Maya is joined by Stephanie Murphy, who bravely shares the heartbreaking story of losing her younger brother, Quinton, to a tragic car accident in 2001 when he was just 18 years old.

Stephanie opens up about their sibling bond, the fight that led to their last conversation, and the devastating night she learned her brother was gone. She shares how grief collided with unexpected motherhood, her battle with anxiety and alcohol, and how she found strength to heal—leading to nine years of sobriety and honoring Quinton's memory every step of the way.

In This Episode:

(00:01:00) – Sibling Dynamics: From Rivalry to Best Friends Stephanie reflects on growing up as the oldest sibling, her playful (and sometimes bossy) relationship with Quinton, and how their bond deepened during their high school years.

(00:04:00) – An Ambitious Young Man with Big Dreams She shares how Quinton's drive and charisma made him stand out—working multiple jobs, managing at Chick-fil-A, buying his dream car, and planning for a future in business.

(00:07:00) – The Fight That Changed Everything Stephanie recounts the emotional last conversation she had with Quinton after a disagreement over her relationship—and how that moment became their final goodbye.

(00:11:00) – Missing His Graduation & Growing Distance Stephanie talks about missing Quinton's graduation due to work, the lingering family tensions, and sending a heartfelt letter in hopes of reconciling.

(00:15:00) – “I Just Want to Cry…” The Night Before She describes the overwhelming emotions and strange premonition she felt the night before Quinton's accident—a deep knowing that something was wrong.

(00:18:00) – The Knock at 4 AM: News No One Ever Wants Stephanie relives the devastating moment her mother arrived at her door to tell her that Quinton had died in a car accident—and how her world shattered in an instant.

(00:23:00) – Finding the Unopened Letter While grieving at her parents’ house, Stephanie finds the card and letter she had sent Quinton—still sealed. She opens it at his funeral, turning it into a final tribute.

(00:26:00) – What Happened That Night: The Truth About the Accident Stephanie shares what Quinton’s friend—who survived the crash—revealed about the events leading up to the accident, including alcohol, missed exits, and heartbreaking what-ifs.

(00:33:00) – Grieving While Pregnant & The Anxiety That Followed Stephanie opens up about navigating grief while expecting her first child, the overwhelming anxiety that took hold, and how she struggled to find normalcy after loss.

(00:38:00) – Turning to Alcohol: Numbing the Pain She discusses how grief and family history led her down a path of alcohol dependence—and how it became a coping mechanism for years.

(00:40:00) – The Day Everything Changed: Choosing Sobriety On the anniversary of Quinton’s death in 2015, Stephanie made a life-altering decision. She shares what led to her nine years (and counting) of sobriety.

(00:49:00) – Learning to Live Without Fear Stephanie reflects on how grief made her fear every phone call, every tragedy, and how she’s worked to regain peace—especially as a mother.

(00:57:00) – Signs, Dreams & Spiritual Connection From vivid dreams to her son being born on Quentin’s birthday, Stephanie shares the powerful ways her brother continues to show up in her life.

(01:03:00) – Acceptance, Growth & Honoring Quentin Stephanie discusses how she’s learned to live with grief, why healing doesn’t mean forgetting, and how she continues to make her brother proud.

(01:08:00) – Advice for Surviving Siblings Stephanie offers heartfelt wisdom for those navigating sibling loss—reminding us that while grief never fully leaves, we can choose growth, joy, and purpose.

 

This episode was sponsored by The Surviving Siblings. 

Connect with Stephanie: 

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniemichellemurphy 

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• Maya's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayaroffler/

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@survivingsiblingspodcast

• Twitter: https://x.com/survivingsibpod

• Website: thesurvivingsiblings.com

• Facebook Group: The Surviving Siblings Podcast

• YouTube: The Surviving Siblings Podcast

• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheSurvivingSiblingsPodcast