Shows
The Teaching Journeys PodcastAlways Andy's Mom: Marcy Larson's Journey Through Grief and HealingIn this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts speaks with Marcy Larson, a physician and bereaved parent, who discusses her profound journey through grief and the ways it has shaped her life and career. Marcy shares how her early experiences with her parents' cancer diagnoses influenced her to pursue a career in medicine. She also recounts the loss of her 14-year-old son, Andy, in a car accident, which deeply impacted her. Marcy highlights how Andy, despite his young age, had premonitions about his early death and how this knowledge provides her some comfort. To cope with...
2025-10-2044 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 296: Scarlett's MomToday'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 21...
2025-05-011h 01Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 286: Eric & Threads of GoldThis week's podcast was supposed to be from a Livestream I had planned to do with Gwen earlier this week. If you follow me on Facebook, you already know that the Livestream was canceled. Gwen got very sick with Influenza A, making it impossible for her to do the Livestream. I told her not to worry at all and that I would just 'wing it' so to speak. (By the way, Gwen assures me she is beginning to feel better.) This made me think of the saying, 'When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.' Thinking back...
2025-03-061h 08Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 270: Honoring Your GriefSince 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 o...
2024-11-1455 min
Bloom and Grow with Liz FiedlerMoving Forward and Navigating Grief as a Healthcare Professional with Marcy Larson (Losing a Child: Always Andy's Mom)In this episode, Liz Fiedler interviews Marcy Larson, the host of the podcast 'Losing a Child, Always Andy's Mom.' Marcy shares her personal experience of losing her son, Andy, in a car accident. The conversation delves into grief, the challenges of navigating a career while grieving, and the importance of community and support. The episode highlights the need for better education and training for healthcare professionals in dealing with grief and supporting bereaved families. Abbey shares her personal experience with grief and loss, particularly the loss of her son Andy. She discusses the challenges of navigating grief as...
2024-05-021h 04Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 229: Blake's MomGrief first entered Danielle's life when her dad was killed in a car accident when she was home from college for Easter. She had never experienced grief and said she felt paralyzed. Danielle went on and met and married her husband. When they decided to start a family, grief entered Danielle's life again when she suffered numerous miscarriages. She said it was a horrible and tumultuous time, but then Danielle and her husband had their daughter, Emily, followed 15 months later by their son, Blake. Grief seemed to have retreated for Danielle until Blake was 17 months old. Danielle...
2024-02-0154 minLosing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 222: Jimmy & Chrissy's MomLegacy is defined as the long-lasting impact of particular events or actions taking place in the past or in a person's life. I have been thinking a lot about that word recently. On December 5th, we had the first Andy Larson Memorial Concert. Our featured artist, Will Liverman, along with his accompanist, Jonathan King, gave us an amazing night that will never be forgotten. A tradition has been started that will honor not only Andy's legacy but that of so many children whose lives were cut short. Today's guest, Jackie, thinks a lot about her family's legacy...
2023-12-0856 min
Crude ConversationsEP 129 A leap of faith with Geoff and Marcy Larson of Alaskan Brewing
In this one, Cody talks to Geoff and Marcy Larson of Alaskan Brewing. Geoff and Marcy opened the brewery in 1986. Back then, Geoff says that craft beer was a novel idea — only a fraction of beers that were consumed were craft beers. He says that, altogether, there were probably only 100 breweries in the entire country. So, there was a lot of education involved in those early days — learning about the craft of brewing and also teaching it to others. But before they could focus on the beer, they needed to raise money for the whole operation. Both of them come from...
2023-04-091h 49
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomGrieving Through the HolidaysIt is heard both in song and in general conversation that this is 'the most wonderful time of the year.' For those of us who are grieving, however, nothing can be further from the truth. We often approach this holiday season with feelings of dread, rather than excitement. We fear that our loved ones will not understand the pain that the holiday season brings. We feel pressure to do more than we are ready to do. In today's episode, Gwen and I delve into how grieving people can approach and try to prepare for holiday events...
2021-11-181h 01
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomNico's Mom & Wife; Juju's Grandma & MomThis episode of the Always Andy's Mom podcast focuses on relationships and loss. Today, I have the privilege to speak with two guests mourning the loss of two special people in their lives. Just over one year ago, Nicholas (Nico) and his 4 year old son, Julian (Juju), were killed in a car accident when they went out for a quick trip to get ice cream. In a moment, the lives of the two women who loved them most were changed forever. Janie lost her son and grandson while her daughter-in-law, Andrea, lost her husband and son. Both...
2021-08-191h 02
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 100 LivestreamTwo years ago, when I started the Always Andy's Mom podcast, I never could have imagined getting to episode 100. I remember Eric saving the first episode on the computer which he named 'Episode 001.' I thought it was ridiculous that he would put three digits. I never expected that first digit would ever be anything other than a zero, but here we are. As of this moment, the podcast has over 72,000 downloads in 78 different countries. It is bigger than me. It is even bigger than Andy. Today's podcast episode is far different than the others. It is...
2021-08-121h 03
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomMiles' MomUnlike all of my previous guests, when Miles' mom, Kate, first contacted me in January of this year, her sweet, almost 1 year old son, was still alive. They had just taken Miles home to die after learning that his cancer had spread to the point where treatment could no longer be effective. Kate and her husband were grasping at anything, trying to prepare themselves for his death, perhaps trying to limit some of the pain that they knew would be coming. Kate knew, even then in January, that she would want to share Miles' story with others...
2021-08-051h 04
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomMeaning Making 2 (+ Bryson's Doctor)Over the past almost two years, I have interviewed dozens of bereaved parents. I have learned something from each and every one of them. All of them have done something they never thought possible after the deaths of their children. Some of these things are big, like starting a foundation or organization to help others and keep the memories of their children alive. Some have done smaller, quieter gestures. All have been brave enough to share their stories with other bereaved parents on the podcast. This is why when Gwen and I recorded Part 1 of Meaning Making...
2021-07-291h 01
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 97 - Eliza's MomImagine for just a moment that you are on a long-planned 'girls trip' to Las Vegas for a fun weekend with 10 of your closest friends from college. It is a time you've been looking forward to for weeks, planned and re-planned, coordinating everyone's individual schedules to fly across the country and arrive at about the same time. Imagine now, that you wake up in your hotel room early that first morning to your phone ringing. It is your husband, crying on the other end of the phone, making the hardest call he has ever had to make in his...
2021-07-2256 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomMichael's MomMarcie's son, Michael's, motto for life was as follows: 'The purpose of life is to help others through it.' Michael lived that motto every single day of his 27 years. After suffering through cancer as a child, he knew hospitals. Michael knew that hospitals were boring places for children and that overall, kids and families don't want to be there. After Michael received a precious, rare 'goodie bag' from the hospital during one of his many hospitalizations, an idea was planted in the mind of Michael and his family. New games and toys are fun. They add j...
2021-07-1556 min
BS Free MD with Drs. May and Tim Hindmarsh - Medicine, Life, Family, Physician, Doctor, Healthcare, Medical History#28: “Losing a Child” with Dr. Marcy LarsonImagine that one moment you are going about your everyday life, the next instant you experience your child’s life vanishing in front of you. This is the story and journey of grief recovery from our dear guest Dr. Marcy Larson. She graciously shares her personal story, how it affected her ability to practice Medicine and how she created a podcast to help not only her personal healing but others as well. The loss of a child is the biggest loss one can ever suffer. Openly discussing grief is something our culture is not very adept at. Kn...
2021-07-151h 04
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomGrief DreamsGrief Dreams. What are they? What do they mean? Is it normal to have a grief dream? Is it normal not to dream of the deceased? These are questions that Dr. Joshua Black has been studying for years now. Ever since he had a dream about his father several months after he had suddenly died, Joshua was curious about how these dreams affect people. For Joshua, that dream brought him a sense of peace. He had never had a chance to say goodbye to his father or tell him that he loved him. In the dream though, Jo...
2021-07-0858 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomDaisy's MomHow can two girls who never met, had very little in common and who died 5 years apart bring two people together in friendship? Daisy was a girl with a never-ending smile and a head covered with blonde curls. She was born with microcephaly and had medical challenges throughout her entire four years of life. Daisy brought her mother, Paula, so much joy in her life. It would be putting it mildly to say that Paula struggled after Daisy's death. She battled addiction for the first year and a half after the death. Daisy was Paula's only child...
2021-07-0145 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomBerklee's DadHow do you go on when your whole world quite literally blows up in a second? When Shawn Maguire woke up one morning last September to make himself a cup of coffee while his wife and two children slept, he never could have imagined that pushing a button on a coffee maker would cause a massive explosion. That explosion completely flattened his house and instantly killed Berklee, his 14 year old daughter. People actually said that it was a miracle that the rest of the family was able to survive at all. The explosion was so powerful that neighbors had...
2021-06-241h 07
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEleni's MomFor today's guest, Demetra, life changed the day her daughter was diagnosed with a rare condition called HHT (Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia) at 7 years of age. Although many people live a long, happy life with this condition, Eleni's disease affected her lungs making running, playing and growing like a 'normal' child impossible. What Eleni lacked in physical ability, however, she made up for in spirit a hundred times over. When Demetra is asked to describe her daughter, Eleni, she says that Eleni was her 'mini-me.' They truly understood each other. Eleni was smart, funny, and sarcastic. She...
2021-06-171h 07
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomChristian's MomAfter her 16 year old son, Christian was killed in a car accident three years ago, Valerie was understandably devastated. She, like so many of us, felt completely crushed. She longed to find people and a place to give her hope. Shortly after the accident, she found a grief support group at a local church and decided to attend. Unfortunately, though, she did not find hope in that place - she found elderly mothers grieving decades after losing their children. They seemed 'stuck' in their grief. Although she in no way judged the women at the group, in...
2021-06-1054 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomMeaning MakingWhen Andy first died, I didn't want anything good to come from his death. I selfishly wanted everything about it to be 100% horrible. I didn't want there to be a silver lining. Perhaps that is why it annoyed me so much when people tried to cheer me up in some way, telling me that he was in a better place or that it was all part of God's plan. 'Well, God's plan stinks," I would reply (either in my head or even out loud if the person was a close enough friend). After time though, I began...
2021-06-0357 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomJoseph's DadDads are somewhat overlooked in the deaths of children in general, but this is especially true for stillborn deaths. Joseph's dad never got to meet his baby, Joseph, when he was alive. One day, when Lou's wife, Francine, was 30 weeks pregnant with their first child, he stopped moving. He had died and there was nothing that could be done about it. Instead of getting time to mourn in those first hours, Lou felt that he needed to be the tough guy as well as the spokesperson for the couple. He still had a job to do, too...
2021-05-2756 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEaston's MomEaston's Mom, Alexandria, says that her young son, Easton saved her life not once, but twice. Theirs is a beautiful love story not unlike many mother-son love stories, but this one taught the mother even more than it did the son. It taught her what true unconditional love was like and helped her realize that she was worthy of both giving and receiving this type of deep love. Easton lived only 4 1/2 short months and those months were filled with multiple diagnoses, hospital stays and surgeries. These months, however, were also filled with laughter and moments of pure...
2021-05-2051 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomBryson's Mom'For some people, it takes 70 years for them to make an impact on the world; for Bryson, it took just 7.' - Amanda, Bryson's Mom Over the past 20 months, I have heard about many amazing children through their powerful stories. None, however, affected me in quite the way that Amanda's story of Bryson did. Perhaps it is because he was a 27 week premie and it reminded me of days caring for tiny premies. Perhaps, it is also because of his many months, and even years, spent in the hospital with his multiple medical problems. Perhaps it is...
2021-05-131h 06
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomCarly's MomA butterfly lights beside us like a sun beam, and for one brief moment its glory and beauty belongs to our world. But then it flies on again, and although we wish it could have stayed, we are thankful to have seen it all. This is the inscription written on Renee's daughter, Carly's headstone. She was a bright light for her family and for the whole world. She was a smart, funny, beautiful girl with her whole life ahead of her. She had struggles in her life as well after losing her boyfriend to one o...
2021-05-061h 02
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEesha's MomPregnancy with your first baby should be a fun, exciting time. For Farhana, unfortunately, this fun time lasted for only the first 22 weeks. It was at that ultrasound when Farhana's life was forever changed. She and her husband discovered that their firstborn daughter had a congenital heart defect. Eesha, though, was a fighter, spunky and stubborn from the beginning. That fight served her well through many hospitalizations and surgeries, but eventually, Farhana lost her tough, little warrior. Farhana said that Eesha taught her so much about how to live in her short little life. She taught her t...
2021-04-2958 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomIvan's MomGrieving the death of your child is horrific, but grieving it publicly is even worse. When Ivan died in his fraternity room while he was away at college, his mom, Velvet, desperately wanted to know what happened to him. His own sister learned of his death by people who saw the local news. Soon Ivan's death grew and made national news. He was young, healthy, good-looking, and attended a well know university. His death was 'a good story.' That story, however, barely scratches the surface as to the sort of person Ivan was. He was a...
2021-04-221h 03
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomAlisha and Jason's MomAt first glance, Kelly's life seems incredibly scary after losing two of her four kids to tragic accidents eleven years apart. You may even think that you wouldn't want to hear her tragic story, but to me and many others, Kelly is an absolute inspiration. I know that when others see Kelly, they must think, 'Wow! Look at Kelly. She's lost two kids and she can still smile. She can still help me. Maybe there is hope for me, too." Now, let me be clear. This is not how Kelly's grief journey started. In the first years...
2021-04-151h 00
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomSibling GriefSiblings are often referred to as 'the forgotten mourners.' People worry about the parents of a young person who dies. They worry about the spouse and children of an adult who dies. The siblings, however, never get the focus. 'How are your parents?' people say, 'How is his wife? How are his kids?' They are not often asked the question, 'How are you?' Siblings grieve, too. They have a special bond that others, even their parents, don't quite understand. Siblings may fight and not always get along, but they are always there. They...
2021-04-081h 01
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomBella's Dad'Any day that I get to talk about my child is a good day.' This is one of the many things that today's guest Jerry has learned from others when he has spoken to bereaved parents on his new podcast, 'The Nameless Minority.' 'Nameless' represents the idea that there is no word in the English language for a parent who lost his/her child. 'Minority' is used because as opposed to a hundred years or more ago, there are not nearly as many bereaved parents as there once were. It can make us feel isolated and alone.
2021-04-0149 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomLevi's MomNever in a million years did today's guest, Nicole, think that she could lose a child to drowning. She was a teacher and her husband, a physician. They were always so careful - whenever her children were around water, they wore life jackets. They were always watched closely. Something like that simply couldn't happen to them, but one summer day in June 2018, it did. Nicole left her son, Levi, on a couch with other kids happily munching on a brownie in a room full of people. She went to throw away something in the trash, then walked o...
2021-03-2556 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEli's MomWhen today's guest, Riley, learned that she was pregnant with twins after a two year struggle with fertility, she felt incredibly blessed. She went through 11 weeks of bedrest and went on to deliver two perfect, near-term infants - a boy and a girl, Eli and Alice. Her happiness was complete, and she felt as if her future was bright. This happiness was short-lived, however, when seemingly healthy Eli died in his sleep at three weeks of age. Suddenly, Riley was grieving her little boy while still trying to raise her newborn daughter, experiencing all that comes with b...
2021-03-1859 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomSladen's MomThere are times I meet bereaved parents when I feel an instant connection to them. When I first heard from Sladen's mom, Kelly, I felt that bond. It is almost like having a long-lost sister that I finally get to meet. When she talks to me about life after the death of her 19 year old, I feel like I 'get' her. I understand the anger that a mom has for a negligent driver after that person kills her son. I understand the pain that is felt when watching a younger brother have to try to live without his best...
2021-03-111h 00
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 77: Andy's Mom & Charleigh's GrandmaI felt an instant connection to today's guest, Maureen. The most obvious reason for this is that our sons share a name, Andy, and that they were both killed suddenly in tragic car accidents. Another similarity is due to the fact that this was not the first death loss for either of us. For me, my previous experience with profound grief was when my mother died in 1994 when I was in college. For Maureen, her loss was only 3 months prior to her son's death, when her granddaughter, Charleigh, Andy's daughter, died in her sleep at 7 months of age.
2021-03-0459 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 76: TJ's Mom and BrotherMental illness and alcoholism often go hand in hand. When people struggle with depression and anxiety, turning to drugs or alcohol may seem like a short-term solution. They can forget about their problems for just a little while. TJ struggled with mental illness throughout his life. After discontinuing prescription medication, he turned to alcohol to self-medicate. Although TJ had years of struggles, the year 2020 brought a whole new level of anxiety with the COVID pandemic. Laid off from work, he was alone in his apartment, isolated from others. His anxiety grew and grew. He told his mother...
2021-02-251h 01
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 75: Grief and GuiltAs a working mom, I think I felt some type of guilt almost every day. I never felt like I was doing enough. I would feel guilty about not spending enough time with my kids, missing school parties, or not being able to volunteer as much as some other moms. In addition to the 'I am not a good enough mom' guilt, I also felt, 'I am not a good enough doctor' guilt when I would have to explain to a family that I would not be able to see them for an appointment on a Tuesday, because I...
2021-02-181h 02
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 74: Daren's Mom'Paying it forward' is a phrase that is often used in our culture. Today's guest, Ann, says that has been the way she has always tried to live her life even before it became popular. She worked to teach her three children to live that way as well. Her youngest son, Daren, lived his life always looking to help others in quiet ways. After he died, she heard story after story of how he was always reaching out to help others. Even in his death at the age of 19, he showed his selfless spirit when he jumped into a...
2021-02-1159 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 73: Jimbo's MomWhen friends were recently asked to talk about Carolyn's son, Jimmy (or Jimbo as many of his friends liked to call him), he was described as being a light to others and someone who always seemed to have a smile on his face. He was active, involved in sports and had numerous friends. From the outside, Jimmy did not look like someone who was at risk to die by suicide, but almost three years ago at 21 years of age, he did just that. After suffering from numerous concussions while playing sports, Jimmy never really seemed to fully...
2021-02-0457 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 72: Ahsha's MomWell-meaning people say these words to me all of the time - "You are so strong! I could never do what you do!" They mean that they admire me for what I have done, but I actually hate those words. For me, calling me 'strong' is, in fact, isolating. It makes me feel like that person thinks that I can do everything on my own without help from them or anyone else, like I was somehow given some inner strength giving me the ability to conquer my grief and anything else in my path. I felt drawn...
2021-01-281h 03
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 71: Robbie's MomTo say that losing a child is hard at any time would be a vast understatement, but losing a child while in the midst of a global pandemic adds a whole new level of complication. There are no friends and family surrounding you at a big funeral bringing you piles of food so you don't have to cook for weeks, or, in general, just being there for you with a big hug. This is what today's guest, Rhonda, has had to endure since her son, Robbie, died after having a seizure this past August. In addition, Robbie...
2021-01-2158 min
The Chicagoland GuideMarcy Larson-Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education CenterThis week on Inside the Skev, we are joined by Marcy Larson, Vice President of Marketing & Business Development of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. Ms. Larson brings 25 years of marketing, consulting and research experience to this position. We will be discussing several things including the background of the museum, current events and the greater need for outreach and education, the cutting-edge technology the museum is employing and how they have adapted during the pandemic. Inside the Skev is a one stop shop for all things Skokie and Evanston hosted by Aaron Masliansky. Listen live on Sunday mor...
2021-01-1946 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 70: Rachel's MomMichelle's daughter, Rachel, was just 17 years old when she died unexpectedly in a tragic accident. Packed in those 17 years, however, was a lifetime of profound wisdom. From a young age, various people who were exposed to Rachel called her an 'old soul' - she looked at the world differently than other children, in a deeper, more thoughtful way. In third grade, inspired by a teacher, she began to write down some of her thoughts in journals. In the days and weeks after Rachel's tragic death, Michelle began to find pieces of Rachel's inspirational writings all over her...
2021-01-141h 01
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 69: Jimmy's MomOn the home page of Salt Water's website, findyourharbor.com, there is a quote from Isak Dinesen which reads, 'The cure for everything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.' It goes on to explain these each in more detail. Sweat represents 'the healing of your body after the death of a beloved.' Tears represent 'living with unbearable loss.' Lastly, the sea represents 'moving forward into the life you create in the wake of loss.' Salt Water's founder, Margo, lost her 21 year old son, Jimmy, to cancer in 2014. Like all of us...
2021-01-0754 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 68: What I Wish I had KnownAs we come to the end of 2020, it is a universal joke that everyone wants this year to be over because of the global coronavirus pandemic. "Bring on 2021," they say, "when life can return to normal!" For grieving people, however, things will never go back to normal. I think though about those parents who do not want 2020 to end because it was the last year their child was alive. I remember not wanting 2018 to be over because I knew Andy would never be able to live a day in 2019. I receive messages from parents very early in...
2020-12-3159 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 67: Messages of HopeFor grieving people, Christmastime is undoubtedly, NOT 'the most wonderful time of the year' that is sung about in the classic song. I would say that for grieving parents, this is especially true. Christmas is such a time of joy for children and no matter if you lost your child on the day that you gave birth to him or her or decades later, the pain is still a little sharper on Christmas. Grieving parents are reminded both of Christmases past and also of the Christmases that will never be. I started thinking about what to do...
2020-12-241h 00
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 66: Daryn's MomIn 2007, today's guest, Kim, had a pretty comfortable life. She was happily married with three beautiful young children. She had gone back to school and was finishing her master's degree to become a therapist. After going through struggles when she was young, she overall felt content with her current life. When Kim had a meeting with her advisor at school to discuss how things were going with regards to seeing patients as a student, she shared that she was really starting to feel comfortable seeing clients. She felt that she really had empathy and a lot to o...
2020-12-1759 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 65: Zach's MomToday's guest, Robyn Karns, knows hardship - she has experienced abuse, widowhood, a miscarriage, and divorce, but 17 months ago, her life was absolutely rocked to the core. Robyn lost her firstborn and her best friend, Zach. She wondered how she would be able to go on from this tremendous loss. Losing Zach made all of her other trials pale in comparison. How could she keep getting up each day and living life? Robyn truly felt as if she were under attack, like Satan thought he would finally win, but she vowed to herself that she would not...
2020-12-1058 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 64: Isla's MomI have long hated the analogy of going through a war when someone is diagnosed with cancer. 'He's battling cancer.' 'She is a fighter.' 'They beat cancer.' Those phrases all indicate that if you are a strong enough person, the cancer won't kill you. I know that it is said so that people have more of a sense of control when you are dealing with this devastating disease, but to me, it really feels like saying those who die from cancer didn't 'fight' hard enough. I have had many family members suffer from cancer...
2020-12-031h 03
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 63: Kevin's DadDo people get little signs from God or from loved ones after they die? There are strong feelings on both sides of this issue. Many people tell you that this is impossible, and those people use very different points to defend this view. An atheist would tell you that this is impossible because there is no afterlife at all. You live, you die and that is it. A fundamentalist Christian may also tell you that this is completely impossible because there is no mention of this specifically in the Bible, and saying such a thing would be blasphemous.
2020-11-251h 04
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 62: Hannah Christine's MomI have often thought how nice it would be if I could just wear a sign around my neck that said, "I am grieving. My child is dead. Be nice to me." I think others might go out of their way to be a little more kind. They might ask if they could do an errand for me. They may have nice words to say about me or my child. At a minimum, they might complain about their own lives just a little bit less. It would certainly help strangers treat us better, but I think it...
2020-11-191h 07
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 61: Intimacy after Child LossToday's episode is far different than the average Always Andy's Mom episode. We dive into a topic that I never would have considered on my own. About 2-3 months ago, a listener wrote in to me asking if I could do an episode focusing on intimacy with one's spouse after the death of a child. She said that her husband continued to be interested in sex, but that she was not. She wondered if this was a common issue for grieving couples and if there was any advice that I could offer. This question caught me completely o...
2020-11-1255 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 60: Sydney's MomFor most of my adult life, I had claimed Romans 8:28 as my own personal Bible verse. 'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.' I clung to that verse, believed it and tried to live it. After I became a doctor, I remember thinking to myself that if I had not gone through the pain of my parents' cancer treatments and my mom's eventual death, I would have never learned about the field of medicine in such a personal way, and...
2020-11-0553 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 59: Hannah's MomWaiting is hard. Ask any 5 year old who is waiting for Christmas, a birthday or even traveling in the car on a road trip. They wait impatiently, expectantly. They may even drive their parents a little crazy. 'How many days until Christmas now?' 'How much longer until we get to grandma's house?' Parents learn to try to distract them in different ways. They may have a countdown for Christmas somewhere in the house. They might try playing games or songs in the car to try to distract them. After today's guest, Jill, lost her teenage...
2020-10-2957 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 58: Joey - Pregnancy After LossMy regular listeners know that some of my biggest pet peeves as a bereaved parent are the well-meaning platitudes given by others to try to offer comfort. Comments like, 'she is in a better place' or 'everything happens for a reason' tend to make me irritated instead. One comment that I know that many moms can hear is, 'you are young - you can have another baby' as if that is an easy way to erase the pain. That is so much easier to say than to do, however, and another baby will NOT eliminate the pain...
2020-10-2251 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 57: Hunter's MomWhen Luna contacted me a few short weeks ago, sharing that her son, Hunter, had died suddenly while he was sleeping, my heart broke for her as it does whenever I hear these tragic stories. I thought about the grief journey that she had just begun and how challenging it would be for her in the days, weeks, and months ahead. I thought about ways that I might be a support for her from the other side of the country. I accepted her Facebook request and began to follow her writings and pictures that she posted. Very q...
2020-10-1559 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 56: Isaac's MomWhen today's guest, Crystal, found out that she was pregnant at a young age, she says that she thinks many people thought that her life was over. In some ways, I guess it was, but not in the way they supposed. From the moment Isaac was born, she knew that he was her greatest blessing. Her focus in life suddenly shifted. She became a mom, and she wanted to work to give him that best life that she could. She even chose the name 'Isaac' because of the story of Abraham and Sarah in the Bible. As...
2020-10-0856 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 55: Chad's MomAll people who have lost a close family member will likely have experienced working with a funeral director in those first hours and days after the death. For people who die older or after a prolonged illness, they may have met with a funeral director ahead of time and even made plans. For those of us experiencing a sudden loss, however, we suddenly are met by an absolute stranger who is taxed with guiding us through the most traumatic experience of our lives. I will never forget Justin, our funeral director. He seemed to sense exactly what...
2020-10-0147 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 54: Gwen - griefguide.comThe days after Andy's death were such a blur to me. Information came at me from all directions. In those days leading up to what should have been his first day of high school, we instead found ourselves in a funeral home, picking out a casket and a cemetery plot. I feel like much of the information that was shared with me I could not even absorb. Our funeral director was truly amazing and such a blessing to us. He tried not to overwhelm us with too much at one time. He handed me paperwork, much of...
2020-09-2446 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 53: Melissa's Mom and DadUntil June 6, 2002, Dave and Sue Brannon had a life that many would envy. They had four beautiful children, a happy marriage, and a life that felt blessed by God. Sue worked as a nurse, and Dave was a successful author of numerous books. Dave wrote in the introduction of his book, Beyond the Valley: 'We loved the stuffing out of life. Not that every day was always easy and full of smiles and laughing, but for the most part, our direction was still heading securely toward the road to blessedness. Up on the mountain. Far from the valley."
2020-09-171h 04
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 52: Emily's Hope MomLiving through the death of one's own child under any circumstances is certainly thought to be one of the most difficult events anyone could experience. Every person's journey is hard, but some things can make it even more challenging. When the griever is in the public eye, it must be even worse. Every action, every tear is analyzed and evaluated. How difficult it must be to go on when so many people are watching. For today's guest, Angela, that is exactly what she had to experience after her daughter, Emily, died from a drug overdose two years...
2020-09-1041 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 51: Chris' Mom'I'm sorry. Despite our best efforts, we were unable to save your son.' These words will sit with me for the rest of my life. I will never forget them, will never forget the regret and sadness in that paramedic's voice. What a horrible thing for him to have to share with us. Earlier, he was likely one of the people who took over for my husband as he was trying to resuscitate Andy. Without a doubt, he had heard my frantic cries and prayers in the background. He knew that those words would change our...
2020-09-0349 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 50: Jordan's MomShame. Guilt. Fear of Judgment. Anger. These are just some of the additional emotions that today's guest, Lisa, felt after the accidental overdose death of her son, Jordan, eleven years ago. As my listeners all know, the death of one's child is likely the most difficult thing any of us will ever experience. No two deaths or experiences are the same, certainly, but when the death is a direct result of a bad choice that was made, the death and healing process is even more complicated. A listener reached out recently asking me to have G...
2020-08-2748 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 49: Caleb's Mom at One YearBirthdays, holidays and anniversaries are all incredibly difficult to live through after the death of your child. We dread them. We count the days until those days arrive trying to figure out what exactly to do on that day. Is it small and private? Do we invite friends and family to join us? What is the best decision? I recently talked to a good friend of mine who was honoring the two year anniversary of her child's death two days before we had Andy's. She said to me, "No mother should have to plan a 'death party' for their...
2020-08-2052 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 48: Greg's SisterRecently, I have been thinking a lot about the fact that I live in a grieving home, and I am continuing to raise my children in a grieving home and that there is nothing that I can do to change that. It is just not the same place that it was two years ago. Don't get me wrong - we still laugh have fun together, but the grief is always there. The tears are just around the corner, and I feel like my children especially don't talk to me as they once did, fearing that they might 'get me...
2020-08-1359 min
Barrel to Bottle, The Binny's PodcastGeoff and Marcy Larson from Alaskan Brewing Geoff and Marcy Larson have faced many unique challenges brewing beer in landlocked Juneau, Alaska. In addition to a stable of core beers, they've branched out and kept up with the latest trends in craft beer. Drink along at home with these beers: Alaskan Amber Alaskan Smoked Porter
2020-08-0747 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 47: Tamzyn and Jacque's MomI will never forget the subject line of the email sent by today's guest, Charne, a few weeks ago. It simply read, 'Lightning Struck Twice.' Charne's journey with grief started 8 years ago when her youngest daughter died from a freak accident while home in South Africa. That is obviously a horrible experience for any parent to experience, but then, two months ago, her oldest son died in a car accident as well. I have to admit that as a grieving parent, my greatest fear is that lightning could 'strike twice' and another one of my children...
2020-08-061h 01
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 46: Adam's MomHonestly, today's interview was a sort of scary prospect for me. I don't like thinking too far into the future. Ten years, twenty years, thirty years, even the idea of having that much time without Andy in my life and as an active part of our family is too hard to think about. I am having enough trouble with the thought that almost two years have already passed. That's why talking to Adam's mom, Nancy, today seemed really foreign and a little bit scary. Adam died 34 years ago now - Nancy has gone on living 34 years without h...
2020-07-3059 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 45: David's DadThe words 'grief' and 'improv' are certainly ones that do not naturally seem to go together. When I think of grief, I think of extreme sadness. I might also think of guilt, anger or numerous other negative emotions. Rarely, if ever, would I think about someone laughing. Today's guest, however, says that tears and laughter are often much closer to each other than they appear to be. They are the two involuntary emotional responses that can be outwardly seen by other people. "If you get one flowing," Bart says, "the other tends to loosen up as well." W...
2020-07-231h 06
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 44: Rory's MomOne day, almost 3 year old, red-headed Rory was outside playing while on a family vacation to Florida. She suddenly fell to the ground and cried out. Rory's mom, Mary, ran up to her and found that her entire left side was paralyzed. Mary frantically had her mom call 911 to get help. This was the first day of a journey that included hospital stays in two different states and a diagnosis of a rare, never seen before cancerous tumor on Rory's heart. The journey ended 9 1/2 weeks later with Rory's death in their family home. When I asked today's...
2020-07-1657 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 43: Finding EncouragementStrength and courage are two very powerful words. Those words conjure up images in my mind of a person physically strong and without fear, perhaps a member of the military, a firefighter, or someone else who shows bravery in the face of danger. Rarely, if ever, would a picture of a bereaved person come to mind. When I think of myself, a bereaved parent, I tend to think of myself as weak and in great pain, not someone with strength and courage. In today's episode, Gwen Kapcia, from Starlight Ministries, shows me that grieving people actually are s...
2020-07-0949 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 42: Keyan's Mom at 3 YearsWhen I sat down to plan my summer podcast schedule, July 2nd stood out to me right away. July 2, 2017 was the day that Stephanie's daughter Keyan died. Although I never met Keyan in life, in my mind, July 2nd is Keyan's day and it just did not feel 'right' to talk about anyone else on that day. I reached out to Keyan's mom, Stephanie, and she agreed to come on the show a second time. I met Keyan's mom, Stephanie, 3 weeks after my son, Andy, died. I remember hearing her story when I first met her. My...
2020-07-0257 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 41: Johnny's MomOn the night 7 year old Johnny was diagnosed with a brain tumor, his mom asked him if he was scared. He said that he was and went on to say that he was afraid that he would die. Johnny's mom tearfully held him close and told him that God desires to take the little and make it amazing. She then proceeded to open her Bible and tell Johnny the story of Gideon. After hearing that story, Johnny decided that whatever was happening with him and his life, he wanted to use it to 'make God famous.' O...
2020-06-2458 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 40: Dobbs and Reed's MomSometimes I end an interview just feeling better - better about myself, better about God and better about life in general. Today is one of those days and one of those interviews. The first thing a noticed when I started talking to Hadley, the mother of Dobbs and Reed, via Zoom, was a wooden sign sitting on a table behind her. I could not read the entire sign, but knew in a moment that in it were the words to Psalm 46:10: Be Still and Know that I am God. She shared with me that those words can be found...
2020-06-1857 min
Drink Beer, Think Beer With John HollEp. 37 - Geoff and Marcy Larson of Alaskan Brewing CompanyWith over 8,000 breweries in the country it can be easy to overlook the early pioneers, regardless of how big they are and how ubiquitous their beers are. So, when a bottle of Alaskan Amber showed up unexpectedly at host John Holl's house recently he wanted to catch up with the brewery's founders. From talking about the early days of sourcing ingredients for historical recipes to beers that they hoped would take off but did not, Geoff and Marcy Larson talk about their brewery, what brought them to Alaska, and how it has grown over the years.
2020-06-171h 06
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 39: Emily's MomWinter Burgundy bushes Forest green pines Pale blue spruce white, white snow shadows bruised from winters tussles Oak leaves, stubbornly refusing to let go; Clinging like a shriveled cluster of dried raisins Green, green moss on textured trees Branches reaching up and out, each finger clearly seen Under all of this you lie Quiet now in true repose I cannot bear to think of you here…gone by now, flesh to dust Oh...
2020-06-1155 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 38: Haddie's MomHaddie was a happy, bright-eyed, inquisitive baby. Her smile would light up a room. She was more quiet than her older sister, described by her mom as reserved and laid back. Even at a young age, she seemed to value relationships and enjoy one-on-one time instead of group situations. Her parents were completely devastated when they lost her at almost 10 months of age. Haddie died from an unsafe sleep situation at her daycare, so much older than the age when most people stop worrying about safe sleep. Haddie's Mom, Sandy, and I talk about her grief journey...
2020-06-0454 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 37: What is Lament?What is lament and what does it mean to experience lament? After Andy died, I would find myself on the floor in his room sobbing uncontrollably. Sometimes, I was almost afraid that I might not ever be able to stop crying. I feared that I would just stay in that room on the floor and not be able to get up again. It was scary - scary to me and I'm quite sure scary to others as well. I had just called it 'the bad cry' or 'the ugly cry' and would hope that it wouldn't happen...
2020-05-2842 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 36: Willow's MomToday, I have the honor to introduce my listeners to my good friend, Willow's mom. I know her as Megan, but she shared that to so many people from 2012-2018, Megan was simply known as Willow's mom. She spent her life caring for her daughter, and that was really a major part of her identity. Although Willow was non-verbal, Megan says she could speak volumes with her eyes. She had a great sense of humor and a strength that blew people away. Willow's twin sister, Rowan, always seemed to be able to know exactly what Willow was thinking. The...
2020-05-2158 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 35: Anna's MomRecently, I feel like my grief journey has been harder rather than easier. It is difficult to know why that is the case. Is it because it has now been almost two years since Andy died? Others have warned me of that difficult milestone. Is it due to that fact that spring has arrived with its promise of trees, flowers and new life while my heart is still feeling such sadness and death? Is it the social distancing/quarantine that has now gone on for two months keeping us all isolated in our homes? Perhaps it is a combination...
2020-05-1459 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 34: Dalton's MomToday, I have the privilege to talk with Roni Lambrecht, the delightful, award-winning author of the book, Parenting at Your Best Without Regrets. She lost her only child, 15 year old Dalton, in an ATV accident 6 years ago. She talks about Dalton, the amazing relationship the two of them had, and what life has been like for her and her husband after Dalton's death. In the months and years after the accident, Roni began to have a significant Facebook following. She found herself answering all sorts of questions online that people felt too afraid to ask other mourning p...
2020-05-0758 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 33: Aria's MomUpon opening Aria's mom's website, meganhillukka.com, the very first words read, 'One day, I was the mother of 3 children, then in one moment I wasn't.' Aria was 15 months old when her mother, Megan, walked into her bedroom one morning to find that she had inexplicably passed away in her sleep. Those opening words caught me the second I read them. I, too, knew that moment, the moment that changed everything forever, the moment where life as we knew it before, ended. That moment began a very dark time for Megan, a time where she felt...
2020-04-3058 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 32: Leart's MomOn today's episode, I have the privilege to talk with Rezarta, Leart's mom. Leart died just this past November on the 21st from complications following a kidney transplant. He was born with Schimke Immune-Osseous Dysplasia which is a type of dwarfism that also includes immune deficiency and kidney disease. Leart was almost 8 years old when he died, but certainly seemed wise beyond his years. You will hear that he was certainly an amazing kid. (Click this Link to Leart sing a his kidney song - SO cute!) What strikes me most about Rezarta, is what a spiritual...
2020-04-2358 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 31: Ryan's Mom and DadRyan was almost 7 years old and on a typical father/son bike ride with his dad, Andy, when he was hit by a truck and killed while crossing the street during a green walk signal. Andy, a firefighter, desperately tried to save his son as his coworkers raced to the scene. They were unable to save Ryan that evening 10 months ago. Ryan's parents, Stacie and Andy talk with me today about that night and the days and weeks that follow. They talk about the community rallying around them and the way people they didn't even know stepped...
2020-04-1653 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 30: Tatum's MomTatum was 13 months old when he died early Christmas morning just over three months ago. Much of Tatum's short life was spent in the hospital due to complications of biliary atresia, a rare congenital disorder of the liver and biliary system that leads to liver failure. At 6 months of age, it was determined that Tatum would need a liver transplant to survive. The last few months of Tatum's life were spent awaiting a liver transplant that would never occur. Liz talks about their family's long journey, and how up until the very end, everyone believed that Tatum...
2020-04-0153 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 29: Grieving in a PandemicAfter a week off due to the COVID pandemic and the stresses surrounding it, I decided to restart the podcast. I tried stuffing my grief down deep into myself, feeling like it was not important enough to give any attention to during these trying times, but that is not a successful approach. Grief does not go away when you ignore it; in fact, for me, it builds up and makes me feel even worse. I imagine that it feels that way to others as well. Given that fact, I felt that the first episode back should be...
2020-03-2657 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 28: Max's MomToday on Always Andy's Mom, I talk with Shan, whose first-born son, Max, died at 15 months of age from Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy. Max was a healthy, growing boy until having his first seizure at 8 months of age. Over the next few months, they adjusted medications and appeared to have his seizures under good control. Then, suddenly, Max did not wake up from his nap one day. Shan and her husband were devastated. Their perfect, newly formed little family was destroyed. Shan's story is especially unique because, like me, Shan is a physician. In fact, Shan...
2020-03-1157 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 27: Andy's Director/Charlie's BrotherMusic. It carries such emotion for me and so many others. I remember thinking even at a young age that Andy 'felt' music. When all three kids would be practicing the piano, I could always tell when it was Andy's turn. He certainly wasn't the best at playing all of the correct notes, but when he played, it truly sounded like 'music' and not just notes on the piano. Once, while at a Trans Siberian Orchestra concert when Andy was 5 years old, I turned to Andy and found him weeping. When I asked what was wrong, he said, "Nothing...
2020-03-051h 01
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 26: Eddie's MumIn today's episode of Always Andy's Mom, we go international for the first time. My guest is Eddie's mum, Jennifer from the UK. Jennifer reached out to me over Twitter last month. It is her goal, as well as mine, to help change society by removing the stigma of talking about child and infant death. We, as grievers, need support from everyone around us and only by spreading the message far and wide can we hope to achieve this goal. Imagine for just a second being new, first-time parents of a happy, growing baby. As new parents...
2020-02-2749 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 25: Anne Cathryn's MomEpisode 25. It is sort of hard to believe that I have met this milestone. Overall, I know that I just started publishing episodes 5 short months ago, but what has been accomplished actually blows me away. I now have listeners and guests from across the country and even in other parts of the world. Even more important, is the impact of the show on the lives of grieving parents. Every week, people share with me how the show has helped them. People post on the andysmom.com website, write an iTunes review, follow me on social media or email me.
2020-02-201h 05
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 24: Tommy's MomTommy was a joyful 2 year old with a contagious belly laugh. He always raced around the house and neighborhood chasing after his two older brothers (ages 4 and 5) trying to keep up. His mom, Meredith, shared in today's episode what their family of six was like leading up to Tommy's death. They were in what she describes as 'a beautiful season in life.' They had completed their family and had just decided to dedicate their life to missions and Bible translation. After a mild fall about 3 weeks after that decision, Tommy complained of neck pain and had...
2020-02-1357 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 23: Connor's MomToday's episode of Always Andy's Mom is, for me, one of the most emotional episodes I have had to date. Connor's mom, Nan, describes him in a way that reminds me of Andy. He was the middle child of three, all born two years apart with extremely close relationships with his siblings. The bond between Connor and his mother was also very similar to my relationship with Andy. My husband and I always laughed that Andy was 'my' kid in a way that the others were not. I understood Andy, his emotionality, and his energy. The other two kids...
2020-02-0659 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 22: Alec's MomToday, I talk with Tara, Alec's mom, whose story is actually more similar to mine when compared to any of my guests so far. Alec, like Andy, was an energetic, emotional, full-of-life middle school boy who died as an 8th grader (although Andy was only 5 days from 9th grade). Alec was an extremely athletic kid who thoroughly enjoyed his one mile walk to the middle school each day. Never in a million years, did his mother think that one day while on this morning walk, Alec would be hit and killed by a mother driving her kids to school...
2020-01-3057 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 21: Dustan's DadToday on Losing a Child: Always Andy's Mom, I have the pleasure to speak with Dustan's Dad, Jason Colyer. Dustan was a very special young man who accomplished much during his short life of 23 years. He and a few of his high school friends started an organization called DC Strong, a charitable organization that works to help kids who are battling childhood cancer. They provide care packages for pediatric cancer patients that 'fit their unique personalities.' Dustan's dream was that this would become an organization with a full time staff that would be able to help children all...
2020-01-231h 03
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 20: You're NOT going crazy!'I think I'm going crazy. I'm going crazy. I am definitely going crazy!' These are the thoughts that would go through my head starting several weeks after Andy's death and peaking about 6 months afterward. Now, thankfully, these weren't actual voices that I was hearing, but that voice in my head, the one that used to motivate me to try something hard, was now always negative. I think that I used to start almost every conversation with my therapist along these lines. "I am going crazy." Her response: "You are not going crazy. I...
2020-01-1654 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 19: Calebs MomToday, as I publish this episode, Crissy's beloved son, Caleb, has been gone for 150 days, having died by suicide last year on August 12th. Undoubtedly, these has been the longest, worst days of Crissy's life, of her whole family's life. I didn't even know whether to ask her to share when her grief was still fresh and raw, but she really wanted to tell her story for two reasons. First of all, she wanted to share when she was still early because most people on my show and in books, etc, are much further on in their journey and...
2020-01-091h 03
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 18: Andy's Dad - A New Year'Happy New Year' is a phrase that has been said a lot over the past day and a half all over the world. I used to throw that phrase around, too, along with 'Happy Holidays' and 'Merry Christmas.' Nowadays, I don't say those phrases nearly as often. In fact, I think that only time I wished anyone a happy new year was when I said it almost in jest to Eric when recording this podcast. I am so thankful for this holiday season to be over and for it to be January 2nd. I am so relieved to...
2020-01-0259 min
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 17: Messages of HopeTo be honest, last Tuesday when I was scheduled to meet with other grieving mothers to record this episode, I was not feeling very hopeful at all. As I share in the episode, the days prior to this had been filled with many tears. Although I had tried to do my best to prepare for the holiday season, I felt like I was failing. I had been doing my best to follow Gwen's recommendations that she discussed in our Surviving the Holidays episode. It didn't seem like enough. My whole family sat down the day after Thanksgiving...
2019-12-191h 01
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomEpisode 16: Grief ReikiUntil a few weeks ago, I had never heard of the term, reiki. I noticed that I was being followed by a woman on Twitter, @GriefReiki. I began following her back and noticed that she and I would often post things that were very similar. She would retweet something and I would as well. As this continued to occur, I thought that maybe I should look into her a bit more and try to find out what 'reiki' is. First of all, I looked up the definition of Reiki online and found the following: 'a healing technique...
2019-12-121h 00
Losing a Child: Always Andy's MomAndy's DadIn this first episode of Losing a Child: Always Andy's Mom, Marcy interviews her husband Eric, and they discuss the death of their son, Andy, who died tragically in a car accident in August 2018. They discuss how they have been working to cope with their grief and help their family start the long journey back from devastating loss. They share their experiences while on this emotional rollercoaster. Eric and Marcy also offer feedback to others about what loved ones can do to support mourning families, and what things they should avoid. Eric is the host of the...
2019-08-281h 05