Christiana Whallon is the mother of three, two heart-healthy sons and Jaylee who was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and an intact atrial septum. She had the Norwood procedure at three days of age. She went into heart failure, which prevented her from being a candidate for the 2nd open-heart surgery, the bi-directional Glenn. Jaylee was listed for a heart transplant at 3 months of age and sadly she passed away at 4 months and 9 days of age.Today Michael and Christiana talk about how her family continues to celebrate Jaylee.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support.

Celebrating Jaylee

"Bereaved But Still Me" is a podcast for the bereaved community that was formerly known as "Heart to Heart with Michael." As we entered Season 5, we decided to rebrand our podcast to make it easier for the bereaved community to find us. We are happy to announce that "Heart to Heart with Michael," was nominated for a 2020 WEGO Health Award. "Heart to Heart with Michael" was a finalist in the Health Podcast category. This was a great honor for our podcast."Bereaved But Still Me" is a product of the Hearts Unite the Globe Network of Podcasts. Our Host is Michael Liben, our Producer is Nancy Taylor Jensen, and our Executive Producer is Anna Jaworski. Our monthly program has been designed to empower, educate, and support the bereaved community. New episodes are broadcast every 1st Thursday of the month.For more information about the "Bereaved But Still Me," please check out our website: www.heartsunitetheglobe.org and look at the "Bereaved But Still Me" tab.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support.

Health & Fitness

How can a person suffering tremendous loss get unstuck in grief? Have you ever felt as though you’re wearing cement boots of grief? How can we move forward in our grief?Join us in this fascinating episode with Toni Alexander. As a bereaved person herself, Toni Alexander attacks the grief process from within. As an author, she looks on grief from a more philosophical perspective. As a teacher, she has brought her lessons from loss forward to help guide others on their grief journey.Toni is no stranger to grief. She has lost both of her parents and a spouse. The death of her mother hit her particularly hard and inspired her book, Mom’s Dying? Encouragement for the Journey, and Embracing Life Changes: Praising Through Pain where she interviewed other people who had experienced losses to assist them with loss through suicide, illness, and other life-altering events. She is here today to give us guidance on how to navigate the difficult experiences of getting unstuck in grief and how to help us move forward in our grief.For More Information:Mom’s Dying? Encouragement for the Journey: https://tinyurl.com/MomsDying-AntoinetteMBakerMoving Forward: Taking Time to Love Yourself: https://www.amazon.com/MOVING-FORWARD-Taking-Time-Yourself-ebook/dp/B0973ZLJG8?ref_=ast_author_mpbLinks to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me/id1333229173Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/heart-to-heart-with-michaelFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HugPodcastNetworkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5ZwWebsite: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/Become a Patron: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/patreon.htmlOrhttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support

Toni Alexander: Taking Small Steps Through Grief's Passage of Time

Returning guest, Phil Proctor, is a man who needs no introduction. An actor, voice actor, writer, producer, comedian, podcaster and founding member of the Firesign Theatre quartet. Phil has been in the entertainment industry for 50 years, and In this episode, he talks with host, Michael Liben about the love of his life -- his soulmate, Melinda Peterson, who died suddenly after more than thirty years of marriage. In this episode, Phil discusses his love, his loss and how he found, in his words, laugh after death.Links to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me/id1333229173Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/heart-to-heart-with-michaelFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HugPodcastNetworkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5ZwWebsite: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hearttoheart Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support.

Melinda's Encore: Phil Proctor's Tribute to Life, Love, and Laughter

Erica Messer talks with Bereaved But Still Me host Michael Liben about pet loss and how she wasn’t able to find resources to help her cope with her grief. After losing her beloved cat, Wolfgang, she discovered a need for pet-loss resources. With her mother’s encouragement, she started Wolfie’s Wish, a company providing resources for those who are grieving the loss of a pet.Erica’s website: https://wolfieswish.com/Links to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me/id1333229173Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/heart-to-heart-with-michaelFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HugPodcastNetworkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5ZwWebsite: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hearttoheartBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support.

Companion Pet Loss - From Grief to Inspiration with Erica Messer

Have you ever wondered how the human heart manages to bear the unbearable? How it picks up the shattered pieces and eventually finds its way to healing? Our guest for today's episode, Roy Martin, opens up about a tragic event that forever changed his life - the loss of his beloved daughter, Tawny, to a drunk driver. Join us as Roy paints a vivid image of Tawny's life, her vivacious spirit, and the sobering reality of her sudden demise. This heartrending narration not only brings to light the devastating aftermath of drunk driving, but also underscores the priceless value of each moment spent with loved ones.As we continue our discussion, we shift our focus towards the labyrinth of grief and the process of recovery. We delve into the heartache, guilt, and regret that ensued in the wake of Tawny's demise, and the impact it had on Roy's family, particularly his son, Noah. Amidst deep sorrow, however, blooms a ray of hope. Roy shares how, with time, they found a way to remember Tawny without being submerged in grief. This conversation sheds light on the unique ways people deal with loss and offers valuable insights into navigating your own path to healing. This episode is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of love that persists, even in the face of overwhelming sorrow.Links to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me/id1333229173Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/heart-to-heart-with-michaelFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HugPodcastNetworkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5ZwWebsite: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support.

Surviving the Unbearable: The Resilience of a Father's Love

Today, we gather around the digital campfire to share the enchanting and hard-hitting story of Wilodene, a tenacious woman who lived with seizures for decades before her genetic heart condition, Long Q-T Syndrome, was discovered. Inviting us through the pages of this striking tale is her daughter, Jackie Renfrow, who returns to brighten our podcast with her stories of hope, resilience, and advocacy. As a special memory, Jackie and her mother appeared on our podcast together, their shared hope being that their story could potentially save someone else’s life.The journey didn't end with just Wilodene. Jackie's narrative continues as she traces the impact of Long Q-T Syndrome on her family over the course of seven decades. She recounts the measures she had to implement to protect her loved ones from potentially fatal seizures. Jackie's story is punctuated with moments of fear, especially for her grandchildren and great-grandson, but she meets these challenges head-on, embodying the courage and resilience that her mother passed down to her.As we traverse this journey with Jackie, we're given an intimate glimpse into her efforts to comfort her mother in the face of death, while also securing professional help and community support. Jackie’s plans for advocacy work in raising awareness about Long Q-T Syndrome form the cornerstone of our conversation, showcasing her commitment to continue her mother's legacy. Join us for this heartwarming tribute to a woman who defied her condition to live a full life and to a daughter who continues the fight with hope, resilience, and advocacy.Links to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me/id1333229173Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/heart-to-heart-with-michaelFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HugPodcastNetworkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5ZwWebsite: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support.

Celebrating Jaylee

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