grieving parents

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 is to process through the events of those twelve months with the perspective that 16 years has brought … and point people to hope in Jesus along the way.

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

Julie Thomas is my guest on the podcast today.  Julie is married to Marcus and has a degree in secondary education from Baylor University. She has served for over 25 years at Real Options, a pregnancy clinic in Allen, Texas. Her passion is equipping volunteers to talk with women dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. She also produces an outstanding blog, titled “Can’t Change That”, which explores issues that are common to bereaved parents.  

 In the year 2000, Julie’s son David Michael was stillborn, giving her a unique understanding of the suffering and agony post-abortive moms often feel after the death of their babies.  

Then in 2017, Julie experienced another devastating loss when her 16-year-old son Bryan died participating in an activity known as the “Choking Game”.  According to a 2018 article in Time Magazine, 82 American children between the ages of 6 and 19 died after playing the Choking Game between the mid-90s and the mid-2000s, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of them were boys between the ages of 11 and 16, according to a 2008 CDC report citing news stories and families’ own accounts. 

Julie joins me to share the stories of David and Bryan and I am pleased to give you the opportunity to meet her today!   

Links related to this episode:

Julie's Blog - Can't Change That
Hope Dawning
Real Options Pregnancy Crisis Center
ReBuild Grief Support in Richardson, Texas - Email:  Rebuild@woodcreekchurch.com
REBUILD Grief Support in Chicago, Illinois
Time Magazine article about the Choking Game
G.A.S.P. - Games Adolescents Shouldn't Play

Books recommended in this episode:

Colors of Goodbye by September Vaudrey
A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

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 is to process through the events of those twelve months with the perspective that 16 years has brought … and point people to hope in Jesus along the way.

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

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 is to process through the events of those twelve months with the perspective that 16 years has brought … and point people to hope in Jesus along the way.

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

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 is to process through the events of those twelve months with the perspective that 16 years has brought … and point people to hope in Jesus along the way.

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

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 is to process through the events of those twelve months with the perspective that 16 years has brought … and point people to hope in Jesus along the way.

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

Thank you for joining me for the second bonus episode in this year-long series in which I’m sharing our family’s experiences in the last year of our daughter Hannah’s life on earth, which spanned from February 2008 through February 2009.  My desire is to process through the events of those twelve months with the perspective that 16 years has brought … and point people to hope in Jesus along the way.  I’m grateful that you’ve joined me. 

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

Welcome to the first of what is planned to be a year-long series of bonus episodes on the While We’re Waiting podcast.  

This month marks sixteen years since our 17-year-old daughter Hannah was diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer, which she battled for a little over a year before she went to Heaven on February 26, 2009.  During that year, I documented her journey through a series of almost daily emails, at first just to family and friends … and eventually to tens of thousands of people, as these email updates were shared around the world.  

Over the upcoming year I’d like to share those emails, along with some commentary, with you. My desire is to process through the events of those twelve months with the perspective that 16 years has brought … and if you’d like to follow along, I’d love for you to join me.  

Most of these episodes will be very short … five minutes or less … and they will be very simple … just the emails, along with some commentary. The first few episodes will actually be setting the context … sharing how we discovered the cancer … the first email wasn’t actually sent until February 20, 2008.

Many people who followed Hannah’s cancer journey sixteen years ago have shared with us that they were inspired by it, that they drew closer to God because of it, and some even came to know the Lord as their Savior as a result of it.  

Ultimately, my desire is to humbly and faithfully point people to Jesus as I share these glimpses into our journey through a year of cancer and the loss of our precious daughter.  Thank you for joining me.  

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

Welcome to episode #190, which is a continuation of my conversation with Kim Peacock.  If you missed last week’s episode, you’ll want to go back and listen to hear the story of her 17-year-old daughter Nicole, who was killed in a horrific ATV accident in 1998.  Kim is the author of the book “Victorious Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After a Devastating Loss” which details her grief journey in the aftermath of that event.  She has a lot of wisdom to share, and I’m so pleased to share the rest of our conversation with you today …

Click HERE to listen to Part One of my conversation with Kim.   

Click HERE to visit Kim's website and blog, "Wild Victorious Heart".

Click HERE for an Amazon link to Kim's book "Victorious Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After a Devastating Loss", available in paperback, on Kindle, and on Audible. 

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

I’m excited today to introduce you to my new friend, Kim Peacock.  Kim’s 17-year-old daughter Nicole went to Heaven right after Christmas in 1998, in a horrific ATV accident while on a family vacation.  Kim is the author of the book “Victorious Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After a Devastating Loss” which details her grief journey in the aftermath of that event.  She has a lot of wisdom to share, and I believe you’ll be blessed by listening in. 

Click HERE to visit Kim's website and blog, "Wild Victorious Heart". 

Click HERE for an Amazon link to Kim's book "Victorious Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After a Devastating Loss", available in paperback, on Kindle, and on Audible. 

** EXCITING PODCAST NEWS ** - This month marks sixteen years since our 17-year-old  daughter Hannah was diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer, which she battled for almost exactly one year before she went to Heaven on February 26, 2009.  During that year, I documented her journey through a series of almost daily emails, at first just to our family and friends … and then to thousands of people, as our updates were shared around the world.  Starting on Valentine’s Day, I’m going to begin a year-long series of bonus episodes, in which I share those emails, along with some commentary, with you. My desire is to process through the events of that year with the perspective that 16 years has brought … for myself, really.  But if you’d like to follow along, I’d love for you to join me.  So next Wednesday, watch for a bonus episode in addition to my typical weekly episode, followed by a series of bonus episodes over the next year.   

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

Back in October, my husband Brad and I had the opportunity to meet Mark Vroegop at the Our Hearts are Home conference in Indianapolis. Mark is the lead pastor of College Park Church in Indianapolis.  He and his wife, Sarah, are the parents of four living children, and a daughter, Sylvia, who was stillborn in 2004.   He is the author of a book titled “Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament”, in which he explores how we can bring our sorrow to God by vocalizing our pain through honest spiritual wrestling. It was a blessing to have the opportunity to meet him at the OHAH conference, and I am sharing his presentation from that event with you today.  I hope this blesses you as much as it blessed me!   

Click HERE to get a copy of Mark's book, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy.

Click HERE to watch this presentation from the Our Hearts Are Home conference on YouTube.  

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

Today’s episode features the second half of my conversation with Don and Deondra Chamberlain, whose son Dustin was murdered during a home invasion in December 2011.  We extend our conversation to include topics including “the things people say”, dealing with the holidays, the “before and after” of child loss, the support group they lead for bereaved parents, and how Dustin’s life continues to have an impact the lives of people in Guatemala.  I believe you’ll be encouraged by listening in!

Click HERE to link to the Dustin's Dream website and learn more about the amazing work going on in Guatemala.   

Click HERE to follow the Dustin's Dream Facebook page. 

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

Dustin Chamberlain was a remarkable young man, a pre-med student at Baylor University, who was home on Christmas break when he was murdered during a home invasion in 2011.  His parents, Don and Deondra, join me today to talk about what happened that day, and how God has sustained their family on this difficult journey.  Listen in and be encouraged!  

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

Joe and Becky Canal have experienced the loss of two of their five sons … Their oldest son, Josh, to complications related to a heart defect, and their youngest son, Jesse, to a motor vehicle accident.  Joe is the senior pastor of Tyler Christian Fellowship in Tyler, Texas, and together, they host a WWW support group in Tyler.  Their faith has been tested by their losses, but they have found hope in the faithfulness of God. 

This episode is the second half of our conversation together.  To listen to the first half, click HERE.  

For more information about the WWW support group in Tyler, Texas, please email Joe at brojocan@gmail.com or Becky at bcanal@hotmail.com.

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

Barbara Scorza is my guest again today, as we extend our conversation to address issues that all bereaved parents can relate to, including facing the holidays without our precious children.  If you missed last week’s episode, you’ll want to go back and listen to hear the story of her family’s escape from Hurricane Katrina and the homegoing of her son Kevin in 2011.   Barbara is a gifted storyteller and has a great deal of God-given wisdom to share ... I know you'll be blessed by listening in!

Click HERE to listen to Part One of my conversation with Barbara.

Click HERE to read Barbara's blog, Scorza Sanctuary.

Click HERE to listen to Barbara's daily podcast, My Morning Thought.  

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

Have you heard the oft-repeated statistic that 80 to 90% of marriages fail after the loss of a child?   Did you know that that is actually a myth?   

Today's episode features a webinar that my husband Brad and I recently presented along with our friends, Keith & Shawnda Freer, who are the founders of the GriefHope ministry.  In this webinar, we discussed the impact of grief on marriage, including how men and women express grief differently, how we can respect those differences and support our spouses, and the importance of applying biblical principles of marriage when we’re grieving.  We also debunk the myth about the high percentage of marriage failure following child loss and identify where that idea came from.   

Next week, we’ll be back to our usual interview format, and I hope you’ll come back then to hear a powerful story of God’s provision amid unimaginable loss from my friend Barbara Scorza.  For now, I hope you’ll find some help and hope in our discussion about marriage after child loss.

Click HERE to watch the webinar on YouTube.

Click HERE to learn more about the GriefHope ministry. 

This webinar was sponsored by the Our Hearts Are Home ministry.  Click HERE to learn more about this ministry.  

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

• The realities of child loss
• The individual nature of the grief journey
• Moving forward while continuing to grieve
• How relationships can change after child loss
• Dealing with guilt and regrets
• The difficulty of going back to church
• How to help a grieving friend
• Resources to help navigate grief

All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org