Sorry To Hear That

RE-RELEASE

Luke has known grief for a long time and CJ speaks with him about his parents, Thomas and Cynthia.

Thomas passed away from cancer in 2009, and a few short years later, in 2012, Cynthia passed away for fairly unknown reasons.

While his father came as a shock to his system, his mother was his true support. Her passing away so suddenly both had and has made him critically change the way he interacts with the world, his own life and life expectancy, and even change the way he celebrates the holidays, much like Ansel and Charles.

With a new baby on the way, Luke has had to grapple with how to share his parents, his heritage, and his life without the support of either parent to share that lost knowledge.

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Hosted by: CJ

RE-RELEASE

Chris’ brother, Derrick, was just 53 years old when he suffered a sudden stroke.

While scary and unexpected, Derrick seemed to be on the mend in the hospital. Then suddenly, while still in the hospital, Derrick suffered a heart attack. Seven days later, Chris and his mom made the decision to take Derrick off of life support.

Chris speaks with CJ about his brother, Derrick, and how he has had to learn how to deal with the aftermath of his brother’s death — figuring out how to come back after a life-altering event like this and learning where his inner strength comes from.

While Chris realizes that in life, he and Derrick were not that close, in Derrick’s passing - he was a role model both for himself and for others. Unfortunately, he cannot share that realization with the person he wants to know the most - his brother, Derrick.

We welcome your comments and feedback about the episode. Share your story or comments via email at [email protected].

Instagram (@SorryToHearPod)

Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcast, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, iHeartRadio, or wherever you like to listen.

Hosted by: CJ

This week on Sorry To Hear That, Crystal AC Salas - poet, writer, and teacher - reflects on her Abuelito aka ‘Ito, Serafin, and her Uncle/Tío, Miguel aka Mike. Their passings were similar but different - needing family to advocate for stays in the hospital - but one was in the hospital during COVID and the other was not. Their treatment by health professionals and the ability to show them love by the family also was different. Grief is complicated, disorienting and confusing. Crystal’s discussion with CJ definitely shows that.
Learn more on the website - sorrytohearpodcast.com

CJ Williams comes back with Season 2 of Sorry To Hear That. In the first episode of the season, CJ explores how to be curious, curiosity in grief, and what grief might be like if we put ourselves in other's shoes to better learn about ourselves on the grief journey.

Learn more about the episode at sorrytohearpodcast.com

Welcome to the Best Of Sorry To Hear That. While on hiatus, once a month an old episode that was most listened to will be put back in your feed to catch you up in case you missed it. This month is Chris and Derrick.

Listen to his story.

Chris’ brother, Derrick, was just 53 years old when he suffered a sudden stroke. While scary and unexpected, Derrick seemed to be on the mend in the hospital. Then suddenly, while still in the hospital, Derrick suffered a heart attack. Seven days later, Chris and his mom made the decision to take Derrick off of life support.

Learn more at sorrytohearpodcast.com

Welcome to the Best Of Sorry To Hear That. While on hiatus, once a month an old episode that was most listened to will be put back in your feed to catch you up in case you missed it. This month is Pam and Hollis.

Listen to her story.

CJ Williams speaks with Pam who lost her father, Hollis, in February. Pam discusses the relationship that she has with Hollis and how they were able to more fully develop their relationship before he died. Even though Hollis wanted a more casual memorial service, Pam and her siblings decided to have a Scottish wake. Grief has surprised Pam as she adjusts to living without her father present.

Learn more at sorrytohearpodcast.com

Welcome to the Best Of Sorry To Hear That. While on hiatus, once a month an old episode that was most listened to will be put back in your feed to catch you up in case you missed it. This month is Halle and Lilah, also honoring October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

Listen to her story.

CJ Williams speaks with Halle Marenger as she talks about her infant daughter, Lilah. While Halle had a young son at home, she and her husband were over the moon to be expecting a little girl. She would make their little family complete, especially after 3 previous miscarriages. After many challenges and seven weeks of bed rest in the hospital, little Lilah was born December 9, 2018, in an emergency C-section after she had stopped moving in utero. Barely 48 hours later, little Lilah had died, but only after a lot of love given to her from family near and far. In the wake of Lilah’s death, Halle has made advocacy around infertility, baby loss, and miscarriage a part of her mission as she shares her story with others by becoming a writer, speaker, and leader around this issue. Halle’s most recent article shares her thoughts about what Mother’s Day feels like after having experienced loss and miscarriage.

Learn more at sorrytohearpodcast.com

As a podcaster, business owner, and wife, CJ Williams reflects on what this season of Sorry To Hear That has brought to enrich her life. The next season of Sorry To Hear That will have more stories and a revamp of the format to better showcase the guests and what the overall goals of the show are. Sorry To Hear That will return in early 2021. Until then, a “Best of” will be released each month - a replay of some of the best episodes. See you in 2021.
Learn more about the show at sorrytohearpodcast.com

This week CJ Williams reflects on the first and second seasons of After Life, a show on Netflix that stars Ricky Gervais. He plays a character named Tony that has lost his wife, Lisa, to breast cancer. Each episode begins with Tony watching a video of Lisa where she tells him something important or gives him a reminder. The show may reflect some lived experiences in the community of grievers and those that support them. CJ discusses therapy, feelings of anger that may come out of nowhere, being spoken to by random strangers, and developing a superpower.
Learn more at sorrytohearpodcast.com

In this bonus episode, CJ Williams gets to speak with Jules from the blog GotGuts08 about what it is like to lose her grandparents, not even 60 days apart, during COVID.
Learn more about her story on the website, sorrytohearpodcast.com