Erica and Alicia are joined by Jeanne Atkinson to talk about a new venture with OBS called Camp Bright Star. It is a four-hour camp for children to be held on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at the Arboretum at Gustavus College in St. Peter. Jeanne comes to us as the former coordinator at Camp Oz and brings her team to OBS to help facilitate the grief camp for children who have suffered the loss of a friend, sibling, or other family member. There will be activities which will help them share their feelings, connect with each other and teach coping skills to help them throughout their lives. Signup for this free event can be made through our website or on our Facebook page.

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Aunt Jude and niece Molly join our podcast to talk about their two sons and their two losses. Molly's son, Beau, was stillborn at almost 35 weeks. Beau was their third child and the family was so excited for his arrival. Molly felt something different was happening at work one day and after phone calls to the nurse line and ultimately an ultrasound, it was determined that Beau had passed.

Jude lost her son, Zak, in 2012 at the age of 20. He passed suddenly as the result of a motorcycle accident. Jude talks about the hole in her heart that continues and the fun and energy that Zak brought into the lives of his friends and family. She continues to feel his presence everyday.

Join us for the story of two losses and two very different grief journeys.

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Erin Joice lost her son Eric on December 21, 2012. He was a Staff Sergeant in the United State Air Force. He had been in the USAF for four years having passed away unexpectedly while deployed in South Korea.

Erin joins our podcast thirteen years after Eric's passing to talk about her incredible son. His kindness toward others and a man who gave freely of himself will be his lasting legacy.

Erin talks about the ways in which she honors Eric and the things she does to keep his memory alive.

Join us for a heartfelt discussion about a mother's love and the grief that she endures.

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Amelia Williams is an amazing woman. She's a nurse, wife, friend, mother, and sadly, she is no stranger to grief and loss. She joins our podcast to talk about her incredible journey of losing a son, Gavin, during pregnancy, losing a step-son, Marcus, at age 24, and losing her special-needs son, Joshua, twice, first to SIDS at age four months and after he was revived, losing him again at age 28. Join us for an amazing story of love, compassion, resilience, and profound grief.

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Lexi Hagen died suddenly as the result of an automobile accident in 2010. Her sister, Lacey, who was 16 at the time, joins our podcast to talk about her grief journey and how the loss of her sister has affected her life and how she goes on to remember and honor Lexi's life and legacy. She talks about the, "waves of grief" she experiences and how she continues to try and stay connected with her older sister. Join us for a difficult conversation around the subject of sibling grief.

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One Bright Star was founded in 1998 by four mothers who, in their grief, came together to embark on a mission to be a resource to families who have suffered the death of a child. The organization has a physical memorial site at Ray Erlandson Park in Mankato, Minnesota. On this Life After Loss podcast, Executive Director, Erica Fisher and board member, Alicia More, discuss the many ways the nonprofit helps its bereaved families. From hosting annual events such as the Children's Mini Camp and a Children's Memorial Service to offering financial grants to a grief retreat camp or helping with funeral expenses, OBS and its supporters continually strive to serve families who have suffered the unthinkable. Join us to learn more about One Bright Star. OneBrightStar.org

March is Trisomy awareness month. Trisomy is a genetic condition where a person has an extra chromosome and it comes in different forms including: Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome). Each journey is unique and on this edition of our Life After Loss podcast, we are joined by Paige Hawkins who educates us on Trisomy 18. Paige and her husband, Greg, suffered multiple Trisomy 18 losses and she talks about how rare the condition is and the pregnancy that ultimately ended early with the passing of their son, Wyatt. She reflects on the emotions that immediately followed and ways in which they mourn and celebrate the lives of their babies.

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One Bright Star held its annual fall children's memorial service on Sunday, September 29, 2024 at Erlandson Park in Mankato, Minnesota. The program featured a welcome message from Erica Fischer, executive director and Becca Roberson, president of One Bright Star; music by In A Bind piano and vocals; an invocation prayer read by Matt Sipe; guest speaker, Danielle Duffey; a poem: As We Remember Them, read by Chris Oldenburg; One Bright Star poem read by founding mother Linda Janavaras and the reading of the children's names by Kristine Schimek.