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Losing a Child: Always Andy's Mom

As a pediatrician, married mom of three biological children and one foster son, my life was busy, rushing off to my office four days a week, seeing patients for three and working as a medical director of a local physician organization for one. I balanced this with rushing off to shuttle my kids to after sports and other after school activities. All of this changed one day in August of 2018 when my 14 year old son, Andy, was killed in a car accident. I felt like my life was over, and in some ways it was over, and a new life was forced to begin in its place. 

Grief is seldom discussed openly in our culture, and the death of a child makes people feel even more uncomfortable. On this blog and podcast, ‘Losing a Child: Always Andy’s Mom’, the topic is approached openly and honestly, speaking to people who have lost loved ones and experts who help care for them. Whether you are a parent experiencing loss or someone who wants to support another going through this tragedy, this blog and podcast strives to offer hope and help.

Sep 24, 2020

The days after Andy's death were such a blur to me. Information came at me from all directions. In those days leading up to what should have been his first day of high school, we instead found ourselves in a funeral home, picking out a casket and a cemetery plot. I feel like much of the information that was shared with...


Sep 17, 2020

Until June 6, 2002, Dave and Sue Brannon had a life that many would envy. They had four beautiful children, a happy marriage, and a life that felt blessed by God. Sue worked as a nurse, and Dave was a successful author of numerous books. Dave wrote in the introduction of his book, Beyond the Valley: 'We loved the...


Sep 10, 2020

Living through the death of one's own child under any circumstances is certainly thought to be one of the most difficult events anyone could experience. Every person's journey is hard, but some things can make it even more challenging. When the griever is in the public eye, it must be even worse. Every action, every...


Sep 3, 2020

'I'm sorry. Despite our best efforts, we were unable to save your son.'

These words will sit with me for the rest of my life. I will never forget them, will never forget the regret and sadness in that paramedic's voice. What a horrible thing for him to have to share with us. Earlier, he was likely one of the people who...