How do you keep living after losing your child to suicide?
Steve and Carol Riggs know that question in a way no parent ever wants to.
Their only son, U.S. Army Sergeant Andrew Riggs, died by suicide at just 25 years old after returning home from Afghanistan. His death shattered the future Steve and Carol had imagined for their family and left them facing grief, unanswered questions, guilt and a loss that felt impossible to carry.
In this deeply personal conversation on the MisFitNation, Steve and Carol share what happened after Andrew’s death—and how faith, purpose and helping others became part of their healing.
Steve describes reaching a point where grief felt physically crushing, like an “elephant” sitting on his chest. In that darkness, a passage from Isaiah 61 about the “spirit of heaviness” became a turning point. The pain did not disappear, but he began to find a way forward.
Carol opens up about the mental battle that can follow suicide loss: replaying the past, wondering what could have been done differently and confronting the self-blame that so many surviving family members experience.
Together, they discuss one of the hardest realities of grief after suicide: healing is not the same as forgetting.
They also explore how Andrew could appear strong and capable while keeping much of his internal struggle to himself—a painful reminder that we do not always know what the people closest to us are carrying.
• Steve and Carol share the story of their son, Army Sgt. Andrew Riggs
• The hidden struggles that can follow military service
• What suicide loss does to parents and families
• Survivor guilt and the question, “What could I have done?”
• Why grief can return in unexpected waves
• Faith and Scripture as tools for navigating loss
• Forgiving yourself after a loved one’s suicide
• Supporting veterans and loved ones after trauma
• Why asking for and accepting help matters
• Turning grief into service and personal purpose
• The story behind Steve and Carol’s book, The Journey from Pain to Purpose
One of the most powerful ideas Steve and Carol share is that grief can feel like waves at the ocean. Over time, the waves may become less frequent—but occasionally one arrives with enough force to knock you down again.
Their message is not that grief disappears.
It is that you can learn to keep moving forward.
Today, Steve and Carol are using what they have lived through to encourage military families, veterans, chaplains, grieving parents and others navigating suicide loss and sudden death. Their book, The Journey from Pain to Purpose, was created to help others find a path through grief while also reminding people who are struggling that they do not have to face the battle alone.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988. Veterans, service members and their families can call 988 and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.
If you are hurting, reach out.
If someone you love is withdrawing, reach in.
And remember the message shared at the close of this episode:
Tomorrow is better with you in it.
Remembering U.S. Army Sergeant Andrew Riggs.
The Journey from Pain to Purpose by Steve and Carol Riggs is available through major booksellers.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
