Claim OwnershipHope After Child & Sibling Loss/the empty chair endeavor
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Shining the light of Hope into the darkness of grief to support and equip grieving parents and siblings in rediscovering meaning, purpose, 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 in their journeys to heal and restore broken lives. The host, Greg Buffkin, lives with his wife Cathy in South Carolina. Because Cathy and Greg lost their beautiful son Ryan to suicide in 2015, they understand the trauma and pain of losing a child. On a journey that began 10 years ago out of unspeakable trauma and brokenness, GOD has brought them through to a place of restoration, hope and joy with a passion to help other grieving families on their journeys.
DISCLAIMER: The views, opinions, and beliefs expressed by our guests are not necessarily shared by this podcast or its host. We believe there is only one GOD: the Father, His son Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit (the Trinity). We also believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired, inerrant, eternal word of GOD which is our source of all truth.
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In this hope filled conversation, author and speaker Angie Ford-Green shares her journey of grief after the loss of her son, Kevin in a surfing tragedy. She reflects on the profound impact of his life and death on her identity, her marriage, and her family. Angie emphasizes the importance of community, faith, and the need to embrace grief while also finding hope and purpose in life after loss. Through her personal experiences and insights, she offers encouragement to other grieving parents, r...
In this heartfelt conversation, Janet Boxx shares her profound journey through grief after experiencing the loss of her son through stillbirth and later, the tragic loss of two daughters in a car accident. You’ll hear us talk about how she’s continuing to navigate the messiness and complexity of grief, as well as cultural misunderstandings surrounding it, and the importance of community support. Janet emphasizes that healing is a long, often unpredictable process that doesn’t always follow st...
In this episode, Greg Buffkin speaks with Sam Hodges, president of Church Initiative, about GriefShare, the number one grief support program in the world, and its significance in providing support for those experiencing grief, as well as the importance of community in the healing process. They discuss Sam's journey to Church Initiative, the signs of healing in grief, and some of the resources available for grieving individuals, including a new book titled 'Is My Grief Normal?'. We hope you wi...
In this heartfelt conversation, Ashley Opliger shares her journey of grief after the stillbirth of her daughter, Bridget, and how it led to the creation of Bridget's Cradles, a ministry that provides cradles for families experiencing loss. Ashley discusses the emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of grief, the importance of communication in relationships, and how grief evolves over time. She emphasizes the significance of honoring our children, navigating holidays, and the impact of los...
In this heartfelt conversation, Melanie DeSimone shares her journey of grief after the tragic loss of her son, Dominic. She discusses the profound impact of child loss on family dynamics, the importance of community support, and the lessons learned through her experience. Melanie emphasizes the need for compassion, understanding, and practical strategies for navigating grief, while also highlighting her ministry, Heartache and Hope, which aims to comfort and support other bereaved parents. Sh...
In this heartfelt conversation, Greg talks with Linda Cook about her journey of grief after losing her beautiful daughter Jocelyn in a tragic accident. Linda shares her experiences of navigating the complexities of loss, the impact of her faith, and the importance of community support. Through her story, she highlights the ongoing process of healing, the joy of remembering Jocelyn, and the legacy she continues to inspire in others. Share any comments here *** Please take a minute to leave a...
In this heartfelt conversation, Greg talks with Kathe Wunnenberg, founder of Hope Lifters Unlimited, about her profound journey of grief and healing. Kathe shares her personal experiences with loss, including the death of her son and multiple miscarriages, and how these experiences shaped her understanding of grief and GOD’s goodness in our suffering. They discuss the importance of community support, the unique nature of grieving a child, and the role of faith in finding hope amidst pain. Kat...
In this heartfelt conversation, Christina Schuetz shares her profound journey of grief following the loss of her daughter, Sylvia, who battled congenital heart disease. Christina discusses the impact of this loss on her mental health, including struggles with PTSD, depression, and anxiety. She emphasizes the importance of community, faith, and open communication in navigating grief, and how these experiences have inspired her to write a book aimed at helping others through their own grief jou...
In this heartfelt conversation, I talk with Felicia Cook, a mother who lost her son Corey to a fentanyl overdose. Felicia shares her journey through grief, the impact of losing a child, and how her faith has helped her navigate this unimaginable pain. She discusses the importance of community support, the complexities of mental health and substance abuse, and her desire to honor Corey by helping others facing similar struggles. Through her story, Felicia offers hope and insight into the heali...
On this episode, Cheryl Davis, host of the Time for Mom podcast, shares her story of loss as a young mom whose heart was neither equipped nor prepared to deal with the grief of child loss. Cheryl’s is a story that represents over a million others just like hers every year in the U.S. suffering the death of a child by miscarriage. All too often, we have a tendency to rank or compare grief based on our own subjective views or experiences. This is especially true in loss due to miscarriage or st...
In this episode you’ll hear Shelly Kolwinska share her profound journey of grief following the stillbirth of her daughter, Margaret Rose. In our conversation we discuss the importance of community support for grieving parents and the unique services offered by The Child Loss Foundation. Shelly's personal story intertwines with her professional mission as Director of Child Loss@Work to help others navigate their grief, emphasizing the need for understanding and compassion in the workplac...
Finding anything good in grief might seem impossible for you today, and if so, you’re not alone. Grief often feels like it has taken on a life of its own, and even wants to become your new identity. How can there possibly be anything resembling gold in our grief journey? On this episode you’ll hear a conversation I recently had with Sarah Beth Gerbers about how she began to discover gold on her multiple grief journeys; yes, Sarah has experienced the loss of a precious, beautiful child five(5)...
They are known as “the forgotten mourners.” On this episode you’ll be hearing a conversation I had with Bobby and Gabby Bisterfeldt, founders of Sibling Lifeline, as we talk about how the death of a child affects surviving children. Both have experienced the tragic loss of two siblings each. As they share their stories, you’ll learn how each tried to process their own pain and grief while attempting not to be an additional burden on their grieving parents. It’s a common dilemma most siblings ...
A phone call on Christmas morning 2020 brought heart shattering news she never could have imagined. On this episode, Mary McNamara talks with me about how one phone call forever altered her life that day. Her beautiful 28 year old son, Zack, had died during the night alone. We talk about the questions such a sudden, unexpected tragedy leaves a parent facing and trying to process. You'll also hear Mary talk about what a caring, sensitive, and funny young man Zack was as well as some of his str...
On this episode, Brad and Jill Sullivan join me to talk about their sweet daughter Hannah, and their grief journey since losing her to a glioblastoma brain tumor in February 2009 after a year long battle. Hannah loved Jesus, and her faith in Him enabled her to not only endure this battle, but to live each day with purpose to honor Him even as she underwent radiation therapy and surgery. Brad shares a very touching conversation he had with Hannah at one point that year as the two of them...
Share any comments here *** Please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy this podcast by clicking the link below. By doing so you help increase our visibility and discoverability for others, and we value your feedback! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/id1654053256 You can contact us by email at: hope@emptychairendeavor.com through our parent organization website: https://www.emptychairendeavor.com/ Our Fa...
On this episode, David Corvi and I explore the many facets of how grief after child loss affects men. The impact of such trauma is often overlooked or downplayed with dads, due, in large part, to cultural norms and unrealistic expectations of men in our society. While men and women grieve differently, men do indeed grieve, but the impact is not often visible. Having experienced the unthinkable pain of losing his beautiful son Charlie to late term stillbirth in October 2021, David candidly sha...
Seemingly unpredictable and random, miscarriage loss leaves parents, more especially moms, devastated and brokenhearted. Pregnant yesterday, but suddenly today, no longer. She’s left with countless questions that often have no answers, feelings of guilt that she didn’t do something right, fear that it might happen again, and so much love in her heart that now has no where to go. In this episode, Rachel Maxwell shares her story and we talk about these challenges and how she faced them. With a ...
In this episode, Tracy Dailey and I talk about her journey that began without warning on May 30, 2007. Eight months into her pregnancy and only 24 years old, Tracy was told by her doctor, after performing an ultrasound, that her sweet, precious daughter Emma, had no heartbeat. Everything seemed to slip into slow motion, and denial took over temporarily. Prior to the previous day, it had been a picture perfect pregnancy, and now the unthinkable had become reality and her life forever changed. ...
Critically injured by a hit and run driver on 10/5/23, Tommy’s beautiful 23 year old son Nick died from his injuries on October 21, 2023, a day that would forever change Tommy’s life. Parents shouldn’t have to bury their children. Like other dads, Tommy had dreams of seeing Nick discover his purpose in life, possibly get married and have a family of his own, and enjoy activities he and Nick loved doing together. Like those dreams, Tommy’s life was shattered that day. I hope you’ll listen as h...
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