Fran Caffey Sandin, a retired nurse, has authored two books, contributed to several anthologies and magazines. Fran lost two sons. She shares her story of how she found the strength to get through severe trauma.

Through all this heart-wrenching loss, including her father's suicide, she has learned much including what the three stages of grief are and how to survive them.

She teaches us that we can overcome the effects of tragedy and how to help others survive their circumstances.

We need to know what to say and what not to say when our friends are suffering.

During her interview, she details the three stages of grief:

1. Crisis
2. Crucible
3. Construction