Life Beyond Loss

In this powerful episode of Survival in the Trenches Presents: Life Beyond Loss, Gina Schuster shares her deeply personal journey through grief, mental health struggles, and the tragic loss of her husband, Corey, to suicide. Gina, a medical social worker, reflects on how her professional expertise in crisis intervention and end-of-life care intersected with the personal challenges she faced as Corey, diagnosed with bipolar disorder and struggling with alcoholism, navigated his mental health battles. Despite the knowledge and resources at her disposal, Gina explains how caring for Corey became a deeply emotional and painful reality, especially as they raised three children together. Her candid and heartfelt account of how Corey’s mental health struggles eventually led to his passing serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities of mental illness and the impact it has on families.

Gina's story is one of resilience and transformation. She openly discusses how her family has worked through their grief, emphasizing the importance of honesty, community support, and seeking help. With the help of therapeutic tools like EMDR and involvement in a local widows’ group, she has not only found healing for herself but also dedicated herself to supporting other widows through the STL Crew. Her reflections on Corey’s life and struggles, coupled with her desire to raise awareness about the importance of mental health care and suicide prevention, offer hope to listeners facing similar challenges, underscoring the message that no one should have to face their struggles alone.

In this deeply moving conversation, Carrie Breen reflects on her life as a mother and the profound loss of her son, Sam, who died by suicide. Carrie shares her journey from raising a large family with six children, navigating the unique challenges of parenting a free-spirited child like Sam, to the painful realization that despite her love and efforts, she could not save him from his struggles. Sam was a vibrant and curious child, full of energy, mischief, and deep emotions, but as a teenager, he began battling substance abuse, depression, and self-harm. Despite many efforts to get him professional help, including counseling and rehab, Sam eventually lost his battle with addiction and mental health. Carrie candidly shares the heartbreaking details of the day she learned of Sam’s passing, describing the immense pain and disbelief that followed.

Throughout the conversation, Carrie emphasizes the stigma that often accompanies suicide and the importance of keeping Sam’s memory alive beyond that single, tragic decision. She explains how her faith has been a crucial source of strength, helping her cope with her grief, and how she is working toward healing while keeping Sam’s memory present in her family’s life. Carrie’s story highlights the complexities of grief, the challenge of finding joy amid sadness, and the importance of speaking openly about loss. Her journey of healing serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring love of a mother.

In this deeply moving episode of Life Beyond Loss, host Kelly Chandler sits down with Lisa Picker, a mother whose life was forever changed by the tragic loss of her son, Liam. Lisa takes us on a profound journey, sharing intimate moments of Liam’s life—his vibrant personality, his love for music and Japanese culture, and the immense challenges he faced due to mental health struggles. Despite the unimaginable heartbreak, Lisa has channeled her grief into purpose, founding the Liam Michael Foundation to support mental health resources and offer hope to families who face similar losses.

With courage and compassion, Lisa discusses her mission to honor Liam’s memory, shedding light on the harsh realities of mental health and the importance of understanding, resilience, and community support. This episode explores the transformative power of love, faith, and advocacy, offering listeners a powerful reminder of hope and healing, even in life’s darkest moments.

In this preview episode of Survival in the Trenches: Life Beyond Loss, the SITT team—Kelly Chandler, Michael Chandler, and JJ Kirkpatrick—introduces listeners to the mission behind their impactful new show. They share how their work provides a safe space for people to share their stories of profound loss and resilience, offering a variety of resources and fostering empathy and awareness around mental health, PTSD, and tragic loss.

Driven by their “AERO” principle—Awareness, Empathy, Resources, and Outcomes—the team is committed to creating real, lasting change for individuals who have faced unimaginable challenges. The conversation highlights their dedication to partnering with non-profits and socially responsible businesses to maximize impact, focusing on purposeful outcomes over profit.

By collaborating with organizations like the PTSD Foundation and leveraging both traditional and innovative technologies, they aim to develop proactive solutions that address critical issues before they escalate. Through inspiring interviews and heartfelt storytelling, Survival in the Trenches brings awareness to invaluable resources and healing techniques, encouraging listeners to support others or find the strength to seek help themselves.