This Thing Called Life

Episode 60: Finding Your Way Through Grief with Chamoda Palmore

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During this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson speaks with Chamoda Palmore, a father to a son that was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident on his way to football practice in 2014. As a man, Chamoda knows that he might grieve differently than other people, but as someone going through his own journey of grief, he knows it’s important to find a way to grieve.

 

Episode Highlights: 

 

  • Chamoda is a business owner that lost his son, Chamoda Kennedy-Palmore, to a motorcycle accident.
  • Throughout his journey of grief, Chamoda has experienced a rollercoaster of emotions.
  • It takes a lot of patience to get through the grieving process.
  • Chamoda has leaned heavily on his faith, friends, family, and various support organizations.
  • After meeting a woman who lost 2 children to a car crash, Chamoda was able to put things into perspective.
  • Even 6 years later, it doesn’t feel real to Chamoda, it feels like someone is missing.
  • Chamoda found it difficult to engage with other people, staying away from family functions and gatherings.
  • If you have other children or people that depend on you, it’s important to find some level of normalcy again.
  • Giving back through Chamoda’s Candy Cafe and Chamoda’s foundation has helped Chamoda heal.
  • Right now more than ever, people all over the world need support and care from anyone that can give it.
  • Chamoda’s 2 daughters and wife have all dealt with Chamoda’s death in different ways.
  • When tragedy first strikes, it’s like the rainy season in April and it moistens up your heart to bloom in May.
  • It’s important to plant the right things, love, support, passion, during the initial phase of grieving.
  • Chamoda understood that it was a slippery slope to turn to a path of destructive behavior if grief is not handled correctly.
  • For about 2 months after his son died, Chamoda couldn’t open the bible.
  • Chamoda is comforted by knowing that as a tissue donor, Chamoda’s death was able to help many people.
  • The local driver’s ed has incorporated Chamoda’s organ and tissue donation into its program.
  • It’s hard for men to speak about their grief, but it’s important to find someone to talk to about their feelings.
  • Men feel that they have to be so strong for the family but that doesn’t mean they can’t let it out somewhere else.
  • Around the holidays, it’s important to find different ways to express your grief.
  • Chamoda helped more than 30 people as a tissue and cornea donor.
  • When his son died, Chamoda felt like an infant that just needed to be held.
  • Have patience with those in your life that has lost someone; eventually, it will slow down, but for now, listen.

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    3 Key Points:


    1. Chamoda likens his journey of grief to that of a baby’s journey of learning to walk. Right now, he is holding onto the banister as he guides his feet.
  • Giving back to other people out there that are hurting can help someone heal and get through their own grief.
  • Chamoda’s organ and tissue donation, now a part of their local driver’s ed video, has helped encourage others to become donors.

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    Resources Mentioned:

    • LifeCenter (website) (Facebook) (Instagram) (YouTube) (Twitter)
  • Andi Johnson (website) (LinkedIn)
  • Chamoda’s Candy Cafe (website, Facebook)
  • What's Your Grief
  • Grief In Common
  • Refuge In Grief
  • The Center for Loss





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