The Surviving Siblings®

Dawn Loses Justin To Suicide

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Description

In this deeply moving episode, Maya sits down with Dawn, a surviving sibling who opens up about the unexpected loss of her brother Justin, just weeks before his wedding day.

Dawn shares the full arc of their sibling bond, from pranks and family laughter, to the hidden pain Justin carried, to the shock of losing him to suicide in 2013. Through her storytelling, Dawn brings light to the complexities of grief, sibling guilt, the impact of hidden addiction and gambling, and the long road toward healing.

This conversation is a tribute to Justin, a celebration of Dawn's strength, and a resource for anyone navigating the grief of suicide loss. She also shares how her daughter Justine, born later, became a symbol of healing and joy.

 

In This Episode:

[0:00] – Meet Dawn & Her Brother Justin
Dawn introduces her family, sharing about her close-knit childhood with her two brothers, including the deep bond she had with Justin, her "twin in spirit."

[2:00] – Living with Visual Impairment & Justin's Support
She opens up about growing up with congenital nystagmus, and how Justin always treated her with love and equality—never seeing her as disabled.

[5:00] – Prank Wars & Wedding Shenanigans
From pranking their brother Jason to orchestrating a hilarious wedding garter joke, Dawn reflects on how laughter defined their sibling connection.

[7:00] – Health Challenges & Justin's Shift
Dawn explains how Justin's life took a turn after a medical issue ended his athletic dreams, which may have led to a spiral of hidden struggles.

[10:00] – The Call That Changed Everything
In May 2013, Dawn receives a devastating call: Justin was found in the woods by their father. He had died by suicide, just one month before his wedding.

[13:00] – Processing the Shock
Dawn recounts the overwhelming grief, the small details that haunted her (like how Justin's smile was missing in his casket), and how she stepped into her "eldest sibling" role to hold the family together.

[17:00] – The Unraveling Begins
After the funeral, the family begins discovering secrets Justin had kept hidden—dropping out of college, gambling debts, and signs of silent struggle.

[23:00] – Navigating Family Shame & Speaking the Truth
Dawn candidly discusses how her family wanted to hide the cause of death, but how speaking up and honoring the truth helped her begin to heal.

[26:00] – Grief, Guilt & a Mud Run Gone Wrong
On what would've been Justin's wedding day, Dawn attempted to mask her grief with a mud run—but broke her ankle, lost her job, and spiraled into depression. The symbolic "fall" marked a breaking point in her grief journey.

[29:00] – Naming Her Daughter After Justin
A year later, Dawn gave birth to her third child, Justine Brianna, named after her brother. From her left-handedness to her smile, Justine became a living tribute and source of healing for the family.

[32:00] – Pregnant in Grief: The Duality of Joy & Loss
Dawn shares what it was like to grieve while pregnant—balancing immense sorrow with the hope of new life, and the bittersweet beauty of motherhood after loss.

[34:00] – Six Years Later: The Weight of Untold Grief
In 2019, six years after Justin's death, Dawn broke her silence—not in therapy, but in a surprising place: a Weight Watchers meeting. Talking about her grief helped her shed both emotional and physical weight.

[43:00] – The Power of Community in Grief
Whether it's a podcast, support group, or a wellness meeting, Dawn emphasizes the importance of community when grieving a sibling. Talking changed everything.

Listen to the full episode of "Dawn Loses Justin To Suicide" now on all major platforms.

This episode is sponsored by The Surviving Siblings®

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