaster ride for Sally and her husband.  After losing Christopher, Sally's life was forever changed. She says that one of the greatest lessons that she learned both from raising and losing Christopher was to learn to let go of fear and instead cling to love. Sally had to "make losing Christopher a permission slip to be compassionate" with herself. Over the next months and years, Sally was challenged to let go of the fear, guilt, and regret in order to forgive herself and move forward with life. This was certainly not a quick process. Sally says it took her seven years to feel a sense of normalcy in her life after Christopher died. After Jen, my Instagram and Facebook videographer, watched the video of today's interview, she wrote to me that she felt so comforted when she heard Sally say that it took that long to feel 'normal' again. This is the biggest takeaway from this episode. There is no timeline for grief. Everyone's journey is their own. Some people appear to move faster and some slower, but it is not right or wrong. We need to take that lesson from Sally and give ourselves 'permission slips' when we think about our grief.  This brings me back to Sally's beautiful memoir. I found myself feeling so much love as I read this story, whether it was reading about Christopher's struggles in life or about Sally's grief after he died. The book is described as 'a luminous story of how love triumphs over pain, love transcends fear, and love never dies.' I couldn't agree more. Thank you, Sally.

Welcome to Episode #254, which is a continuation of my conversation with Michael and Peggy Mages. In our last episode, we were introduced to their son Mason—a bold, kindhearted, and faith-filled young man—and the tragic day they lost him in a drowning incident.In this second half, Michael and Peggy open up about life in the aftermath of loss. They share advice for newly bereaved parents, reflect on how grief has changed their marriage, their parenting, and their walk with the Lord, and offer insight into what it means to persevere in faith when the pain doesn't go away. From grief brain and “Mason Days” to sacred circles and heavenly hope, their words are honest, practical, and rooted in Scripture.Whether you are fresh on the road of grief or walking beside someone who is, this episode is full of grace and truth for the journey.  We'll pick up right where we left off last week.  Missed the first half of our conversation?  Click HERE to listen!  To register for our FREE While We're Waiting Weekend for Bereaved Parents scheduled for October 3-5, 2025, in Hesston Kansas, led by Michael and Peggy Mages, click HERE.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message!** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry. We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

Before we experienced grief ourselves, many of us did our best to support others — but often in ways we now realize may have missed the mark. In this episode, I share an article that resonated deeply with me, exploring the regrets people have about how they once showed up for grieving friends and loved ones. As I reflect on a few of these powerful insights, we'll uncover how our own grief journeys can transform the way we support others with deeper empathy, compassion, and understanding.

Today's guest, Michelle, gave me some words of wisdom from her therapist that I will remember forever. Recently, Michelle had an appointment with her counselor and was talking about how her crying was 'not pretty'. The therapist agreed, saying, "No. Crying is not pretty, but when you are crying tears over the loss of your daughter, the tears are beautiful." This makes me think so much about grief in general. I have often described myself over the years as a 'hot mess'. April and August are my 'hot mess' months, April because of Andy's birthday on the 21st, and August due to the anniversary of his death. Additionally, this past month was extra difficult due to having the second Andy Larson Memorial Concert. For Michelle, April is an extremely challenging month as well. Her daughter Scarlett's birthday is on April 22nd, and she died after a long cancer journey two days before her 16th birthday on April 20th, 2022. As we spoke, nearly two weeks before these big days in our lives, we were both a 'hot mess', but I wonder now if that truly is the ugly mess that I always envisioned. I remember a few months after Andy died when I first heard the term 'lament' used with my grief. I learned that what I called the 'bad' cry or the 'ugly' cry when I completely lost control and would fall into a weeping heap on the floor, was actually when I was experiencing lament. Learning the term 'lament' helped me feel so much better about showing my emotions in that way. Lament is healthy. Lament is spiritual. Lament has a purpose and helps in our healing. I feel like this conversation with Michelle gave me a similar epiphany. Yes - Michelle and I fully admit that we are each a 'hot mess' in April, but I see now that our 'hot mess' is not necessarily ugly. We are crying beautiful tears for Scarlett and Andy. We have puffy faces, runny noses, and red eyes. Those tears may not make us look pretty on the outside, but our 'hot mess' is truly beautiful as we are freely showing lament while mourning our amazing children.

Today's guest, Teresa Davis, currently goes by another name - The Grief Mentor. She hosts a podcast that is released twice a week. On the podcast, Teresa works to 'shine a light into the shadows, helping you discover that joy and pain can coexist, and that you can still have a purpose here on earth.' In addition to the podcast, Teresa offers a free grief survival guide, a free grief masterclass, a grief worship playlist, weekly newsletter, monthly support groups, and even one-on-one Grief Mentor sessions. As amazing as all of these things are, however, the thing that I admire most about Teresa is her sharing of the story that got her to this place of hope and healing in her grief journey. Though Teresa had a strong faith and was leading Bible studies, that faith was rocked to its core the day her oldest son, Andrew, a 32-year-old commercial pilot, was killed in a plane crash. She says that the world lost its color that day. She felt betrayed by God. God could have protected Andrew that day, but he didn't. She had devoted her life to God, but she felt He had failed her. Over the following months, Teresa found herself at a crossroads. She could either continue living in the darkness or she could choose to rebuild her life. Interestingly, a visit to the plane crash site months after the accident became a pivotal moment in her life. The smell of jet fuel was still in the air as she searched for where the cockpit had crashed into the ground. Suddenly, she heard God's voice in her head repeating Scripture - 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here.' Instead of feeling like the place of death and destruction, the crash site began to feel like a holy spot, the place where Andrew began his new life in heaven.  Over the next months and years, Teresa's faith continued to grow and evolve. It took on a strength it had never had before. Teresa began to pray, 'Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.' He has answered this prayer again and again. Now, by working as the Grief Mentor, Teresa takes other grieving parents by the hand, showing them how to feel joy in the midst of chaos.

Weddings. Graduations. Births. Empty Nesting. Divorce. No one would ever say that going through a big transition like this is easy. When reviewing my curriculum for my Starlight Virtual Support group this week, I learned that when people go through any rite of passage during life, their bodies require 20-25 minutes of rest three times a day, or they can get sick. Let's take a second and really think about that - we should rest 20-25 minutes three times a day when facing big life changes. I'm trying to look back to whether I have ever truly put aside time like that when going through big life transitions. I don't think I have. I am quite sure I am not alone in this. We are encouraged to power through and keep going until we fall into bed exhausted at night's end. Now, let's go a step further. When we are grieving and going through additional big transitions in life, is it surprising that we are completely exhausted? This conversation with Gwen serves as a wake-up call to me, and hopefully, it will do the same for all of you. I am certain that over the past almost 300 episodes of this podcast, I have said countless times how important it is to give yourself grace while you are grieving. Today, I am going to tell you to give yourself double grace when you are going through changes in life. Are you going through a graduation or planning for children to move off to college? Get help from others. You are more tired than your friends. They likely aren't thinking about the child whose graduation party they will never get to have, or living with the fear that when this child moves off to college, they might never see them again. Give yourself grace. Are you planning a wedding or expecting a new baby in the family? This is awesome and wonderful, but it is still exhausting, and the grief will likely bubble up when you least expect it, while looking at the empty chair in the church or in the eyes of that newborn. Give yourself grace. Are you going through the challenge of divorce? It may bring relief for a new beginning, but you may feel grief as you remember family times together. Give yourself grace.

When Britt's 4-year-old son, Persy, died from cancer 18 months ago, Britt says that she was shocked. Now, you may question why Britt says she was shocked. Persy suffered from cancer for almost two years before dying. He underwent treatment after treatment, both in their home state of Florida and in New York. Persy was sent home on hospice to spend the last three weeks of his life. How is it that Britt says she was shocked? The answer lies in the difference between the words shock and surprise. Was Britt surprised that Persy died? No - she was not. She knew he was dying. Although she continued to pray for a miracle, she knew that his chances of recovery were minimal, so she was not surprised when Persy took his last breath. However, Britt was still shocked. No parent can truly imagine what life will be like after their child dies. We won't ever hear their voice again, be able to see their smile light up a room, or hold them close in a loving hug. We are therefore in shock when we have to experience these things, no matter whether the death was expected or not. As the shock slowly wears off, we now realize that we must continue living, even though it feels impossible. We may cry every day. We miss them every day, but time continues to move. Britt immediately turned to other bereaved parents to ask for help. Britt says that she and her husband have held on to two truths since losing Persy. First, their faith will bring them back to Persy. Persy lives on in heaven, and someday, they will be able to join him. The second truth is that every day, they are a little closer to the day they will be reunited with Persy. Do these truths make it easy to live here on earth without Persy? Of course not. Britt cries for Persy each day. She misses that he is not a part of her life now. She wishes her younger boys had an older brother to teach them to run, jump, and play - an older brother who might have occasionally gotten them all into trouble. Despite this longing for Persy and the life they might have had, she will continue to remind herself of the truth that one day they will all be reunited in faith.

Episode 85: Navigating Grief: Support After Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Loss with Jessica Zucker  This week Rachael speaks with psychologist Jessica Zucker about her experiences with miscarriage and her efforts to normalize conversations around women's reproductive health. Jessica shares insights from her books, including 'I Had a Miscarriage' and 'Normalize It', emphasizing the need to break the stigma surrounding these topics.  Inside this episode: The ongoing emotional impact of miscarriage and loss  How to support friends dealing with loss The often overlooked topic of termination for medical reasons Body image issues post-loss and the pressures women face regarding their bodies And so much more! Mentioned in this episode: Jessica's website: https://www.drjessicazucker.com/normalize-it  Normalize It: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1683738144  I Had A Miscarriage: https://www.drjessicazucker.com/i-had-a-miscarriage  Jessica's Instagram: @ihadamiscarriage  If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️ ✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram!

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.

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.

When we lose someone, we love, we often say we have a broken heart—but what if that's not just a metaphor?In her new book “The Grieving Body: How The Stress of Loss Can Be An Opportunity For Healing” University of Arizona Professor of Psychology Mary Frances O'Connor shares groundbreaking insights into the biological and physiological impacts grief has on our bodies. O'Connor reveals how profound loss can lead to serious medical conditions, from heart attacks to immune system breakdowns, and explains why grieving can make us more vulnerable to diseases like cancer, pneumonia, and even autoimmune disorders.Drawing on her personal experiences and extensive research, O'Connor outlines why our medical system—and society at large—needs to rethink how we support grieving individuals. She makes a powerful case for viewing grief not only as an emotional experience but as a medical event deserving careful monitoring and intervention, similar to pregnancy or chronic illness.