Overcomers Overcoming

Michelle Seguin's son, Devin, in 2013. Devin got a stomach ache following which the medical staff found a cancerous tumor. Five weeks later, the medical staff performed surgery on Devin to remove the tumor. Within 24 hours of removing the tumor, he passed away because his body poisoned itself. His body still was trying to fight a tumor that was removed. There is nothing more painful a parent can go through than the loss of a child. Unfortunately, Michelle became a part of this group. Through her open and honest storytelling, Michelle gives the listener a heartfelt insight into the realities of losing a child, the search for acceptance, and how she created a legacy of love that transcends time. In this podcast, she documents her raw emotions around the loss of her son Devin and shares how his inspirational love for life helped her find herself and truly live. Michelle desires to help others see that a person can go through total devastation, physically, mentally, and emotionally, hit rock bottom, and still find their way to peace after the storm. Like so many others who face this unthinkable reality, Michelle's grief and trauma affected every part of her life—emotionally, physically, and spiritually. For Michelle, the physical expression in her body showed up through chronic pain and severe fibromyalgia flare-ups that stymied her life. In this podcast, she shares her journey through the dark times and explores how other people express and handle trauma, grief, and sadness. Devin lived 'Larger Than Life' during his twenty-three years of life. By navigating the process of grief and seeing her son through the eyes of love and honor, Michelle has found her true, authentic self. Her book Larger Than Life: A Mother's Love, Loss, and Her Journey Back to Living is Devin's legacy.

Kristie Guard was raised in a toxic family, and she married into a toxic marriage. She endured nearly 27 years of life not knowing what value she had to anyone. Ten years into a marriage with her high school sweetheart, author Kristie Addair Guard admitted the "happily ever after" just wasn't, and it didn't show any signs of getting there. However hard she tried, the lies she'd been given in childhood held a tight grip. Those fears left her enthralled—being unwanted, unloved, abandoned, and unimportant. In a last-ditch effort, she walked away in search of healing and happiness on her own, but instead, she met Jesus, the one who would deliver her from those fears. She learned that God is always at work in hearts. Through His word, therapists, time, and always through His loving, tender, kind presence, He brought Kristie first to her own healing and then to a marriage that wasn't what she dreamed of but was precisely the best for her. Healing Ever After shares her story of heartbreak, healing, and redemption. It's a story of Jesus making beauty from ashes—his favorite artistry- available to you, too, wherever you are. You can learn more about Kristie at https://www.instagram.com/kristie.addair.guard/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=0e63c2a4-e868-4ad1-a017-d762662b27b6&ig_mid=16D2DAE1-5E08-465D-AF4C-D28BE5E56031.

Grace Peterson gave birth to a "rainbow baby," which has come to be known as the child born following a previous loss from a stillbirth or miscarriage. Grace's child was diagnosed with the rare Trisomy 18 chromosomal disease. Trisomy 18 is a disorder in which babies are born with three copies of chromosome 18 instead of 2. For an unknown reason, this accident occurs at conception, and all cells in the body will have this structure. She wrote the book Behind My Smile: A Rainbow Baby Story as a journal to work through her traumas of the first attempted birth. She had a difficult childhood due to chronic illnesses. She also suffered and courageously left an abusive relationship. She found the one person to share her life with and then tragically lost her daughter in utero through termination for medical reasons (TFMR). The incredible joy of her son's conception shortly after was shadowed by her post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) and constant fear that she would lose him. She experienced conflicting emotions simultaneously. Soon after the birth of her rainbow baby, she nearly lost him to a significant illness. She realized her story had the potential to help other women. Through her life experiences, she has found her passion for speaking and eventually determined her strength as a woman and a first-time mother to a rainbow baby. You can learn more about Grace at https://www.instagram.com/gracepetersonrbm/.

Sara Slaybaugh experienced the emotions and discouragement of a toxic marriage. Many of us want a wholesome, long-term relationship to illuminate each other. As a person of faith, Sara hoped to get healthy support from fellow believers. She experienced mixed support from various people. Sara is now remarried with a blended family. Through her life experience, she works with divorced Christian women to coach them to learn how to find a loving and supportive relationship. Based on her experience, she understands the emotions of being a divorced Christian and feeling like an outsider in your previous circles. She coaches others to navigate being a newly single mom while helping them overcome the emotion of not wanting to date again to avoid a similar experience. Many Christian women experience weariness around being vulnerable to experiencing another toxic relationship. No one wants rejection. Through her experience, she developed ways to be practical with time, energy, or emotions to find the right person for a wholesome relationship. She has learned what to look for in a relationship while knowing what and how to say "no." You can learn more about Sara at https://www.facebook.com/groups/confidenceandconnectionforsinglechristianwomen, YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SaraSlaybaughCoaching, and My free guide: www.saraslaybaugh.com/freeguide.

Seth Gehle survived substantial childhood abuse and trauma. His father nearly killed his mother when he was two years old. As a result, he grew up with a single mother of three children. When he was approximately ten years old, his mother became abusive and addicted to crack and cocaine. This led him down a path to being molested by a grown man for more than five years resulting in an estimated 400 encounters. Seth developed a resolve to report and incarcerate the abuser. Seth has moved on and done incredible things with his life. Today, he is an aspiring author of his upcoming memoir "Strength Beyond the Shadows." Seth Gehle is a multifaceted individual whose journey embodies resilience, determination, and triumph. An accomplished ultra-marathon runner, BJJ athlete, and overall fitness enthusiast, Seth's dedication to physical excellence is matched only by his unwavering commitment to personal growth. In addition to his athletic pursuits, Seth has earned national recognition in the construction industry, garnering prestigious awards from esteemed organizations such as the National Association of Home Builders and the Home Builders Institute. You can learn more about Seth at https://www.instagram.com/gobeyondtheshadows/ and https://www.limaohio.com/top-stories/2024/03/01/a-sexual-assault-survivors-story/.

Michael Ostrolenk has been on a journey of self-discovery and is working with others through transpersonal counseling psychology. Having developed an autoimmune disease as a child and possessing divergent learning styles that the rigid educational system couldn't handle, the conventional wisdom of doctors and educators almost robbed him of his creativity, independence, and, ultimately, his life. Michael has been on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and mastery, starting as a nine-year-old. It began with Michael discovering the power of meditation, guided imagery, and biofeedback. These practices became his way of managing internal states and overcoming challenges. This early fascination sparked a lifelong curiosity about human potential and extraordinary capabilities. His quest led him to become a licensed marriage and family therapist with a transpersonal specialization, diving deep into the mysteries of the human mind and spirit. Along the way, Michael pursued post-graduate training in somatic psychology and earned his coaching certification through New York University (NYU). As a Master Coach at SEALFIT's Unbeatable Mind Academy and Director of Human Resilience at Apeiron Zoh, Michael has the privilege of guiding others on their paths to greatness. Specializing in providing tools, practices, and support, his mission is to propel you toward the life and relationships you yearn to achieve. You can learn more about Michael at michaeldostrolenk.com.

Kelly Tuttle became a brain injury survivor in 2015 after her car T-boned another car that had pulled out in front of her. She thought she would shake off the crash and continue with her life. The next day, her co-workers said she wasn't talking coherently. So, she saw her doctor, who said she had a concussion, and she should be better in two weeks. Months later, she was living with a stranger in her head; she felt alone and lost. She didn't like this stranger; she was rude and impatient, had the focus and attention span of a gnat, couldn't remember anything, was irritable, and slept a lot. She couldn't arrive on time for appointments or even plan a birthday party. She spent too much money and got into financial trouble. It was terrible to live with her, but over time, she realized she was not a stranger, but she had gotten a "new" brain. She spent years after her car accident seeking help to recover through a neurophysical therapist and speech therapist. She discovered the role of physical medicine, rehabilitation doctors, and behavioral optometrists in caring for brain injury patients. These specialists taught her how to live and work with sound and light sensitivity and chronic fatigue. As time passed, she got better and got to know the new "me." She is not the same person she was before her brain injury. Her personality and values changed. She became like a sloth rather than the energizer bunny she was before her brain injury. Her traumatic brain injury marked the beginning of a new life and a personal journey of self-discovery. Her brain injury led her to change her career, write a book, and become a brain injury advocate. Her brain injury recovery has been long and challenging, but she likes the new "me" and her new brain. She shares her story so others know there is hope and they are not alone. You can learn more about Kelly in her book After the Crash: How to Keep Your Job, Stay in School, and Live Life After a Brain Injury.

Jeff Pierce has experienced many devastating consequences in his life, including bankruptcy, loss of a business, his wife's death from cancer, and recovering from a dysfunctional family. Jeff was born in Binghamton, NY, and, due to his father's employment, attended twelve schools during his 13 years of formal education. Due to the extensive moving, Jeff was always the "tall, skinny new kid on the block" in school. Therefore, Jeff was the recipient of name-calling and belittling before it was even known as "bullying." In addition to being an author, Jeff is a speaker and inspirational youth leader who believes in instilling positive values, beliefs, and principles in doing something that one loves, which can lead to developing habits that will create everlasting positive results in one life. Through Jeff's life experience and 35 years as a private business owner and corporate business leader, he recognized the importance of an individual's values and beliefs toward achieving success and reaching one's dreams, desires, and goals. You can learn more about Jeff through his book Building Champions: 7 Success Principles for Youth Sports & the "Game of Life."

Mary G. Barlow chronicles her early life dealing with her mom's death when Mary was seven years old, as well as her adult life in finding peace and joy. Years after her mother died, Mary learned her mom had committed suicide, possibly manifested from postpartum depression following the birth of Mary's younger brother. Based on her life experience and the ensuing trauma of learning how her mother died, Mary wrote the book, "Home, My Story of House and Personal Restoration." In writing "Home," Mary blends literary and medical writing and journalistic talents. As a medical writer, Mary has written extensively for commercial organizations on numerous diseases, life sciences products, and the business of healthcare. She is an expert on how healthcare in the United States works and the challenges related to its accessibility. Before her medical writing career, Mary was a journalist, writing articles for the Blackstone Valley Tribune, a small community newspaper in Northbridge, Massachusetts. She also worked as a freelance reporter, contributing articles to the Telegram and Gazette, a daily paper circulated in Worcester County. Leveraging her journalism skills, Mary researched the historical aspects of "Home." These include Dutch immigrant life in New England during the early twentieth century and the impact of the Industrial Revolution on a small town's mill community. You can learn more about Mary Barlow and her book at www.mgbarlow.com.

Paul Granger describes his emotions and learning from his life experiences of enduring a job termination from a toxic ministry experience. Following the experience of stillborn childbirth, he experienced a job termination from a toxic ministry environment. Again, he and his wife are left with a "what now?" experience. Through these two life traumas, God impressed Paul and his wife with a renewal of their spirits and relationship with the God who created them and whose thoughts and ways are above ours. Through these two life experiences, Paul ministers to those experiencing similar hurting experiences. You can learn more about Paul at wheredidyouseeGod.com, www.facebook.com/wheredidyouseeGod, and instagram.com/wheredidyouseeGod