Coping with Loss of Twin Sister to Addiction and Having a Spouse Deployed with KARI HEAPS

Kari is a wife, mother of two young children, and an adjunct instructor in the department of Filmmaking, Art & Design at Southern Utah University. Today Kari shares about her husband's recent deployment to Africa where he will serve for the next nine months and how she and her kids are adjusting to him being away. She then shares about the tragic passing of her twin sister Kristi to a heroine overdose eight years ago. She shares how she has coped with this heartbreaking loss, lessons she's learned, advice for listeners, and how the major life transitions she's been through have come together in her life today.

 

Kari is fun, wise and thoughtful and we're so grateful she was so open and vulnerable in sharing her touching story. She shares so much we can all learn from. 

 

Find Kari on Instagram @karibethheaps

 

Second Chance 5k is the nonprofit founded in memory of Kari's twin sister Kristi, created by their older sister Holly Wever (Holly was also on our podcast!). This year's event is coming up April 20th in Las Vegas. Its purpose is to connect communities affected by substance use disorders and celebrate second chances for those in recovery. Visit their Instagram page @secondchance5k or website secondchance5k.org to register, for ways to donate, and get involved.

 

Make sure to check out Kari's amazing older sister Holly Wever's episode on our podcast last year, as well as their incredible mother Karen Cushenberry. Both share their powerful perspectives and stories.

 

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We hope you enjoyed this conversation. We'd love if you'd subscribe wherever you listen and follow along. You can find us on Instagram @beautifulshifts_podcast and on Facebook where you can find more on the show, our guests, and more. 

 

Thank you for listening!