While We're Waiting® - Hope After Child Loss

Hannah was a very private person and gave us very few hints into what was going on in her mind during her cancer battle.  These poems from her poetry anthology are such a treasure because they give us just a little bit of insight.  And while my heart breaks over the declarations of survival in these poems, which she clearly ascribed to herself, I am comforted by the knowledge that she accomplished...

Hannah's school assignment to compile a poetry anthology gave us a little window into what she was thinking during her battle with glioblastoma brain cancer.  It's my privilege to share a few of those poems today.   Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage d...

One of the things I dreaded most after Hannah went to Heaven was the chore of cleaning out her locker at school ... but one of the treasures we found inside was a special blessing. Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage daughter Hannah battled glioblastoma brain can...

Today's episode features a presentation on sibling loss from last fall's Our Hearts Are Home conference, led by my daughter Bethany Sullivan.   My husband Brad and I also make an appearance in her presentation, and you’ll hear a very honest discussion between the three of us about things we did right and things we did wrong as we continue to parent her through her grief.  It’s a live pre...

Do you remember being a child alone in your bedroom at night?  I remember that I always had to sleep with my door open ... I felt so alone in the darkness if my door was shut.  I think I found a lot of comfort in just hearing my parents' voices in the living room as I was drifting off to sleep.  But what about those dark times in our lives when God seems absent ... when we just can't hea...

Today's episode includes two more of my favorite quotes from Randy Alcorn's book, "If God is Good."  I highly recommend you get your own copy, available from Randy's website by clicking HERE or on Amazon.   Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our tee...

Weekly bloodwork was an essential part of monitoring Hannah's response to the radiation and chemotherapy she was undergoing.  With only eight more radiation treatments and fifteen more doses of chemotherapy to go, she was "sailing through" according to the our nurse.   However, we could see that these things were beginning to take a toll.   Thank you for joining me for another bonus...

Hannah was a very private person, and always shunned the spotlight.  At first, she didn't even want anyone to know that she had cancer, but understood that people needed to know so they could pray for her.  She didn't want a CaringBridge site while she was battling cancer, but didn't mind me sending the emails which chronicled her journey.  So it's interesting to me that her st...

Early on after Hannah went to Heaven, I often heard other parents who had lost children talk about how much they worried about people forgetting about their children. And I remember thinking to myself that I would never be that way ... I certainly didn't want people to forget about Hannah, but for me personally , that was not a huge concern.  I knew I wouldn't forget her, and at the time...

Several years ago, I spent a week sitting in school workshops. A large part of the presentation was on the "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" and one of the main topics had to do with paradigm shifts. As part of his introduction, the presenter posed a question to the group, "What is something that has happened in your life that led to a paradigm shift?" A few people shar...

One of my favorite books when I was young was titled "Joni:  An Unforgettable Story". It chronicled the life of Joni Eareckson Tada after she broke her neck in a diving accident at the age of 18 and became a paraplegic.  Joni is now 74 years old, and has battled breast cancer, and endures chronic "jaw-splitting" pain.  Yet she continues to serve God faithfully from her wheelcha...

Michelle Ferris is my guest again today as we continue our conversation from last week.  She is a single mom who tragically lost her only child, her son, Corban, on the Fourth of July in 2020.  Michelle shares very openly and honestly about her experience as a single mom who lost her only child through her social media pages, and we talk about some of her postings and writings today.  I believe yo...

Today's episode includes a challenge from Dave Powlison to Joni Eareckson Tada ... "Joni, I have learned that for every one sentence you say to others about your cancer, say ten sentences about your God, your hope, what He is teaching you, and the small blessings of each day."   Click HERE to get a copy of Joni's book:  "A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of...

Have you ever wondered if God has different definitions for words than we do?  I've come to believe that His definition of "good" is very different from mine. Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage daughter Hannah battled glioblastoma brain cancer fro...

As Hannah began to lose more and more hair, she had to get a little creative with her fashion accessories.  Today's bonus episode describes that experience.   Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage daughter Hannah battled glioblastoma brain cancer from February...

Eighteen radiation treatments into her journey, Hannah's blood counts were holding strong, but she was beginning to experience some hair loss.  Today's episode features an email I sent out sixteen years ago today.   Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage d...

How did Hannah transform from a world-class worrier to a fearless warrior?  The only answer is through her faith in God.  Her belief that her storm was fully under His control removed all her fear.   Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage daughter Hannah battled gli...

Throughout Hannah's year-long cancer battle, God was faithful to give us manna for each day ... and only just enough for each day.  Today's bonus episode describes that experience.   Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage daughter Hannah battled glioblasto...

Today's episode describes an adventure Hannah and I had together which is a pretty good microcosm of the childhood cancer experience. You start out with determination and high hopes, even in the midst of pounding rain, and eventually you reach a point in the middle where you desperately just want to head back to higher ground, where things are familiar and safe. But there's no turning ar...

Michelle Ferris joins me on the podcast today, and I'm excited for you to meet her.  Michelle is a single mom who tragically lost her only child, her beautiful son Corban, on the Fourth of July in 2020.  Today she shares Corban’s story with me, and we have a very open and honest discussion about her experiences as a single parent whose only child is in Heaven.  I know I have learned a lot fro...

Growing up with two brothers, I always I assumed I'd be a "boy mom".  Ultrasounds were not nearly as detailed back in 1991 as they are today, so it was a surprise when the doctor exclaimed, "It's a girl!" ... and then another surprise 3 1/2 years later when Bethany was born.  What a joy being a "girl mom" has turned out to be!   Thank you for joining me for...

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, it has a profound impact on everyone in the family.  As we found ourselves launched into the roller-coaster world of cancer, our 12-year-old daughter Bethany found herself left behind.   Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage d...

Because of a decision she made when she was a little girl, Hannah was "better than okay" even as she battled glioblastoma brain cancer.     Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage daughter Hannah battled glioblastoma brain cancer from February 2008 through...

It's amazing how quickly you can settle into a routine, even in the midst of a battle for your child's life ...  Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage daughter Hannah battled glioblastoma brain cancer from February 2008 through February 2009.  My desire i...

Hannah never composed a "bucket list" ... at least not that we were aware of.  If she had, what would have been on it? Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family’s experiences as our teenage daughter Hannah battled glioblastoma brain cancer from February 2008 through February 2009.  My de...