In this deeply honest and heartfelt episode of The Surviving Siblings Podcast, host Maya Roffler sits down with LeAnn Sullivan, a bereaved sister who lost her brother Michael to addiction in 2016. LeAnn shares her powerful story of love, loss, resilience, and healing after years of navigating a complicated family dynamic, her brother’s addiction, and her own journey through grief.

Growing up with divorced parents and facing early separation from Michael, LeAnn always saw herself as his protector. Despite their time apart, they reconnected as young adults, building a bond that helped them raise their respective children together and create a deeply rooted sibling relationship. When Michael passed away unexpectedly, LeAnn’s world crumbled. But in the years since, she has turned her pain into purpose—becoming an advocate for families affected by addiction and a board member of the Shevlin Family Foundation.

This episode explores the complexity of sibling grief after addiction, the layers of family trauma, and the power of transforming pain into community and service. LeAnn’s story is one of loss, but also of light—a testament to what it means to survive, heal, and honor a sibling’s legacy.

In This Episode:

(00:01:00) – LeAnn’s Early Life & Separation from Michael (00:03:00) – Reconnecting as Adults & Becoming a Team (00:08:00) – The Call That Changed Everything (00:10:00) – The Physical Pain of Loss & Funeral Experience (00:14:00) – Returning to Work Amidst Grief (00:17:00) – Helping Her Son Through Grief & Recovery (00:21:00) – Family Strain and the Power of Support (00:24:00) – Michael’s Addiction, Relapse & Fentanyl Crisis (00:27:00) – The Stigma of Addiction and Sharing the Truth (00:29:00) – A Turning Point: Losing Her Job & Finding Healing (00:31:00) – Creating Bowl for Hope & Meeting Christine

This episode is sponsored by The Shevlin Family Foundation 

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction help is available. Please reach out to a professional or call your local crisis line. You are never alone

More About The Shevlin Family Foundation: 

• Website: https://shevlinfamilyfoundation.org/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shevlinfamilyfoundation/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shevfamilyfoundation/#

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shevlin-family-foundation/

 

Connect with LeeAnn: 

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delcosrealtor

Connect with Maya:

• Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/survivingsiblingspodcast/

• Maya's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayaroffler/

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@survivingsiblingspodcast

• Twitter: https://x.com/survivingsibpod

• Website: thesurvivingsiblings.com

• Facebook Group: The Surviving Siblings Podcast

• YouTube: The Surviving Siblings Podcast

• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheSurvivingSiblingsPodcast