Remembering A Life

Doug Middleton, a free agent safety in the National Football League, played college football at Appalachian State and signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2016. Following the death of his best friend AJ by suicide, Doug embarked on a mission to raise awareness of the importance of taking care of one's mental health, concentrating on the African-American community and student athletes. To that end, he founded Dream the Impossible (dreamtheimpossible.org). The work he does is inspiring and is making a difference in the lives of thousands of people.

We often think about to whom we will leave what we consider our most valued possessions – our jewelry, books, artwork, or other meaningful items – after we die. But what about our personal values, the lessons we've learned, and our dreams for others? Dr. Barry Baines invites us to consider how writing an ethical will can help us put our values on paper and leave a lasting and meaningful legacy.

Inspired early in the pandemic by the image of refrigerated trucks in Queens holding the remains of people who had died of COVID-19 and haunted by thoughts of how survivors would begin to cope, Terry Werth set out to give them a voice. A little more than a year later, a compilation of their stories was published. Terry joined us for a discussion about love, life and loss during the pandemic.

When Dr. Joseph Stern's sister was diagnosed with leukemia, it turned his world upside down. In his book, "Grief Connects Us: A Neurosurgeon's Lessons on Love, Loss, and Compassion," Dr. Stern captures the hope and heartbreak experienced by so many families when faced with a terminal illness. He joined us to share how his experiences transformed the approach he takes to caring for patients.

Recovery expert Robert Jensen has the unimaginable task of recovering remains and personal effects at the sites of the world's largest mass fatality events. His book, Personal Effects, is an unsparing, up-close look at the difficult work Jensen does behind the yellow tape. He joins us to talk about how recovering the dead has taught him how to better care for the living.

It's not uncommon for people to struggle with their faith after the death of a loved one. This month's episode invites us to explore our grief through the lens of our faith and how our faith may be tested during this difficult time. Guest Shelley Craig from Faith & Grief Ministries encourages listeners to consider how they can honor their loved ones through faith-based practices and traditions.

The holidays can be difficult when we're grieving – or supporting someone who is. Alex Mammadyarov, a writer and psychotherapist specializing in grief, joins us for a conversation about the challenges of grieving during the "happiest time of the year" and how we can continue to move forward in our grief during a time when family and friends are gathering to celebrate.

Dominic Carella, soon-to-be Managing Partner of Donohue-Cecere Funeral Home in Westbury, New York, was one of the first funeral directors to arrive at Ground Zero following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. In the months that followed, he would serve more than 75 families who experienced the devastating loss of a loved one that day.