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:  [email protected]
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

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.)

** IMPORTANT** - 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.

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Contact Jill by email at: [email protected]