During this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson speaks with Chamoda Palmore, a father to a son that was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident on his way to football practice in 2014. As a man, Chamoda knows that he might grieve differently than other people, but as someone going through his own journey of grief, he knows it’s important to find a way to grieve.
Episode Highlights:
- Chamoda is a business owner that lost his son, Chamoda Kennedy-Palmore, to a motorcycle accident.
- Throughout his journey of grief, Chamoda has experienced a rollercoaster of emotions.
- It takes a lot of patience to get through the grieving process.
- Chamoda has leaned heavily on his faith, friends, family, and various support organizations.
- After meeting a woman who lost 2 children to a car crash, Chamoda was able to put things into perspective.
- Even 6 years later, it doesn’t feel real to Chamoda, it feels like someone is missing.
- Chamoda found it difficult to engage with other people, staying away from family functions and gatherings.
- If you have other children or people that depend on you, it’s important to find some level of normalcy again.
- Giving back through Chamoda’s Candy Cafe and Chamoda’s foundation has helped Chamoda heal.
- Right now more than ever, people all over the world need support and care from anyone that can give it.
- Chamoda’s 2 daughters and wife have all dealt with Chamoda’s death in different ways.
- When tragedy first strikes, it’s like the rainy season in April and it moistens up your heart to bloom in May.
- It’s important to plant the right things, love, support, passion, during the initial phase of grieving.
- Chamoda understood that it was a slippery slope to turn to a path of destructive behavior if grief is not handled correctly.
- For about 2 months after his son died, Chamoda couldn’t open the bible.
- Chamoda is comforted by knowing that as a tissue donor, Chamoda’s death was able to help many people.
- The local driver’s ed has incorporated Chamoda’s organ and tissue donation into its program.
- It’s hard for men to speak about their grief, but it’s important to find someone to talk to about their feelings.
- Men feel that they have to be so strong for the family but that doesn’t mean they can’t let it out somewhere else.
- Around the holidays, it’s important to find different ways to express your grief.
- Chamoda helped more than 30 people as a tissue and cornea donor.
- When his son died, Chamoda felt like an infant that just needed to be held.
- Have patience with those in your life that has lost someone; eventually, it will slow down, but for now, listen.
3 Key Points:
- Chamoda likens his journey of grief to that of a baby’s journey of learning to walk. Right now, he is holding onto the banister as he guides his feet.
- Giving back to other people out there that are hurting can help someone heal and get through their own grief.
- Chamoda’s organ and tissue donation, now a part of their local driver’s ed video, has helped encourage others to become donors.
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