Gwen Mysiak is on a very personal journey. She was doing communications for Public Broadcasting in Buffalo and was not looking for a career change. But in 2010, her cousin’s son received a terminal cancer diagnosis when he was 13. That’s when everything changed for her.

Gwen Connected with Brian Moorman, the former Bills Punter, who started P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative. P.U.N.T. stands for perseverance, understanding, need, and teamwork.

“I took over as Executive Director in 2012,” Mysiak said. “The one thing I learned when I started, is that there is a total lack of support for the bereaved population. Within a year I established a bereavement retreat here in Western New York. It’s modeled after the program that former New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin’s Foundation was running. I brought it to Buffalo and for ten years we’ve been bringing families together for a Bereavement Retreat in Ellicottville.”

In addition, P.U.N.T provides financial, emotional and other support to families facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis.

“It’s hard enough to think about a child having cancer, let alone not making it. But it’s those families who need us the most. Their hope is gone, their child is gone, their finances are decimated and they’re trying to figure out how to breathe again.”

Gwen's passion to help those who are bereaved has now expanded to help the whole Western New York area through the WNY Compassion Connection.

The mission of WNY Compassion Connection is to help grieving children and families navigate their journey to healing and resilience through the power of peer support and grief literacy within a safe, caring environment and through building up a grief sensitive community.

We envision a place where every grieving child and family finds the support, understanding, and resources they need to navigate their grief journey. We aim to create a community where healing, resilience, and hope flourish, empowering young people and families to thrive despite their loss.

WNY Compassion Connection: https://wnycompassionconnection.org/

P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative: https://puntpediatriccancer.org/

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

Liz Quinn is a writer, podcast host, and grieving mom who shares her story to help others feel less alone in theirs. After losing her daughter Alivia, and later both of her parents, Liz turned to writing and creating community as a way to process her grief and honor their memory.

She is the host of the Healing Hearts Podcast, and a co-author of Stories of Friends and Family Lost, an anthology of personal stories about love, loss, and the people we carry with us. Her next book—another collaborative anthology focused on healing—releases this August.

Through her podcast, blog, and writing, Liz speaks honestly about what it means to live with grief, and how healing often looks like learning to hold joy and sorrow at the same time.

Healing Hearts podcast Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/08PxtTeYYuaL31Ks1P2IYX?si=54580d631044412c

Blog Link: https://healingheartsreflections.blogspot.com/

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

From Kim: I am a mother, teacher, speaker, writer and grief educator who tries to be a merchant of hope in this world as well as work hard as an advocate to draw awareness to grief, trauma, mental health and suicide prevention. Let's connect & collaborate!

Kim on Substack: https://substack.com/@hopefullykimberly

Kim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefullykimberly

GriefShare: https://www.griefshare.org/

WNY Compassion Connection: https://wnycompassionconnection.org/

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

Kristina Amelong’s powerful memoir, “What My Brother Knew” (She Writes Press, May 27, 2025) begins with a chilling prophecy — her brother Jay's precise prediction of his own tragic death — and unfolds into a profound exploration of grief, healing, self-discovery and spiritual awakening.

As a boy, Jay Amelong predicted the accident that caused his death, down to the color of the car that hit him. “I will die young, while riding my bike,” he told friends and family repeatedly. “It won’t be much longer, I want you to be prepared.” These were baffling words to hear from the mouth of a content 13-year-old — but when Kristina Amelong was only 17, her brother’s tragic death unfolded exactly as he said it would, radically changing her life.

Propelled down a self-destructive path of drug addiction and reckless sex, Kristina spent much of her young adult years wanting to die. Once or twice she came close. Always, Jay’s bizarre story and his inexplicable acceptance of his own death lived in her body.

More than 30 years after losing Jay, Kristina embarks on a journey of discovery, seeking truth about herself, her brother, and the universe. The result of her investigation is a memoir that defies belief. Charting a life path from loss and abuse to healing and spiritual awakening, “What My Brother Knew” demonstrates the transformative power of facing the mystery of death head-on and our incredible ability, as humans, to do just that.

Buy 'What My Brother Knew' here: https://amzn.to/3T1tdvq

Kristina on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristina.amelong

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/optimalhealthnetwork/

Center for World Philosophy & Religion: https://worldphilosophyandreligion.org/

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

Tessa says; "I am happy to discuss my experience of losing a parent, and growing up with grief. I feel that that experience made me who I am. It made me empathetic, self sufficient and determined. Founding my business gave me a purpose and a channel to help others. Many clients have reported back that they felt a lift in their own grief, knowing that they have done something purposeful."

This Was Them website: https://www.thiswasthem.co.uk/

Tessa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bereavedchild

Tessa's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thiswasthem/

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

Dr. Heather Taylor, PsyD, is a licensed counseling psychologist, grief specialist, and the founder of Grief is the New Normal Psychological Services. She is also the host of the Grief is the New Normal podcast and the creator of the Professional Grief Collective—an initiative focused on equipping clinicians with the tools and confidence to better support grieving clients.

With a blend of clinical insight, lived experience, and a direct, compassionate approach, Dr. Taylor is dedicated to reshaping how individuals and professionals understand grief. Her work centers on de-stigmatizing conversations around loss, helping people recognize that grief is not a condition to “fix,” but a natural and necessary process to be acknowledged and honored.

Through her voice, platforms, and community-based efforts, Dr. Taylor is leading a movement to normalize grief, foster healing, and elevate the quality of care across the mental health field.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist

Instagram: @grief_is_the_new_normal

YouTube: @grief_is_the_new_normal

Substack: @drheathertaylor

Website: www.griefisthenewnormal.com

Grief Journal: Authentically Unapologetic: https://a.co/d/heNccGZ

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

Annah is creator of The Five Facets® Philosophy on Healing, a revolutionary program that helps you live your best life, even in the face of adversity. She is a transformation and spiritual coach; a published author, TEDx, keynote and community speaker; an energy medicine practitioner and teacher, and an international medium. Annah’s coaching, workshops, and training programs include academic and alternative modalities designed to meet your unique and preferred needs. Her writings and work have been featured in numerous magazines, radio and TV programs, and live events, such as NC-NASW conferences.

Annah's book 'Digging for the Light: One Woman's Journey from Heartache to Hope': https://amzn.to/3SvK1KL

Annah's LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thefivefacetsofhealing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annahelizabethheals/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnahElizabethHealGrief/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AnnahElizabethTheFiveFacets

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annah-elizabeth-244b2ab0/

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

An episode you shouldn't miss!

Omar Perez is a regular guy who has suffered one of life's greatest losses but has also had one of lifes most remarkable experiences.

This is the most genuine testimony that I have ever heard of a near-death experience. Check it out to see if you agree.

Helping Fathers Heal: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HelpingFathersHeal

Helping Parents Heal: www.helpingparentsheal.org

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

NEW!!! Purchase the book Tom is in 'Stories of Friends and Family Lost': https://amzn.to/3SXtG1v

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

Jeff M. Abbott lives with his wife, daughter and rescue dog in southern California, and is the author of Signs Dreams and Bullets. A transformational story of healing and discovering hidden in grief are great gifts of change and growth. An expansion of love I didn't know existed. Your relationship with your loved one isn’t over; it can become even deeper now. 

Signs Dreams and Bullets book: https://amzn.to/3FdsMuD

Jeff's website: https://jeffmabbott.com/

Jeff's email: [email protected]

Jeff's daughter Jen's song: https://youtu.be/UmyYy7oqXjA?si=paYi496dcEUs90oJ

Helping Fathers Heal: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HelpingFathersHeal

Helping Parents Heal: www.helpingparentsheal.org

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!

Tom discusses our humanness and how to better be there for someone experiencing grief and loss.

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Please consider supporting the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/heroesingrief

Heroes in Grief: www.heroesingrief.com

Contact Tom: [email protected]

Tom's GriefTalks page (Book Tom as your Guest Speaker): https://www.facebook.com/tombendergrieftalks

Our partner 'Get Griefy Magazine': www.getgriefymagazine.com

You also can help support Heroes in Grief by using our affiliate links to wherever you do your online shopping or ordering. Message Tom at [email protected] to inquire or get a link. No extra charges or any cost to you!

Visit the Heroes in Grief shop for products discussed on the podcast & Tom's suggestions: https://linktr.ee/heroesingrief/shop

Thank you!!!