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A club no one wants to be in because the initiation is too big of a sacrifice: the loss of a child. Unthinkable. Unimaginable. Warrior Moms is local group in north Atlanta filled with strong, courageous, funny, and fiercely loving women who are surviving and thriving amidst horrific grief. This podcast features Amy Durham and Michele Davis, two of the Warrior Moms, who will guide listeners through their grief journey. Every fourth or fifth episode will showcase another Warrior Mom, the traum ...
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Welcome to the Worst Club Ever - the club of people who have lost a child. We're really glad you found us, and we're so sorry you're here. Losing a child is a horrific experience unlike any other; if you're looking for understanding, resources and community, you've come to the right place. Join bereaved mom and licensed psychotherapist Allie Kramer as she sets out to rebuild her life after the loss of her 4-year-old son to brain cancer. She'll be talking to experts in grief, trauma, medicine ...
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This is a podcast FOR bereaved parents BY bereaved parents. Join your host, Jill Sullivan, as she talks with parents who have lost children of all ages to all types of circumstances. This is a podcast of stories ... stories of devastating loss and grief and heartbreak and struggle ... and stories of hope and healing and faith, and yes, even joy. Underlying every conversation will be the hope we have in Jesus Christ, which makes it possible to not just survive the loss of a child, but to live ...
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An outreach of The Empty Chair Endeavor designed to support and equip survivors of child loss in rediscovering life, hope, and joy after unspeakable tragedy. Additionally, our mission involves educating the public about the life altering impact the death of a child has upon survivors, both parents and siblings, and equipping them to better support and minister to them. Join us as guests share their stories of heartbreaking loss and how God has shown up on their journeys to restore hope, mean ...
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Life After Child Loss is a personal and deep podcast with focus on, not only my journey, but the journey of other parents all over the world who have lost children of various causes and reasons. It's the grief many don't understand and other's aren't willing to talk about. An in depth, uncensored talk about parent's trying to live a life after they lose their child. Walk with me as I take you on my journey of twists, turns, highs and lows of fighting from merely existing to living, but also ...
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Unlocking Joy After Grief | Christian Grief Support, Life After Child Loss, Bereavement, Hope and Healing for Grieving Moms
Courtney Williams | Christian Grief Support
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Does the thought of having to live in a world without your child cripple you? Do you lay awake at night with the ”what if’s” and the ”why’s” constantly playing in your mind, wondering if you’ll ever feel peace again? Does everything seem hard, even the little things? Do you just want someone to understand how you feel? I see you friend. In this podcast you will find the hope you’re looking for, the healing you’re longing for, and the key to living again after losing your child, all through t ...
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That first bereaved-parent retreat in April of 2011 turned out to be above and beyond all we could have ever asked or imagined. We knew from our experience at the Respite Retreat what God could do when a group of like-minded bereaved parents got together ... but this first While We're Waiting Weekend was such a sweet confirmation of what we believe…
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When her eight month old daughter Adalyn died of two congenital medical conditions in May 2017, Heather’s heart was shattered and her life upended with grief. Three short years later, the unimaginable happened when her daughter Maelyn was stillborn in July 2020. How does a parent even begin to comprehend and process such unspeakable trauma? How can…
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The heartbreaking story of Max Gruver sheds light on the often unseen dangers of hazing in college settings. His mother, Rae Ann, joins Michele and Amy to share not only the tragedy that took her son's life but also the mission that has risen from her love of Max. Together with hosts, Rae Ann discusses Max's vibrant spirit and the circumstances tha…
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Theo's Story, Part 3: SUNSET
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In the final part of Theo’s story, Allie and Mike share the magic of hearing their son speak again, after four months of silence. They reflect on a beautiful and intense summer - the elated highs and the gutting lows, before recounting their final weeks with Theo, when his tumor began to progress and eventually took his life. SUNSET is part 3 of a …
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Over the next few months, we met frequently to discuss plans and pray about our upcoming retreat for bereaved parents. Several times we drove out to Family Farm and included Stan and Donna May in our planning meetings. Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode in this series in which I’ve been sharing our family’s experiences in the last y…
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Brad and I returned home from the Respite Retreat still basking in the glow of the new relationships we'd formed, the things we'd learned from spending time with other bereaved parents, and a renewed hope that it was still possible to have joy in life in spite of our great loss. We had a strong sense that God was calling us into a similar type mini…
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Even though I didn't really want to go, and this thing was way outside my comfort zone, Brad and I signed up for the Respite Retreat scheduled for Labor Day Weekend in September of 2010. We couldn't have known at the time what a profound impact it would have on our lives. Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode in this series in which I’…
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During the final days of Hannah's life, many people dropped by the hospice center and left books, gifts, food, and other items for our family. These kindnesses were so greatly appreciated. Most of these gifts were accompanied by a card indicating who had given them. But one gift, a book called "Holding On To Hope" by Nancy Guthrie, was accompanied …
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Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode in this series in which I’ve been sharing our family’s experiences in the last year of our daughter Hannah’s life, which spanned from February 2008 through February 2009. This series would not be complete without a discussion of the ministry which developed out of Hannah’s homegoing. If you’ll indu…
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Today’s episode features a conversation with my friend Nanette Klinect. We discuss the beautiful and miraculous story of her daughter Katie’s adoption, the tragic accident that changed everything, and the hard and holy privilege she had to walk her home to Heaven. With honesty, faith, and even a touch of humor, Nanette reflects on grief, healing, a…
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There never really was any question where Hannah's body would be buried. There's a beautiful cemetery in Briggsville, Arkansas, where the Sullivan family farm is located. Hannah spent many happy days at the farm ... hunting, riding 4-wheelers, and just hanging out with her cousins. Occasionally, we would stop at that cemetery and visit the graves o…
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Hannah's life was celebrated at First Baptist Church in Hot Springs on this date sixteen years ago. We had two goals for the service -- to honor Hannah's life and to point people to Jesus. I remember stepping into the church building feeling so very raw and exposed. Even though Hannah's death was not a surprise, it was a shock, and I was very much …
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As I've been looking back through all the emails passing back and forth between the newspaper, our friends and family, the church staff, etc., that went on in those days immediately following Hannah's homegoing, I'm struck by how "together" I appeared to be. My communication skills were intact and I was generally coherent, but I remember none of it…
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Most families don't have the opportunity to prepare for their child's death the way we did. We had known for a year that Hannah's cancer could be fatal, and even though we prayed earnestly for earthly healing, we knew from the beginning that God may choose to heal her in Heaven. And, of course, we eventually reached the point where we knew her deat…
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Today's episode is a continuation of my conversation with Erik and Susan Totera about their daughter Reilly, an amazing young woman with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, who went to Heaven a little over two years ago. Today, they share how they are navigating the waves of grief, how their perspectives have shifted, and how they continue to find str…
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I woke with a start sixteen years ago today. I had slept for several hours without interruption, which had not happened in a long time. It scared me, and I immediately jumped up to check on Hannah. She had slept all night, and was still sleeping. She looked different somehow; better, in fact. She was sleeping in a more naturally relaxed position an…
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The entire time we were at the hospice center had a distinct air of unreality. The fact that we had reached the point where we were re-living the anniversaries of the events which had brought us to this place just added to that sense of illusion. Surely this wasn't happening to our family. Surely this was all some kind of crazy dream. Surely Hannah…
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It's a very surreal thing to write an obituary for your own child. It's even more surreal when your child is sitting beside you as you write it. After Hannah's doctor confirmed that there was nothing else medically that could be done for her and that unless God intervened in a miraculous way she would be going to Heaven soon, I decided to begin mak…
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It’s one of the most ancient of all questions, “Why does a good God allow people to suffer in this world? I discuss three options in my email from sixteen years ago today. Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage daughter H…
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On this day sixteen years ago, Hannah received two surprise phone calls, both from well-known musicians who had played a significant role in her life. Each of them spoke words of encouragement and and gave us special memories with Hannah that we will always treasure. Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podc…
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Many people came to visit us when we were in the hospice center, but only a few actually got to see Hannah during that time. She was never one to like a lot of attention even before she got sick, and I knew she would not be comfortable with visitors, especially in her condition. We wanted to protect her dignity as much as possible; therefore, only …
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You may recall that on Hannah's last day at Children's Hospital before we moved to hospice, some dear friends brought us a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Hannah ate a couple bites of one, but let us know with her limited communication skills that it wasn't as good as a spudnut. Now, if you're wondering what in the world a "spudnut" is, let me fill …
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Today, I have the privilege of speaking with Erik and Susan Totera, who I met when they attended one of our While We're Waiting Weekends in eastern Tennessee. They join me to share the story of their own personal testimony of second chances, as well as the story of their daughter Reilly ... a remarkable young woman who was blessed with creativity a…
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I'm not gonna lie ... When we got to the hospice center and found out there was no wifi, I may have freaked out just a little. The emails and messages we received daily from so many wonderful people had become such a part of our lifeline it was hard to imagine being cut off from them. And writing my daily emails was actually playing a role in keepi…
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"When Nicole went to Heaven, darkness invaded our world, and we wondered if our family would survive the crushing pain of grief." Kim Peacock When Kim's daughter Nicole died in a tragic off-roading accident three days after Christmas in 1998, it left her shattered, and her whole world seemed to stop. No parent is ever prepared for such trauma and p…
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Brad and I moved a lot during the early years of our marriage ... College, graduate school, first job, second job, etc. Even after the girls were born, we continued to move frequently. Moving is always stressful, yet there's usually excitement involved too ... a new house, new neighborhood, new friends. We were used to moving and all that came alon…
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This day began with Hannah nibbling a Krispy Kreme doughnut and ended with us making decisions about how we wanted to spend our final days with her. Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage daughter Hannah battled glioblast…
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**WARNING** - This post is fairly graphic and could be upsetting to some. If you are sensitive to discussions of blood, you may wish to skip it. On this date sixteen years ago today, we found ourselves racing to Arkansas Children's Hospital emergency room in the wee hours of the morning. Hannah's low platelet levels were the culprit, and after a br…
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It was Valentine's Day. Exactly one year had passed since Hannah had shown the first symptoms of the brain tumor which was now slowly taking her life. It had been a roller-coaster year full of MRIs, needle sticks, radiation treatments, chemotherapy, hair loss, platelet infusions, and hospital stays. We had watched our daughter go from a vibrant, he…
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It was Friday, and time for the junior high Valentine dance, and even though Bethany had been out of school since Tuesday, she had made plans to attend. Since Brad was available to be home with Hannah, I was able to spend the day with her. We already had her dress, and I enjoyed taking her to get her hair and make-up done that afternoon at my regul…
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Today's episode is a continuation of my conversation with Shawn and Sandy Smith about their son Andrew—a joy-filled boy with a love for music—who went to heaven in 2009 after a courageous battle with DIPG. Today, we look at what life has been like over the sixteen years since Andrew went home to Jesus. In this episode, Shawn and Sandy open up about…
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In Part 2 of Theo’s story, Allie and Mike describe hearing the news of their son’s terminal cancer diagnosis, and chronicle the first four months that followed. They share their journey through radiation, treatment planning, and trying to bring Theo the most magical experiences possible amidst the chaos of cancer. ECLIPSE is part 2 of a 3 part seri…
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During our clinic appointment sixteen years ago today, we had the opportunity to chat with Hannah's oncologist while she received her requisite platelet infusion. She was scheduled for an MRI on Monday, which would tell us a lot about what the future might hold. Her doctor was very honest with us, explaining that he believed the results would indic…
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After hearing the news that we may just have six to eight weeks left with Hannah, Brad and I sat down together and made some decisions. One was that he would take a leave of absence from his job as her high school principal. Part of this was just practicality ... as Hannah was able to do less and less for herself, he would be needed to help with he…
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When we arrived at Children's Hospital sixteen years ago today, the waiting room was packed and every bed in the infusion room was full. It was obvious we had a long wait in front of us. Hannah was completely exhausted just from the ride to Little Rock that morning, and could barely sit up in her wheelchair. The brightness of the waiting room assau…
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From my email 16 years ago ... Every day, we hear from at least one person (usually several people) about how much Hannah's story has touched, or even changed, their life. It is such an incredible blessing to us to hear that, and I want to take a minute to explain why. The night before Hannah's brain surgery last February, she shared a story with u…
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Joining me today are Shawn and Sandy Smith, who I had the opportunity to meet when they attended our first While We’re Waiting Weekend in Michigan a couple years ago. Their faith has been tested in ways most of us can hardly imagine—first, when Sandy was diagnosed with breast cancer, and then, just days later, when their six-year-old son Andrew was…
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During this hospital stay, it hit me full force how weary Hannah was becoming. She had been so strong for so long, and her body (and mind) were finally wearing down. It was clear that she was in the process of dying, and as much as I didn't want her to go, I also didn't want to push her beyond her limits. I really just wanted to take her home and l…
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After waiting the long arrival of their precious daughter Willow, June 8, 2017 was supposed to be a day of joyful celebration for Leslie and Andrew Burman. When their sweet baby was born still that day, their hopes were crushed and their hearts shattered. It wasn't supposed to be that way! How do young parents begin to process something so painful …
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Experiencing multiple losses in quick succession, Jeff opens up about the emotional complexity and heart-rending journey of losing both his stepson Alec and his father. We explore with Jeff and Amy the nuances of compounded grief, especially when it's tied to figures of guidance and friendship. Amy and Jeff discuss the tough balance of supporting t…
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It may sound strange to say that even though Hannah had been battling brain cancer for nearly a year, she really hadn't been "sick" very much. Yes, she dealt with ongoing headaches, nausea, low platelets, and fatigue, but for the most part, she had been able to cope with these things and still live her life. Her only hospitalizations, other than he…
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We were now using a wheelchair exclusively for our trips to Children's Hospital, and had become pretty well resigned to its use away from home. But as time went on, Hannah was becoming less and less able to walk independently, even in our home. She began to depend upon one of us to support her as she walked from the living room to her bedroom, and …
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In the very first episode of Worst Club Ever, host Allie Kramer and her husband Mike begin to tell the story of the life and death of their four-year-old son, Theo. In Part 1, Allie and Mike share what their lives were like with Theo from his birth, up until his devastating brain cancer diagnosis at age three. SUNRISE is part 1 of a 3 part series. …
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One of the most painful parts of Hannah's cancer journey was witnessing the decline of her cognitive skills. She was a girl who had always taken great pride in being a straight-A student, consistently at the top of her class, always completing her work before it was due ... and suddenly she was having difficulty putting sentences together. She was …
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Last Wednesday, I introduced you to Kurt and Denette Schaer, parents of Logan, a remarkable young man with a knack for making others feel “seen” and a deep desire to point people to Jesus. In May of 2022, just a few days after his high school graduation, Logan and a passenger died after he drove his car into a pond. In today’s conversation, we delv…
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Melanie Hall shares her profound journey of grief after losing her son, Bennett, and how she navigated motherhood amidst the trauma, deep heartache, and being a mother to two children under two. She discusses the challenges of grief, the importance of community support, and the transformative power of writing as a healing tool. • Introduction to Me…
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We often misunderstand the difference between being able to 'cope' with the loss of our child(ren) and actually being healed from the loss.
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As the days went by, it became more and more apparent that the chemotherapy Hannah was receiving was having very little, if any, effect. Her oncologist had been searching for a clinical trial or experimental treatment that we could try, but her consistently low platelet levels made her ineligible for any trials. There was nothing to do medically bu…
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The long-awaited new season of American Idol was now underway, and as always, our family life began to revolve around watching the bi-weekly and sometimes tri-weekly episodes. This particular season included a young singer from Conway, Arkansas, named Kris Allen. Hannah spotted him in the first episode ... after all, he was from Arkansas, he was ta…
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Kurt and Denette Schaer are the parents of three sons, including Logan, a young man with a knack for making others feel “seen” and a deep desire to point people to Jesus. In May of 2022, just a few days after his high school graduation, Logan and a passenger died after he drove his car into a pond, leaving the Schaers with a multitude of unanswered…
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