Episode 6: Finding Answers to the Hardest Questions in Grief | Beyond the Loss
𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀: 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 & 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝗲𝘀Show Notes
What happens when the questions after child loss never fully fade? In this week’s episode of Beyond the Loss: Life & Identity After a Child Dies, I explore the emotional weight of living without clear answers and the quiet search for meaning that often follows profound loss. Why did this happen? Why my child? How do we move through life when everything feels altered? Over time, many grieving parents come to realize that healing is not always about closure. More often, it involves learning...
More from 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀: 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 & 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝗲𝘀
What happens when the beliefs that have grounded your life are suddenly challenged by the death of your child? In this episode of Beyond the Loss, Dr. Sharon Spano sits down with Teresa Davis - a grief mentor, registered nurse of over 43 years, author, and host of The Grief Mentor podcast. On November 30, 2018, Teresa’s 32-year-old son Andrew, a corporate pilot, was killed in a fatal plane crash caused by mechanical failure shortly after takeoff. In this compassionate conversation, Dr. Shar...
What happens when the ways we learn to survive after the death of a child begin shaping not only how we grieve, but how we live, work, relate, and understand ourselves? In this episode of Beyond the Loss, Dr. Sharon Spano speaks with Sally McQuillen, a licensed clinical social worker, certified alcohol and drug counselor, and author of Reaching for Beautiful. Sally is also the mother of Christopher, who died ten years ago at the age of 21. Sally brings a unique dual perspective to this conv...
What happens when the life you knew is suddenly gone, and the only way forward is to begin discovering who you are right now in this very moment? In Episode 27 of Beyond the Loss, I sit down with Jamie Casley, a high school teacher and literacy specialist from New Zealand. In August of 2023, Jamie's world changed forever when her 18-year-old daughter, Lily, collapsed and died unexpectedly from an undiagnosed electrical heart condition. In our conversation, Jamie describes that tragic night ...
In this Episode of Beyond the Loss, I introduce a new series theme: The Shape of Survival. After the loss of a child, many parents - especially high achievers - subconsciously organize themselves into high-functioning patterns. We plan, work, organize, exercise, and take care of everyone around us to create structure in an unpredictable world. In this episode, I explore the nuance between healthy functioning and denial, the invisible burden of being labeled "the strong one," a...
In Episode 25 of Beyond the Loss, I welcome Gwen Kapcia (LMSW, FT), a licensed social worker, certified thanatologist, and co-author of Not Another Lasagna: How to Truly Help a Grieving Friend. Gwen brings nearly 40 years of experience across hospice care, funeral home aftercare, and grief mentorship, alongside her own personal journey through pregnancy loss. Together, we discuss the nuances of pregnancy loss, why the word "bereaved" literally means to be cut in two, how faith communi...