While We're Waiting® - Hope After Child Loss

Kelly Uribe joins me today to share the story of her son Ernesto—a vibrant, adventurous, and deeply loved young man. She describes his big personality, his penchant for "people gathering", and the artistic eye that set him apart. She also shares about the spring when everything began to change, leading their family into a long and arduous journey through the mental health care system, and ultimately to Ernesto's death by suicide in the fall of 2022.

With great transparency, Kelly recounts the countless appointments, medications, therapies, and programs they pursued in hopes of finding healing for Ernesto. She talks about the challenges of navigating insurance, the hidden isolation families often feel, and the exhaustion of trying to parent a teen in crisis while clinging to hope.

This episode gives us a window into the realities many families face but few discuss openly. It’s a story of deep love, heartbreaking struggle, and the assurance that God was there with them through each uncertain step.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! ~Jill

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry. 

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at:  [email protected] 

In last week’s conversation with Chad and Ronni Fellers (listen HERE), we heard the story of their son Paxton—his adoption, his joy-filled spirit, and the day their lives changed forever. We also heard how grief has forced them to wrestle deeply with their faith and the goodness of God in the wake of profound loss.

In today’s episode, part two of our conversation, we focus on something many grieving hearts struggle to understand: lament. Chad and Ronni speak honestly about what it means to bring their pain, their questions, even their anger to God—not as a lack of faith, but as a vital expression of it. As Ronni puts it, “When you're wrestling with someone, you're face to face. And if I'm still wrestling with God, it means I haven't turned away.”

We talk about how lament has shaped their grief, their marriage, their parenting, and their perspective on worship. Ronni shares the story behind her blog, The God Kiss, and the healing she’s found in writing her wrestle.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that God welcomes our sorrow—and meets us there with His presence. We’ll pick up right where we left off last week.

Click HERE to watch the Fellers' video testimony produced by Fellowship Bible Church.  

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! ~Jill

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry. 

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at:  [email protected] 

We’re beginning a two-part series today with Chad and Ronni Fellers, who invite us into their story and help us understand what it means to grieve with both faith and honesty.

In today’s episode, Chad and Ronni share about their son Paxton, a young man his dad describes as “all gas, no brakes”—his adoption story, his bold and fearless personality, and the morning that marked the beginning of a life-altering journey. 

They talk about the six weeks spent in the hospital, the thousands of people who prayed, and the moment they realized God’s healing would look different than they had hoped. Through it all, they speak openly about writhing in pain, wrestling with God, and slowly learning how to worship in the midst of deep grief.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Paxton’s adoption and early years
• His vibrant, fearless personality
• The morning everything changed
• Their six-week stay in the ICU
• The role of faith during trauma
• Honest wrestling with God in grief
• Why lament is a faithful response to suffering
• The recalibration of life after child loss

This episode is not about resolution—it’s about invitation: to lament, to question, and to trust that even in the ache, we are not alone.

Click HERE to watch the Fellers' video testimony produced by Fellowship Bible Church.  

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! ~Jill

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry. 

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at:  [email protected] 

As bereaved parents, one of the most pressing questions we grapple with is this: How do I help my surviving children? We want to support them well, but sometimes we’re met with silence or withdrawal. It can feel like we’re walking blind through their grief. That’s why I’m so honored—and genuinely excited—to share this episode with you today.

In this important conversation, I’m joined by Bobby and Gabby, a father-in-law and daughter-in-law who have each experienced the loss of not just one, but two siblings. With honesty, faith, and compassion, they invite us into their stories—stories marked by sudden loss, complicated family dynamics, delayed grief, and eventually, renewed hope.

Together, Bobby and Gabby talk about:

• Why surviving siblings may struggle to talk to their parents
• How grief changes over time, especially as siblings mature
• The impact of loss on their relationships with their parents
• How their own faith has been both tested and strengthened
• Practical ways parents can support their children through sibling loss

They also share about the ministry they co-lead: Sibling Lifeline, a retreat-based community that brings adult grieving siblings together for connection, healing, and hope. The work they’re doing is so needed—and I believe you’ll finish this episode feeling both better equipped and more hopeful as a parent.

Whether you’re longing to understand your child’s grief, or you’ve experienced sibling loss yourself, this conversation will speak to your heart. 

Links from the Episode:

• Sibling Lifeline Website
• Sibling Lifeline on Facebook
• Sibling Lifeline on Instagram

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! ~Jill

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry. 

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at:  [email protected] 

I'm so pleased today to be joined by Clarissa Moll—an award-winning writer, podcaster, and author of the bestselling book Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living with Grief and Thriving After Loss.  While Clarissa is not a grieving parent, I invited her to the show because of the practical insights she offers about parenting grieving children. 

In this episode, she shares her personal journey as a widow and how she’s found hope and healing through faith, community, and creativity.  Her wisdom, born from walking alongside her own children through loss, speaks directly to the challenges many of us face as we support our kids through heartbreak.

Clarissa shares the inspiration behind her newest book for children, Hope Comes to Stay, a gentle and beautifully written story that helps young readers understand and process grief. If you’re a parent navigating your own sorrow while trying to care for your child’s heart, this conversation will offer comfort, language, and hope.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Clarissa’s journey after the sudden death of her husband
• How Beyond the Darkness offers practical, compassionate help for grieving hearts
• What it means to parent children who grieve
• Tools and language to help kids process loss
• The inspiration behind her new children’s book, Hope Comes to Stay
• How faith and lament can live side by side
• What flourishing after loss can look like for families

Whether you’re grieving yourself or walking alongside your children in their grief, Clarissa offers a tender reminder that healing is possible—and that you’re not alone on this journey.

Resources Mentioned:

• Beyond the Darkness by Clarissa Moll
• Hope Comes to Stay (Clarissa’s new children’s book)
• Hurt Help Hope (Clariss'a book written with her teen daughter, Fiona)
• Clarissa’s website

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! ~Jill

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry. 

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at:  [email protected] 

In this second half of my conversation with Katy Bone, we explore how grief has not only reshaped her life, but also refined her faith and revealed a deeper sense of purpose. Nearly six years after her son Barrett went to heaven, Katy reflects on the ways his short life continues to make an impact.

Katy shares how her grief has evolved over time—from the early days of guilt and resistance to joy, to a place of acceptance where sorrow and hope coexist. She speaks candidly about her struggle with faith in the wake of loss, her anger toward God, and how He patiently met her in every question, every tear, and every step toward healing.

We also talk about Blessings for Barrett, the nonprofit Katy and her husband founded to honor Barrett’s legacy by supporting grieving siblings. Through thoughtfully curated care boxes and a newly released children’s book, their ministry is reaching surviving siblings across the country with the important message: You are not alone.

This episode is a powerful testament to how God brings beauty from ashes—and how even in our deepest pain, He can redeem and restore.

Topics Covered:

• How grief changes over time
• Giving yourself grace in the healing process
• Faith, doubt, and honesty with God after loss
• Supporting grieving siblings through their nonprofit ministry Blessings for Barrett
• Katy’s new children’s book, Buzzy the Bee
• Worship music as a companion in grief

Connect with Katy:
🌐 Blessings for Barrett
📘 Buzzy the Bee and Buzzy the Bee Coloring Book

Be sure to check out Part One of Katy’s story if you haven’t already (linked HERE), and share this conversation with someone who needs to be reminded that God is near in the midst of grief.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! ~Jill

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry. 

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at:  [email protected] 

In today's episode, I’m joined by my new friend Katy Bone, a wife and mother whose story is marked by both profound loss and enduring hope. In this first part of our conversation, Katy shares the early chapters of her motherhood journey—beginning with the heartbreaking miscarriage of her first son, whom she affectionately nicknamed “Little Bit.” She speaks about the grief that followed, the anxiety of pregnancy after loss, and the joy of welcoming her daughter Poppy.

Katy then invites us into the story of her son Barrett. From a concerning 20-week ultrasound to a complicated delivery and three challenging weeks in the NICU, Katy and her husband walked through a season of emotional whiplash—clinging to hope, praying for healing, and ultimately facing Barrett's homegoing.

Through it all, Katy’s faith shines. She shares how the love of family, the compassion of medical staff, and the promises of Scripture sustained her through the hardest days of her life. This episode is a powerful testament to the strength of a mother’s love and the unwavering presence of God in the midst of suffering.

Topics Covered:

• Miscarriage and pregnancy after loss
• Choosing Barrett's name
• Complications during pregnancy and delivery
• Life in the NICU and the emotional toll of uncertainty
• Barrett’s diagnosis and their final days together
• Making precious memories in the midst of grief
• The nearness of God in deep sorrow

Scriptures Mentioned:

• John 11:35 – “Jesus wept.”
• Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Connect with Katy:
🌐 Blessings for Barrett

In next week's episode, we’ll continue our conversation as Katy reflects on how grief has shaped her over the past six years—how it’s changed her identity, her faith, and even her career path. She also shares the beautiful ways Barrett’s legacy lives on through their nonprofit ministry, Blessings for Barrett, which brings hope and comfort to grieving siblings across the country.  Be sure to subscribe or follow so you don't miss an episode of the While We're Waiting podcast!

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! ~Jill

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry. 

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at:  [email protected] 

Welcome back to the second half of my conversation with Greg and Cathy Buffkin.

In today's episode, the Buffkins speak directly to the grieving parent—especially the one who has lost a child to suicide and is wondering how to take the next breath, let alone the next step. With transparency and tenderness, they offer hard-won wisdom from their own journey, sharing what sustained them through the darkest days and how God’s presence, along with the support of others, helped carry them forward.

They share honestly about the emotional weight of guilt, the unique struggles of grieving as a couple, and the often-overlooked pain of surviving siblings. They also introduce us to their beautiful ministry, The Empty Chair Endeavor, and the purpose it’s brought in the wake of devastating loss.

This episode is filled with insight, encouragement, and a message of enduring hope for anyone navigating the deep waters of grief.

Click HERE to listen to the first half of my conversation with the Buffkins.

Click HERE to listen to the Empty Chair Endeavor podcast with Greg Buffkin.  

Click HERE to visit the Empty Chair Endeavor website, and HERE to follow their Facebook page.  

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! ~Jill

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry. 

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at:  [email protected] 

Greg and Cathy Buffkin join me on the podcast today to share the story of their son Ryan—a funny and tenderhearted young man who brought joy and laughter to everyone around him. As we get to know Ryan through their memories, we also learn about the hidden struggles he carried and the heartbreaking loss they experienced when he died by suicide in the fall of 2015.

With honesty and grace, Greg and Cathy open up about the complicated grief that comes with suicide loss, including the misconceptions that often surround it. They speak directly to the false belief that suicide is the unforgivable sin, offering reassurance that Ryan knew the Lord and is with Him now. Our conversation is both tender and powerful, offering hope, truth, and the comforting reminder that God’s love never lets go—even in our deepest sorrow.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Stories of Ryan’s life and personality
• The events leading up to his death
• The discovery of deeply painful truths after his passing
• How Greg and Kathy have processed their grief over the past ten years
• The impact of sibling loss on their surviving daughter
• Gentle, faith-filled advice for parents grieving a suicide
• A reminder that God’s love reaches even into our darkest places

This episode is tender, honest, and full of hope. If you’ve lost a child—or know someone who has—Greg and Cathy’s story will remind you that you are not alone and that God is present, even in the pain.

Resources & Links:

• While We’re Waiting – Support for bereaved parents
• Scripture References:
  • Romans 8:1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
  • Romans 8:38-39 – “Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
  • Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”

Connect with Us:

• Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode
• Leave a review to help others find hope
• Visit whilewerewaiting.org to learn more about our ministry for bereaved parents
• Come back next week to hear the rest of the Buffkins' story

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! ~Jill

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry. 

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at:  [email protected] 

Rachel Wojo is my guest once again, and today we shift from her story of parenting her daughter Taylor through a terminal illness to the deeper spiritual lessons that followed her death—lessons about grief, surrender, and the hard, holy work of prayer when God’s answer is “no.”

Rachel shares the story behind her latest book, Desperate Prayers, and talks honestly about wrestling with God, receiving painful judgment from others, and redefining what healing really means. We also explore how prayer connects us to God in the midst of spiritual warfare and how—even when words fail—God hears the cries of our hearts.

Rachel’s story offers not only honest insight but deep encouragement for those walking through grief. Whether you’re wrestling with God, struggling to pray, or simply trying to make it through the day, I believe her words will meet you where you are.

Listen to the first half of our conversation HERE.  

Connect with Rachel:
🌐 DesperatePrayers.com
🎙️ Untangling Prayer with Rachel Wojo Podcast
📘 Book: Desperate Prayers

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! ~Jill

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry. 

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at:  [email protected]