Hope After Child & Sibling Loss: An Empty Chair Endeavor Podcast

What happens to a parent’s faith after losing a child? Sandy Cooper shares her deeply personal journey after the sudden death of her nine-month-old son, Noah. We talk honestly about child-loss grief, the shock and confusion that follow, anger and questions about God, and learning to live when life is forever changed.

Sandy also shares what helped her survive those first days and months, what grieving parents need from family a...

A 21-year-old newlywed. Ovarian cancer. A mother watching the unthinkable unfold while trying to keep breathing. I’m joined by Jeanette Henning as she tells the story of her daughter, Melissa Camp, who died in February 2001 just three months after marrying Christian music artist Jeremy Camp. The details are tender and raw: the surprises in the hospital, the moments that felt like miracles, and the shock of realizing that even...

One minute you’re talking in the driveway, and the next minute your whole life splits into before and after. Sharon Hawkins joins us to tell the story of her son Bradley, a larger-than-life 21-year-old with a contagious laugh, an Eagle Scout’s grit, and a heart that kept pulling toward home. She also shares the moment that still feels unreal: Bradley’s sudden death after a skateboarding fall, and the blessing of a...

Thirteen days can change an entire family’s history. We sit down with Cheri Fletcher to remember her daughter Annie, a 29-year-old singer-songwriter, social worker, and photographer whose sudden decline ended in an unthinkable goodbye. With honesty and tenderness, Cheri walks us through what it’s like to lose an adult child to an aggressive cancer she did not even know was there, and how shock lingers long after the hos...

How do you keep going after losing a child—and what happens when a family experiences that loss more than once?

Roxanne Hutchison shares the extraordinary story of losing three of her children and, later, her son-in-law. We talk about stillbirth, child-loss grief, the impact of repeated loss on marriage and family, anger and questions about God, and what it means to rebuild trust in God when life feels unbearably broken.

Roxann...

What does grief look like 17 years after losing a child?

Ron and Nan Deal share the story of losing their 12-year-old son, Connor, and what years of child-loss grief have taught them about love, memory, grief triggers and learning to live after the death of a child.

We talk about the long-term nature of grief, the ways loss continues to affect a family, and how parents can carry the memory of their child while continuing to build a l...

What happens after the sudden death of a child? Linda Stirling knows that journey firsthand after losing her 19-year-old son, Jeff, in an airplane crash.

In this conversation, Linda shares what sudden child loss feels like in the days, weeks and months that follow—including the shock, guilt, regret and loneliness that can remain long after the funeral. We also talk about what to say to a grieving parent, what not to say, how f...

A midnight knock can split your life in two. Diane Grotberg remembers the moment two sheriff’s deputies told her their 19-year-old son, David, was dead, and how the first thing she felt was that everything had changed forever. David was a Baylor University sophomore, a gifted musician and friend, and a young man whose faith and compassion had already shaped people far beyond his hometown in Minnesota.

We walk through t...

Miscarriage can shatter your world in minutes, and sometimes it happens in a place you never expected. I sit down with Samantha Watson, a military wife and mom, as she tells the story of her 2015 pregnancy loss while stationed far from family and still building community. She shares the moment joy turned to grief, the trauma surrounding the miscarriage, and the faith in Jesus Christ that held her up when she had no strength left.

A teen can look like he is just “being a teenager” while he is privately fighting for his life. We talk with Todd and Melissa Shaffer about the loss of their 18-year-old son, Tristan, to suicide after a long, confusing road that included isolation, anger, depression, and warning signs nobody around them could clearly name. Their story is honest about what it feels like to miss what you did not know how to see, and what ...

What is it like to grieve the suicide of a son? Anne Starke shares the story of losing her 16-year-old son, David, and the grief, questions, guilt and depression that followed.

We talk about suicide-loss grief, the questions parents carry after a child’s suicide, the impact of depression, the isolation that grieving families can experience, and the difficult journey of finding hope again.

For parents grieving a suicide loss&mda...

The phone call changes everything. One minute you’re living a normal week, and the next you’re racing toward tests, scans, and words like “concerning” and “brain tumor.” I’m joined by Billy and Julie Melton to remember their daughter Juliana, a newlywed with a contagious laugh, a love for people, and a faith that stayed steady through a long, painful 16-month cancer fight that ended on Vale...

A father checks “Find My iPhone” and realizes the unthinkable might be true. From that moment, Doug Schneider’s world changes forever. Doug joins me, Greg Buffkin, to tell the story of his daughter Micaela, a recent college graduate who landed her dream job at Warner Brothers, loved adventure, and wanted to be a light for Jesus in the entertainment industry. What follows is an honest conversation about child loss,...

Jodi Snowdon is an author, podcaster, and speaker who serves women through her podcast, Depth, and her blog, Heartbreak to Strength. In August 2022, she released her first book, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength. Having walked through multiple heartbreaks (divorce, miscarriage, & cancer), Jodi now inspires women to grow deeper in their faith and to find hope, joy, and purpose through their unexpected storms. She lig...

In this transparent and hope-filled conversation, Carol Brown shares her journey of grief after the tragic loss of her precious 29 year old daughter Jackie, who was a dedicated teacher and a bright light in the lives of many. Carol reflects on the impact of grief on her life, the importance of community support, and the lessons she learned about faith and God through her experience. She emphasizes the need for open conversation...

On this episode, Karen McCord shares her profound experience with grief, following the loss of her daughter Carley, a well known ESPN sports reporter, in a tragic plane crash while traveling to cover the Atlanta Peach Bowl in December 2019. Karen reflects on both the personal and public aspects of her journey through grief, the impact of her daughter's life, and the haunting thoughts she sometimes experienced about outliving Carley...

In this heartfelt episode, Greg Buffkin welcomes Ron Deal from FamilyLife to discuss the profound journey of grief following the loss of his precious son Conner. Ron shares his personal story of losing Connor to a sudden, tragic medical complication, emphasizing the importance of not wasting pain and using it to help others. The conversation delves into the duality of grief, represented by the metaphor of two rails: one of pain and...

In this hope filled conversation, author and speaker Angie Ford-Green shares her journey of grief after the loss of her son, Kevin in a surfing tragedy. She reflects on the profound impact of his life and death on her identity, her marriage, and her family. Angie emphasizes the importance of community, faith, and the need to embrace grief while also finding hope and purpose in life after loss. Through her personal experiences and i...

In this heartfelt conversation, Janet Boxx shares her profound journey through grief after experiencing the loss of her son through stillbirth and later, the tragic loss of two daughters in a car accident. You’ll hear us talk about how she’s continuing to navigate the messiness and complexity of grief, as well as cultural misunderstandings surrounding it, and the importance of community support. Janet emphasizes that he...