Daughters Without Moms

Episode 14: Pam’s Story Pam's mother died when she was 12 after a 4-year battle with cancer. Pam was raised by a widowed father and an older brother. Her father was so devastated that he couldn’t talk about her mom's death. When her father died 32 years later, it forced Pam to re-grieve her mother’s death and grieve her father as well. The buried emotions took a toll on her health and brou...

Liz’s first loss was when her first-born daughter died shortly after birth in 2008. Then her father died in 2018 and her mother in 2020. Her mom had Alzheimer’s for years before her death and Liz really felt lost after her mom died. She has since used her grief to impact others through sharing my story and promoting health, wellness, and healing. Liz’s Take-Away: There’s a quote by Walt Disney cal...

Samantha’s mom Shari was diagnosed with terminal ocular melanoma at 55 years old. Samantha soon quit her job to be her mom’s caretaker, and they were both intentional about making the most of their relationship and living each day to the fullest. Samantha found walking alongside her mom during and to the end of her life to be the most profound and honorable experience she will ever have and contin...

Reese’s mom was diagnosed with early-on set Alzheimer's when Reese was 21, and passed away when Reese was 28. It was in the depths of her grief when she first picked up her pencil and began to write about her mother, the journey of Alzheimer's they took together and the journey of grief she now walks alone. You can find Reese’s spoken poetry album, “Moving With”, on Spotify or YouTube, und...

Robyn's mother died from stage 4 lung cancer when Robyn was 15 years old. Robyn’s mom had 10 miscarriages before Robyn, and while Robyn was a triplet in the womb, she was the only baby to survive. They had an incredibly intense relationship, as her mom didn’t understand how to handle her own emotions and put a lot of pressure on Robyn. Robyn shares part of a poem by Paula Meehan. The full poem...

Melissa's mom died at the end of 2019 after a long journey with breast cancer. Melissa's parents divorced when she was young and it was just Melissa and her mom growing up together. Her mom had health issues and Melissa grew up always worried about her mom's health and well being. Melissa and her mom had a special bond and even though she's not physically here she taught Melissa ma...

Ashmeeta’s first grief was when her mom died in 2008. Then her husband died from pancreatic cancer in 2019, and then her father in 2022. These life events pushed Ashmeeta deep into self-reflection and discovery and she is now an educator, grief support advocate/expert and author. Here is where you can find Ashmeeta: Website: http://www.storyoutellyourself.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/...

Crystal’s mom died suddenly in September of 2021.  After her mother's sudden and tragic death, she made the difficult decision to leave her stable employment to pursue dreams of living life on her own terms, prioritizing her well-being and honoring her grief while taking the road less traveled.  Here is where you can find Crystal and the work she is doing: Podcast Co-Host:  Meet Me at the Cott...

This episode was originally aired in October 2021. It's important for men to have a place to share their stories too, and all are welcome here. This episode is the story of Southofthe49th's journey with his wife after her diagnosis of a brain tumor. He does not share his identity, due to the privacy of his kids, but has learned how to use TikTok as a way to share his story and document mem...

Kristen’s moms death left them with more questions than answers. Their family dynamic has been deeply changed and it leaves Kristen wondering what went wrong during her mom’s illness. Here is the Andrew Garfield video Kristen mentions. He talks about his mom starting at 4:21:  https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/andrew-garfield-late-show-interview-on-grief-and-his-mother-48618339 Kristen’s Take-Awa...

Laura's mom died when she was 2. She has no memories of her. She reached a breaking point when she outlived her mom and her son was the age she was when her mom died. Laura's Take-Away: I'd like to dedicate my episode to Ruby, the 4-year-old daughter of my friend who recently died. Ruby, I’m thinking of you and your mother. All of our stories are important. If you have a story to share...

Yvonne was the first woman to share her story on the podcast. She was told as a child that her mother wanted nothing to do with her. As she got older, she learned a different story. If you enjoy her story, you can go to find her follow up interview here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2NjOj6XuqfMjyrn1GljN1j?si=b4kqb3NKQ_icz2rZh5KS3w Yvonne's take-away: My grief journey has helped me always b...

Dallas was an only child and had a very close relationship with her mom. Her mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2019. Dallas chose to channel her grief through writing during her mom’s time in hospice, her passing, and the year that followed. Dallas published her book, I’ll Keep Her Fork , on July 24th, 2023 which was the one-year anniversary of her mom’s passing. All of our stories are impo...

Welcome to the 2024 season of the DWOM podcast! I can’t believe this is the 4th year. I’m so thrilled that you are here and listening. Today I will share my thoughts on healing. That you have to feel to heal. It has been on my heart to encourage others to do the hard work of feeling your grief. I’d love to hear your thoughts once you listen! Please leave a comment on Instagram or Facebook or send...

Alisha’s mother is living, so she shares a different perspective on what it is like being a daughter without a mom. Due to mental health issues, her mother left the family when Alisha was 9 months old. Alisha was raised by her dad and paternal grandmother, until her grandmother died when Alisha was 11. That loss triggered the additional feelings of losing her mom. Alisha’s Take-Away: There was not...

Isabelle’s mom died in 2016, just 11 days after receiving a diagnosis. Her mom, Greta, entered hospice and Isabelle became her primary caregiver. When someone is sick, you take care of them so they can get better. How do you nurse someone not back to health… but to death? Isabelle and her mom had just entered the part of their relationship where Isabelle looked at her mom more than just simply her...

Do you self-sabotage? Have you ever thought about the stories you tell yourself? Have you ever questioned if they are TRUE? Today I share reflections from my own journey and provide a tool for reflecting on your own grief journey. Gary John Bishop on the Ed Mylett Show: https://www.edmylett.com/podcast/garyjohnbishop Previous DWOM episodes that may be helpful: Season 1 Episode 43: High-Functioning...

Maddie’s mom died from a rare form of breast cancer when Maddie was 13 years old. Her episode is bring released on the 20-year anniversary of her mom’s passing. Maddie feels like she has finally begun to grieve after avoiding it for so long. Maddie’s Take-Away: Be compassionate with yourself. There is no right way to grieve. Feeling numb is normal. And then if one day you no longer feel numb, and...

Leylani’s mom died from pulmonary failure when Leylani was 7 years old. She never had the opportunity to get to know her mom in depth or know her stories. She’s dealt with grief and closure for the past 21 years, but feels like sometimes it can get harder and harder. Leylani’s Take-Away: If you are dealing with mother or pregnancy loss, you learn how to live with it. You have to learn how to talk...

Since this is Episode 44 (IYKYK) I wanted to share thoughts I've had lately on being a Mom Without a Daughter. I've been considering what it would be like for my mom to miss out on the love I have for her. I'd love to hear your thoughts after you listen. All of our stories are important. If you have a story to share,please send an email to daughterswithoutmoms@gmail.com. You don't have to be a DWO...

Azande's dad had HIV and died when she was 1. Her dad infected her mom, and Azande's mom died when she was 16 years old. As a child, Azande developed an anxious attachment to her mom and her mom put her in therapy. She has continued with therapy into adulthood and was able to recommend a few things she's learned that have been helpful: Communicating feelings, instead of bottling them u...

Laura's mom had health problems ever since she was in middle school and being in and out of the hospital wasn't unusual. In high school they finally put her on hospice and she died when Laura was 18. Laura held her grief in for many years, and 8 years later, she still struggles with feeling like sometimes her mom's death is not real. All of our stories are important. If you have a stor...

Tarren is a DWOM, even though her mom is still living. Tarren's mom is a narcissist and Tarren has been on her own since she was 16 years old. She has no idea what having a mother or any family at all is like. Her mom-sized hole is all she knows and she feels like she's spent her entire life trying to fill it. Thank you, Tarren, for sharing your heart with us. May you continue to grow in t...

Sana's mom had high blood pressure and suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed on her right side. She was bed ridden for 14 years and died from breast cancer in 2021. When Sana's mom had her stroke, the first thing the doctor said to them was that they need to remain strong together because something like this can make or break a family. They took that advice seriously and were able to r...

This is Shaelyn's 2nd time on the podcast. She's only 2 years into her grief journey and wanted to share about adjusting to life in a new city, breaking up with someone for the first time without a mom, and learning to grieve on her own.  You can listen to Shaelyn's story of being a daughter without a mom in Season 2, Episode 42. You can find all things Shaelyn at these social media ac...