We Discuss:

• The difference between sudden loss and the "slow grief" of watching a parent decline 
• How grief has shifted in the 15+ years since her mother's unexpected death
• Losing her father as the co-archivist of her mother's life and their family history
• Managing long-distance caregiving
• The failures of the elder care system in the U.S.
• The role of chosen family and support
• Wedding planning and the question of how to honor her mother's memory 
• The complexity of being a queer person in traditionally heteronormative grief support spaces 
• Feeling like she no longer has parents, even though her father is still alive 
• The therapeutic value of pets 
• Finding moments of connection and joy with her father despite his condition 
• Using poetry as a processing tool for grief 

About the Guest: 

Camila is a poet who has published three books of poetry: 

• The Progression of Grief (about losing her mother) 

• New Waters (about falling in love and healthy relationships) 

• The Longevity of Grief (about caring for her father and how different types of grief intersect)

This episode is the third in our 2025 three-part series highlighting the voices of communities who have historically been underrepresented in the grief world. The series is part of an ongoing collaboration between Dougy Center and The New York Life Foundation. We are deeply grateful for New York Life Foundation's tireless support and advocacy for children and teens who are grieving.

Grief Out Loud is a production of Dougy Center, the National Grief Center for Children and Families in Portland, Oregon.