In an instant, Leslie went from sharing every aspect of life with her husband Ryan to feeling like half a person. Leslie, Ryan, their two young children, and their extended family were on vacation in California when Ryan told Leslie that something didn't feel right. He was rushed to the hospital where he died of a stroke and an aneurysym, leaving Leslie to figure out how to live their life without him. The people Leslie most wanted to talk to in her grief were other widows. This inspired her to start Vids for Wids - a project to capture the stories of widows in the hopes of helping others feel less alone.
We discuss:
How Leslie and Ryan met as co-workers
The day Ryan died while they were on vacation
Suddenly feeling like half a person without Ryan
Telling her very young children about his death
The early days and weeks of widowhood
How her kids’ grief is changing over time
The power of talking to other widows
What Leslie learned about grief from Ryan
Dating and becoming a remarried widow
Leslie’s Vids for Wids project to support other widows
Ep. 167: (Trying To) Understand Suicide - Paula Fontenelle
Ep. 166: Emotions Aren't Problems - Krista St-Germain
Ep. 165: As The Shock Wore Off - Grief's Second Year (Mira Simone)
Ep. 164: Supporting Children & Teens In Grief - Kevin R. Carter, LCSW
Ep. 163: Capital L Love - Caring For A Parent With Alzheimer's (Brianne Grebil)
Ep. 162: When The Professional Becomes Personal - Alesia Alexander, LCSW
Ep. 161: Preserving Memories -Love Not Lost With Ashley Jones
Ep. 160: The Shared Room - Kao Kalia Yang
Ep. 159: Back To School With Grief & The COVID-19 Pandemic - A Tip Sheet
Ep. 158: Growing (Up) With Grief - One Teen's Story
Ep. 157: Let's Talk About Loss - Beth French
Ep. 156: Death As Resistance - Dr. Kami Fletcher
Ep. 155: Gratitude, Guilt, & Grief - Ty Alexander
Ep. 154: Memories And Legacy - CircleIt & Art Shaikh
Ep. 153: Big Emotions In Grief - Jenny Delacruz, LPC
Ep. 152: Teenage Grief Sucks - Natalie Adams
Ep. 151: Resources To Support Grieving Children & Families - An Update From The New York Life Foundation
Ep. 150: Love, Anger, & Grief - Supporting Children After A Murder
Ep. 149: Integrating Grief - Mari Gonzalez
Ep. 148: Wrongful Death - A Grieving Mother's Story (Paula Becker)
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