The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss

Jillian’s Sibling Loss Story: Unresolved Issues, Family Conflict, and the Loss of a Sibling to Suicide In this episode, of The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss, surviving sibling Jillian Prouse, a mother and a teacher, shared her personal journey of grief and loss, highlighting the weight of unspoken words, the impact of suicide, and the need for support. Jillian discusses losing her brother,...

In this episode, Dr. Dean speaks with Kassy Bowes about losing her younger sister, Rheanna, due to abdominal sepsis as a complication from a medical intervention. Listen as Kassy shares how losing her 19-year-old sister , Rheanna, shattered her world, challenged her beliefs in the afterlife, and how finding connection with Rheanna has helped her move with her grief. Content Warning: Information pr...

Four and a Half Years: Dr. Chris Ban on Surviving Sibling Loss After Brain Cancer In this episode, of The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss,   Dr. Dean speaks with surviving sibling Dr. Chris Ban, an oral surgeon and Jeopardy champion, who opens up about the anticipatory grief of and profound grief after losing his brother Michael to astrocytoma. Listen as Chris shares how learning to grieve hi...

Sibling Loss and Organ Donation: A Conversation with Katie Kuehn In this episode, Dr. Angela Dean explores sibling loss and organ donation with Katie Kuehn, who lost her brother Josh to a seizure. Josh was an organ donor, and Katie shares how his decision to give life to others has impacted her family and the importance of organ donation. She also vulnerably shares the impact that his gift of life...

Stefanie Joseph is Jen's big sister. Her surviving sibling loss story is shaped by a younger sister who lived for adventure, a five-week coma during the pandemic, and the somatic and spiritual practices Stefanie has built around the grief that arrived afterward. In this episode, surviving sibling Stefanie speaks with Dr. Dean about what it means to grieve from inside the body, how surviving s...

The Invisible Threads of  Sibling Loss and Surviving Siblings: A Conversation with Dr. Dawn DiRaimondo In this episode of The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss , a podcast, psychologist Dr. DiRaimondo shares her personal experience with sibling loss with our host, psychologist and thanatologist, Dr. Angela Dean. Together the psychologists, both sibling loss survivors explore and share insights...

Sibling Loss and Running with Grief: Jen's Grief Marathon In this episode, surviving sibling, Jen, shares her transformative journey of grief and advocacy following the suicide loss of her brother and her inspiring process to run marathons to honor his memory and others who have died by suicide. She is a mental health advocate, marathoner, and writer. Jen also is currently serving on the Mass...

Judy’sTwice Experienced Sibling Loss: Her Delayed Grief and Celebration of Sisters In this episode our guest, author & two time sibling loss survivor, Judy Lipson recounts her journey of delayed grieving after losing both of her sisters at young ages.   Jane has been a surviving sibling since young adulthood losing both of her siblings, her sisters, Jane and Margie. Jane died in a motor vehicl...

Surviving Sibling Loss and the Impact on Identity In this episode our guest, surviving sibling,  Elly shares with Dr. Dean about losing her life person, her sister, Laura, a talented musician. They explore how Laura’s death impacted her,  setting boundaries and navigating therapy in the UK.  Elly shares the changes in dynamics within the circles of family, friends and workplace  as well as how mis...

Julie’s Experience of Surviving Sibling Loss and Continuing Bonds with Anne In this episode, Julie shares the story of losing her sister, Anne, to suicide and how she is learning to live after such a devastating loss. Julie also shares a story of how meeting a stranger at the right time helped move her forward and a heartwarming story about how she felt connected to Anne after her death. Julie’s s...

Unexpected Heartbreak: Eddie's Journey of Sibling Loss and Grieving I n this episode of The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss , a podcast, two mental health practitioners, Eddie Cruz and Dr. Angela Dean  explore  sibling loss , mental health approaches to grief, and challenges in grieving when family dynamics and opinions collide. Eddie shares his personal experience of losing his brother,...

Twins Estranged: Navigating Sibling Loss, Reconnection, and Love in Grief   In this episode of The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss , a podcast, surviving sibling Brandi and Dr. Angela Dean  explore the complexity of sibling loss , estrangement, mental health struggles, spirituality, and family dynamics through Brandi's personal story of losing her twin brother Brandon following his death...

Surviving: Sibling Loss , Transracial Adoption, and Losing Safety In this powerful episode of The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss , a podcast, host Dr. Angela Dean delves into the profound impact of sibling loss with guest speaker Karen Thomas. Karen shares her unique experiences as a transracial adoptee who lost her brother, Kevin, to an overdose. For Karen Thomas, surviving sibling loss is...

Sibling Loss, A Historian, and a Memoir of Love, Loss, and Race On the first episode of our second season, Dr. Dean and Dr. Nico Slate, a history professor at Carnegie Mellon University discusses his new book, “ Brothers: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Race, "   which explores his relationship with his brother Peter, and how he is doing now surviving sibling loss .  In the conversation, Drs. Sla...

Sibling Loss , A Psychologist, and the Birth of The Broken Pack In this episode, our podcast host and surviving sibling, Dr. Dean, takes the guest role to share her story of sibling loss that prompted the founding of The Broken Pack™ . Our guest host is Ankur Shah Delight. Ankur helps Dr. Dean tell her story of sibling loss, about her brother Tony, and how it prompted the formation of The Broken P...

Sibling Loss , Death Rituals, and Grieving Publicly On this episode of the podcast, The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss , Dr. Dean talks with surviving sibling,  pastor and chaplain Kent Chevalier about his grief experience of sibling loss: losing his brother, JH, to COVID-19. Kent is on staff with Athletes in Action serving as the Chaplain of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kent describes the diffi...

  Sibling Loss and The Art of Grieving A conversation with surviving sibling, Preston Zeller, about losing his brother Colin to a fentanyl overdose. As part of his grief process, Preston created a documentary The Art of Grieving:Turn Grief Into Greatness, to understand his grief and sibling loss. He describes that the process of painting helped him to process his emotional response to sibling loss...

Navigating the Challenges of Surviving Sibling Loss : Allie’s Journey with Grief and Meaning-Making Sibling loss survivor, Allie’s brother, Oliver, died suddenly, which led to a reassessment of her family dynamics and the start of a non-profit organization to help families in need of headstones Dr. Dean talks with Allie about surviving sibling loss, Oliver, changing family dynamics, and the impetu...

Navigating the Devastating Sibling Loss of a Sister to Cancer: A Journey of  Transformation in Grief Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Grief Educator and bereaved  surviving sibling, Jenn, shares her story of her love and grief for her sister Melissa, her best friend, from an extremely rare form of cancer. Jenn’s grief was profound and all-consuming. She withdrew from her loved ones and l...

A Surviving  Sibling's Sibling Loss Story of Devastation, Continuing Bonds, and Navigating Her Roles after Suicide Loss Sasha openly discusses her sibling loss story of losing her sister, Amy, to suicide in July 2021. my was a kind, caring, loving sister.  When Sasha lost Amy, her identity changed, as it does for many siblings.  Learning to navigate her place in the family and to wrestle with...

Surviving Sibling Loss of a  Special Needs Sister and Surviving Changing Family Dynamics Dr. Angela Dean talks with fellow sibling loss survivor, physician, Dr. Becky Von Handorf, about the loss of her sister to a rare genetic condition. Dr.  Von Handorf, a pediatric medical resident, discusses the loss of her sister, Aly, who had a rare genetic disorder, Sanfilippo Disorder. Becky shares about wh...

Dana’s Dedication to Making Meaning from Suicide and in her Surviving Sibling Loss In this episode of The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss, we hear from Dana. You will  hear her story of her extremely close relationship with her brother, Sean, losing him to suicide, the impact of the loss on her and the family dynamics, as well as her approach to finding and making meaning. Dana discusses the...

In this episode of The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss, Kyra, a surviving sibling, opens up about losing her only sibling, Brett, to a sudden and accidental overdose. She shares the unique bond she had with her brother, the challenges of navigating sibling grief, and the importance of finding support and community after such a loss. Key Points: Kyra's story:   Her close relationship with...

Miriame's sibling loss story is a powerful and moving account of the grief, adapting to living as a surviving sibling, and love that persists following the loss of a sibling who is extremely close. This is a conversation with sibling loss survivor, Miriame Cherbib, about losing Hamza, her brother, best friend, and safe space.  Miriame a sibling loss survivor shares her personal story of losin...

Navigating Dual Roles: Surviving Sibling Loss and Anticipatory Grief as Caregiver, Advocate, and Grieving Sister A conversation with sibling loss survivor, Dr. Jen Kilgore, about losing her brother, Jimmy Dr. Jen Kilgore, a naturopathic doctor, shares her personal sibling loss story of losing her brother to cancer and the challenges she has faced in the aftermath. She discusses the guilt and antic...