In this episode of The Lost Child Podcast, we sit down with Jonathan Cottor, father to Ryan and one of the driving forces behind Ryan House, a place created to support families caring for children with complex and life-limiting conditions. Jonathan shares Ryan's story, the realities of parenting through profound medical challenges, and how grief and love became the foundation for a mission that now serves countless families through pediatric respite care, palliative support, and end-of-life care in a home-like setting.

We also talk about the bigger picture, why respite care is so rare in the United States, what families need most, and how organizations like Ryan House (and partners in hospice/palliative care) can change what support looks like for parents and siblings walking this road. Whether you're a grieving parent, a caregiver, a friend who wants to show up better, or someone learning what pediatric hospice and respite care really means, this conversation will move you and educate you.

Learn more / support the mission by clicking on the Ryan House link.

Ryan House

Check out Ryan's YouTube Channel

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📌 Trigger note: This episode includes discussion of child loss, serious illness, and grief. #TheLostChildPodcast #RyanHouse #RespiteCare #PediatricHospice #GriefSupport #ChildLoss

In Episode 38 of The Lost Child Podcast, we sit down with Jeanette, whose son Ben tragically stopped breathing in front of her at home. Paramedics arrived and rushed Ben to the hospital; subsequently, he was transferred to a trauma hospital. Unfortunately, Ben passed away from the incident. It was determined that Ben had croup, which caused his airway to close.

After his passing, Jeanette turned her grief into something powerful. She started small, giving away books and creating small art pieces, which eventually became known as "Ben's Bells." These bells are now distributed worldwide, with their own website sharing Ben's story and their community impact.

Jeanette's journey didn't stop there. She returned to the University of Arizona to study kindness and now serves as the Director of the Science of Kindness Community Collective. She holds a PhD and continues to explore how kindness affects our lives, focusing not on the outcomes but the actions of kindness itself. Jeanette's perspective on life, surrendering to the unknown, and transforming tragic experiences into purpose is truly inspiring.

In this episode, Jeanette shares her story of surviving, thriving, and finding fulfillment in the aftermath of unimaginable loss.

(Amazon Affiliate Statement: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases when you click on the links below)

Resources mentioned in the episode: Ben's Bells

Grief support groups: https://tunidito.org/

A book Jeanette recommends: Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss

StoryCorps Website

This episode will leave you inspired, reminding us all that it's possible to thrive even after the most difficult tragedies. Tune in and hear Jeanette's incredible story.

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Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://BetterHelp.com/LCP (Sponsored by BetterHelp)

In Episode 37 of The Lost Child Podcast, we sit down with Kristine, the wife of Ernie, to hear her powerful and heartbreaking story. Kristine and Ernie were involved in a tragic traffic accident on their way home from Lake Powell. Kristine was hit by a vehicle, sustaining multiple injuries and blacking out at the scene. She was life-flighted to a trauma hospital, where she awoke to the devastating news that her son, Quinton, had died in the accident.

In this emotional episode, Kristine shares her journey of recovery, physically, emotionally, and mentally. She speaks candidly about the difficulty of forgiving the person responsible for the accident and how she has found healing through that process. Kristine's story is one of resilience, strength, and the power of forgiveness.

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In episode 35 of The Lost Child Podcast, we dive into the powerful portrayal of grief, healing, and faith in The Chosen Season 4. Join us as we reflect on key moments from the series and discuss how they resonate with our personal journey through grief after the tragic loss of our daughter, Sunni.

Permission to Use Clips: We've received official permission from The Chosen to use clips from the series in this episode. All rights to the original material are held by The Chosen. We're grateful for their support and are excited to share this discussion with our community.

Watch The Chosen: For more about The Chosen and to explore the incredible storytelling, check out their app and website:

Website: https://www.thechosen.tv/en-us Watch Online: https://watch.thechosen.tv/#carousels

Get The Chosen App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-chosen/id6443956656

Disclaimer: This video includes clips from The Chosen for commentary and educational purposes, used with permission.

This one might be better to watch instead of listening to. Here is the link to the video: https://youtu.be/fDcaoWkcJGc

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Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://BetterHelp.com/LCP (Sponsored by BetterHelp)

In this episode of The Lost Child Podcast, we sit down with Ernie, a father who tragically lost his son, Quinton, in a freak accident while returning from a trip to Lake Powell. Just 30 hours after Quinton's death, Ernie felt his son's presence unexpectedly and profoundly. Quinton held his hand. This experience opened Ernie's heart, and he began to see signs from Quinton that brought him deep comfort and helped him understand that there is more to this life, or, better stated, more after this life.

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Ernie shares his journey of grief, healing, and the deep connection he feels with his son, who continues to communicate with him from beyond. These signs inspired Ernie to write Quinton's Messages, a book that chronicles the signs and experiences he's had after Quinton's passing. In his second book, Quinton's Legacy, Ernie expands the narrative to include anecdotal evidence from others who have also experienced signs from their loved ones who have transitioned. Ernie also references several other books during our conversation that have been pivotal in his healing journey. (Amazon Affiliate Statement: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases when you click on the below links)

Quinton's Messages - https://amzn.to/4d64f7e

Quinton's Legacy - https://amzn.to/43dJUsk

Many Lives, Many Masters - https://amzn.to/3F54jrn

Messages from the Masters - https://amzn.to/4386jqH

Journey of Souls - https://amzn.to/3GZWCTQ

Destiny of Souls - https://amzn.to/4kaDsch

This deeply moving episode offers insight into the lasting impact of grief and the power of turning loss into a lasting legacy. Join us for an inspiring conversation about love, resilience, and the ongoing connection with those we've lost.

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In Episode 34 of The Lost Child Podcast, we sit down with Ernestina, whose son Konnor tragically lost his life at 24 in a motorcycle accident.

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On the day of the accident, Konnor said goodbye to his mother before heading out on his motorcycle. What was supposed to be a routine trip to a friend's house turned into a nightmare when Konnor collided with an SUV. Ernestina and her husband discovered the tragic news after noticing Konnor's location at the hospital, a place they didn't expect to find him. Ernestina shares her emotional journey of grief, acceptance, and how she's come to terms with the loss of her son over the past 5 years.

Support The Pod on Patreon - patreon.com/LostChildPodcast390

In Episode 33 of The Lost Child Podcast, we sit down with Rhonda, who shares her heartbreaking story of losing her son, Noah.

Support the podcast with a SHINE BRIGHT SHIRT - https://lostchildpodcast.store/collections/all

Noah's death was self-inflicted, and he left behind a young son, who was only 11 months old at the time. Rhonda was babysitting her grandson that night when detectives knocked on her door with the devastating news.

Since Noah's passing, Rhonda has worked tirelessly to heal, finding strength through scripture, mentorship, hiking, and barrel racing on her horse. Before each race, she prays for guidance, asking if God willing, her mother and Noah may be riding with her.

Rhonda's dedication to ensuring that Noah's son will always know how much his father loved him is deeply moving. She also created a hiking group in the West Valley of Phoenix, which has been instrumental in her grief journey, helping her connect with others who understand her pain.

Join us for this inspiring conversation with Rhonda as she shares how she is honoring Noah's memory and navigating life after such a devastating loss. You can also find more information about Rhonda's hiking group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1FusAttnE1/

Support The Pod on Patreon - patreon.com/LostChildPodcast390

In Episode 32 of The Lost Child Podcast, we sit down with Elizabeth Boisson, co-founder of Helping Parent Heal an organization dedicated to supporting parents through the loss of a child. Elizabeth shares her powerful journey of grief after losing her son Morgan, who tragically passed away from altitude sickness while studying abroad in Tibet.

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Through a transformative shared death experience with her son, Elizabeth found solace and a unique perspective on child loss. She and her team chose to refer to the experience as "transitioning" rather than death, emphasizing the belief that our children continue to exist in the next stage of life. Elizabeth's story of healing led to the creation of Helping Parents Heal, which started as a small group and has now grown into a nonprofit with affiliate chapters worldwide. The organization holds bi-annual conferences that bring together thousands of people seeking comfort and connection after loss.

Elizabeth also shares the story of her daughter Chelsea, who transitioned shortly after birth, and how she believes Morgan helped her cope with the tragic situation. This conversation highlights the profound impact of shared experiences and community on the healing process.

Join us for this heartfelt episode and hear how Elizabeth's life's work is helping parents heal from the unimaginable.

Important Links:

Patreon - patreon.com/LostChildPodcast390

Helping Parent Heal Website - https://www.helpingparentsheal.org/

Caring Listeners - https://www.helpingparentsheal.org/caring-listeners/

Life After Life Dr. Raymond Moody (Book) - https://amzn.to/4gHyHET

Dr. Mary Neal Website - https://www.drmaryneal.com/

Netflix Series Surviving Death - https://www.netflix.com/title/80998853

Angel Studios Movie After Death - https://www.angel.com/movies/after-death

Soul Shift: Finding Where the Dead Go (Mark Ireland Book) - https://amzn.to/41hJTnk

In Episode 31 of The Lost Child Podcast, we sit down with Scott, who shares the heartbreaking story of his son, Keaton, who tragically died after a boating accident.

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Keaton was just six years old and this devastating event happened over 10 years ago. Scott reflects on his journey of grief and healing since that fateful day. Scott opens up about the emotional struggles he faced, the difficult thoughts he had to process, and how he has been able to work through the grief over time. This raw, one-hour conversation offers a look at the deep pain of losing a child and the resilience required to move forward. Join us as Scott shares his story, providing insight into the complex process of healing after such an unimaginable loss.

This description has affiliate links, which means if you click on them, we might get some money to help support the pod. Thank you.

Links to things referenced in the episode

Somatic Experiencing (Ergos Institute)

In an Unspoken Voice (Peter A. Levine)

0:00 - Remembering Keaton's Vibrant Energy

7:10 - The Heartbreaking Moment: How Keaton's Life Was Taken

16:05 - Navigating Life After Loss: The Sudden, Unimaginable Reality

26:15 - Coping with Grief: The Journey After Losing My Son

38:35 - When Keaton Died, My World Came to a Halt

48:46 - Somatic Experiencing and Other Healing Tools for Grief

52:52 - The Ripple Effect: How Tragedy Impacts Relationships

63:19 - If I Could Go Back: Advice I'd Give Myself After the Accident

In this episode of The Lost Child Podcast, we sit down with Juli, the cofounder of Billy's Place, a peer-led grief support group for families based in Phoenix (West Valley). Billy's Place offers a safe space for those dealing with loss—whether from the death of a child, sibling, parent, grandparent, or friend. Through various group nights, including kids' nights, teen nights, and adult-only groups, Billy's Place helps families cope with grief in a community setting, where individuals can share their experiences and find comfort. Juli shares her personal journey of creating this vital nonprofit after the loss of her husband and son Billy's father, and how she brought the peer support group model to Arizona.

Billy's Place has grown over the years and now even provides grief training in schools to support children who have experienced loss. In this episode, Juli discusses the impact of their work, the power of community in healing, and how you can get involved.

If you are struggling with grief, loss, or the death of a loved one, this episode is a valuable resource. Learn about the incredible work of Billy's Place and the support they offer to families in need.

Support The Lost Child Podcast: If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue spreading these stories of hope and healing, please consider supporting us through our Patreon account. Your contribution helps us bring more powerful interviews and resources to those navigating grief. Support The Pod on Patreon

For more information on Billy's Place and the support they offer, visit their website.

Resources Used in this Podcast:

Dr. Alan Wolfelt info

Podcast with Harvard professor Arthur Brooks and John Delony