September 13, 2023

Elizabeth DeVita Rayburn - The Empty Room: Surviving the Loss of a Brother or Sister At Any Age

54 minutes

Elizabeth opens up about her family's profound struggle when her brother, Ted, was diagnosed with rare blood disorder aplastic anemia. Their innocent childhood turned into a harsh reality as Ted spent eight years in a laminar air flow room at the National Institutes of Health. Elizabeth recounts their childhood inside the hospital, his illness, and the impact his sudden death had on each family member.

In this episode, Elizabeth highlights Ted’s positive attitude despite being unable to leave a hospital room or protective suit. Elizabeth also shares her journey to understand the grief she experienced at such a young hand. This discussion brings to light the often-overlooked impact of sibling loss, and the importance of recognizing and processing grief. Through the experiences of 77 siblings Elizabeth interviewed for her book, "The Empty Room: Understanding Sibling Loss”, she uncovers the common themes and understanding within this unique grief experience.

We discuss the gradual shift in understanding from the dated idea of 'getting over' loss to the more complex concept of maintaining continuing bonds with the deceased. The conversation concludes with Elizabeth's reflections on her parents' reactions to her writing a book about her experience.

For full episode show notes and transcript, click here

This Episode is sponsored by The Surviving Siblings Guide. ✨Get The Surviving Siblings Guide HERE

In the episode I’m covering:

(0:00:01) - Ted’s eight years in a hospital

(0:11:36) - The Journey of a Rare Disease

(0:22:08) - Mediums, Grief, and Writing a Book

(0:28:07) - Sibling Loss and Grief Complexity

(0:44:12) - Family, Loss, and Identity

Connect with Elizabeth:

Website: FindingTedDevita.com

Elizabeth's Email: [email protected] - Please put ‘sibling loss’ in the subject line.

Elizabeth's Facbook: Elizabeth.devitaraeburn