As I Live and Grieve®

Send us some LOVE! Summary: It can often seem more crushing to lose a beloved family pet than we would think. Rob Gutro helps us better understand why the loss of a furry child is so devastating - and, offers us a solution to touch base with them on the other side of what many call the Rainbow Bridge. Episode Notes: Rob Gutro is an author, paranormal investigator and medium with Inspired Ghost Tra...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Many people believe the Dia de los Muertos holiday is simply a Halloween celebration with Latin flare. It is, however, a holiday and celebration in its own right. Dia de los Muertos is a multi-day holiday when family and friends gather to pay respects and to remember family and friends who have died. Today's guest, Evelyn D'Agostino, shares her memories of thi...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: We often tie our grief to our faith, and frequently to how we were raised as children. Yet in today's society, it is not uncommon to hear the words, "I am not religious." It may be that "I am not religious" merely equates to "I don't go to (or belong to) a church," because it seems these same people still cling to some type of bel...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: A critical aspect of your grief journey is self-care. In your despair and exhaustion we often overlook the simpler items and sometimes sacrifice our own well-being. We may turn to books only to be overwhelmed with the volume of words, thoughts and number of pages. Paula Becker is our guest today and has written just the book you, and everyone who has suffered a loss, ne...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: In bygone days, grief was displayed for all to see, and sex was never discussed publicly or even comfortably. How things have changed! Listen in as Kathryn Murano-Santos discusses some old traditions. Episode Notes: From hair jewelry to other traditions, we gain some insight into bereavement traditions from past ages. Kathryn Murano-Santos is Senior Director of Collecti...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Grief is most frequently linked with death, but really describes many situations:  divorce, loss of a job, loss of lifestyle, geographical moves with loss of familiar community and friends. Yet we rarely take the time to consider these circumstances as ones that make us grieve. This type of grief is tagged disenfranchised grief and, for Katie, hidden grief. Listen in as...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Psychic medium Ada May Brown returns today to offer a bit more insight into how a psychic medium might help us receive and interpret messages from our departed loved ones. Episode Notes: Ada has been a professional Psychic Medium for over a decade and a half working with individuals both in the United States and abroad.  Having been highly intuitive all of her life, it...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Suicide among our military's veterans is 1.5 times the national average for civilians, increased from previous years according to statistics. Listen in as Amy Rodrigues (Clinical Psychologist) and Mary Ellen Kesel (Clinical Social Worker) offer insight on this topic. September is Suicide Prevention Month and our guests provide resources available as well as suggest...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Often the first suggestion for someone grieving is to start journaling. For most people, journaling equals writing, and this suggestion is met with resistance at the thought of writing. Perhaps it might be helpful to consider journaling as a conversation with yourself, merely putting your thoughts and memories into words written down. Join us today as Latisha Porter off...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Nancy Light returns after her episode of Caregivers Grief and broaches the serious topic of End of Life Discussions. The topics for these discussions can range from necessary paperwork to very specific choices for the time of passing. Most have heard of Health Care Proxy, Living Will and other forms needed by hospitals or nursing homes. Nancy shares is wisdom of having...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Do you believe we can communicate with those we have lost? Can they send messages? And do we need a medium to be the connection for this communication? Psychic medium Ada May Brown visits with us today to shed some light on this mystifying ability and talent. Tune in to hear what she has to say. Episode Notes: Ada has been a professional Psychic Medium for over a decade...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Complicated Grief has been a topic in previous episodes. Join us today as we hear from Rita Schulte, author of  Surviving Suicide Loss Making Your Way Beyond the Ruins , who not only had to endure grief after the suicide of her husband, but was also the person who found his body in their home. In using the word "Ruins" in her title, she captures the devastatio...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Personal stories touch us in many ways. Sometimes they help us feel we have gracefully avoided issues, and other times they help us realize we are not alone, nor crazy, nor odd. Hermès relates his journey through grief due both to loss of someone by death and also a devastating loss through a broken relationship. Episode Notes: Today’s guest, Hermès Auslander, is not yo...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: We have all experienced that lump in our throat as we attend calling hours or a funeral. The lump you get when you know you should say something, as silence is awkward and uncomfortable. Andre Roupp, funeral director and supervisor at Roupp Funeral Home in Mifflinburg, PA. Andre offers his thoughts for words that are sincere and appropriate. Episode Notes: Andre is well...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: When your partner is given a diagnosis of terminal illness, your grief journey starts. You may move through your days providing care for your loved one, driving them to a myriad of appointments and treatments or back and forth from the hospital. As you lose your own identity, your routine, you tend to focus on the things you can do something about. Providing care, updat...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: When a couple is grieving the same loss at the same time, things can get complicated. We already now grief is different for everyone - and this fact can change the dynamics substantially. Today, Dan and Nancy Loeffler share their story, including how they each handled their own grief, and then the dynamics of being a couple. Episode Notes: Dan and Nancy Loeffler are the...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Wouldn't it  be nice if there was a book we could turn to with answers to our deepest feelings, fears and emotions of grief? Let me re-introduce Gary Roe, whose book, The Grief Guidebook: Common Questions, Compassionate Answers, Practical Suggestions (Good Grief Series) has just hit the shelves of your favorite bookstores. Join us today as Gary introduces us to his...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Caregivers are unique in that they give everything they have to care for someone in need. Some provide care for loved ones, some provide care as a career and yet others provide care out of a passion to serve. They are all subject to overloading their lives and burning out so the rest of us need to be aware of this and how we might help them to help us. Join us as Nancy...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: Trauma-related grief  is far more than our initial concept of grief. In addition to the devastation that accompanies the death of a loved one, situations are added that can include litigation,  PTSD, media attention, face to face encounters with a perpetrator - a myriad of issues we cannot even imagine. Sharon Willow helps us better understand the complexities that resu...

Send us some LOVE! IN MEMORY OF CHRISTOPHER JONES Summary: Grief is devastating in and of itself. Imagine though losing a loved one through violence - violence on the streets, in your own neighborhood, across the street from your own house, while you watch helplessly. Sirena Cotton relives that today in our conversation. Episode Notes: Sirena Cotton's strength is evident in our conversation....

Send us some LOVE! Summary: UK's Karen Shaw shares the Energy Alignment Method (EAM) with us as a way to help control emotions, shape our responses to situations and use our positive energies for a better life. Whether assisting us in move forward more comfortably through our grief or merely to allow ourselves to move toward a happier and more fulfilling life, EAM may be your solution to live...

Send us some LOVE! Summary Join us as Eleanor Ward helps us understand how we can start to manage our Grief, instead of remaining in a "stuck state." Episode Notes: Sometimes we feel we just can't move on, but Eleanor's response to that is that we already have, though may be a bit stuck at the moment. She helps us identify triggers that may have caused this and aids us in knowi...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: In this final episode, we want to suggest veterans lessen the burden for their loved ones who will make arrangements after their death, by considering some advance planning. Matthew Marini, Advance Funeral Planning Director for Dignity Memorial, informs us of some of the benefits that may be available -- as well as the key document to show eligibility, the DD-214. Episo...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: "Daily,"  is the response to our question, "How often do you think of them?" We are, of course, referring to the countless men and women who served in our military and never returned home. Memorial Day isn't just a long weekend, picnics and parades. For our veterans it is an official reminder of their comrades killed while serving, or those who...

Send us some LOVE! Summary: In the Part 1 of this series, Dr. A. Peter Ziarnowski defines Survivors Guilt and offers insight on its connection to and impact on our military. In Part 2 of this series, we will hear personally from three veterans how they continue to cope with memories of their comrades who died while on active duty. Part 3 touches on the benefits made available to family members on...