For Those We Lost

Episode 26. Deidre in OklahomaIn this episode, I will be talking with Deidre in Oklahoma. Deidre lost her parents to COVID just 16 days apart. Her stepfather, Asa died on December 27, 2020 and her mom, Catherine passed away on January 13, 2021. She was able to be with both of her parents when they passed away and talks a lot about the difficulties of losing them and how isolated she felt. When we finished recording, Deidre sent me a beautiful email about her parents and all the things she thought to say afterward. I've included that email text below. Her parents obituaries:Catherine Lewis DouglasAsa Bartlett Douglas In America flags COVID Survivors for Change even in Wash DC Oklahoma Yellow Heart Memorial and YHM in general Rami's Heart For context on this interview and the ever-changing pandemic, we recorded this episode on April 12, 2022.Deidre's email about her parents: MY MOM was the best Mom ever. My best friend. She could never be serious for too long, because she’d crack up laughing at herself. Her giggle was so contagious and she was one of the most empathetic people I’ve ever known. She connected deeply with people - the gift of gab with a special something extra that made her unforgettable. MY STEPDAD was a oil man by trade at the end, but foremost and originally he was an artist. I helped him and my mom run a screen printing shop together for awhile when I was a teenager… doing T-shirts, promotional items and signs. He always claimed me as his own. He didn’t have to, but he did. I’ll always be grateful for that.MOURNING THEM both has been difficult. Going through their clothes was probably one of the hardest sorting tasks. I knew all of their clothes. Remembered what they looked like in each outfit and item. I couldn’t help but hug some of the outfits as they hung from the hanger in the closet. I suppose it was a way to get one last semblance of their arms around me. There will always be a hole in my life where they should be, where their stories should have continued.------------If you've lost a loved one to COVID and would like to share your story on the show, please send me an email.  My email address is forthosewelostpodcast@gmail.com. Or go to the website forthosewelostpodcast.com and click on contact button and you can reach me that way as well. This show won't ever have a paid members area or episodes you have to pay to listen to, but there are expenses with hosting a podcast. If you would like to help, please support the show.  All episodes are written and produced by me and all music is used under the protection of fair use. Our social media accounts can be found:TwitterInstagram Facebook Until next time!---Long Road Ahead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100588Artist: http://incompetech.com/Support the show

Episode 25. Debra in FloridaIn this episode, I will be talking with Debra in Florida. Debra lost her brother, Bobby, to COVID on April 29, 2020. Bobby was born intellectually disabled and so even though he was 55 when he passed away, Debra describes him as very much a big kid. He had a caring nature and lived in the moment. Debra misses him so deeply and you can feel her love for her brother as she talks about him. Debra's grief over losing Bobby is profound and after some dark months, she found a COVID support group and that led her to the Yellow Heart Memorial. Debra heads up the Florida chapter of the Yellow Heart Memorial and has a physical memorial of names at the Crystal River mall. You can submit your loved one's name using the link below. Debra also founded a non-profit called Bobby's Bikes where they give away bikes to kids. Bobby was a generous soul and Debra is carrying on his giving spirit.Yellow Heart Memorial main site Yellow Heart Memorial Crystal River, Florida Google form to share a name with the Florida YHM Bobby's Bikes Savannah Smiles Foundation COVID Survivors for Change For context on this interview and the ever-changing pandemic, we recorded this episode on March 15, 2022.If you've lost a loved one to COVID and would like to share your story on the show, please send me an email.  My email address is forthosewelostpodcast@gmail.com. Or go to the website forthosewelostpodcast.com and click on contact button and you can reach me that way as well. This show won't ever have a paid members area or episodes you have to pay to listen to, but there are expenses with hosting a podcast. If you would like to help, please support the show.  All episodes are written and produced by me and all music is used under the protection of fair use. Our social media accounts can be found:Twitter:   twitter.com/forthosewelostpInstagram: instagram.com/forthosewelostpodcastFacebook: facebook.com/forthosewelostpodcastUntil next time!Support the show

Episode 24. Joanie in ArizonaIn this episode, I will be talking with Joanie in Colorado. Joanie lost her son, Alexander Hanson-Bain, on February 7, 2020. Alex developed a cough and told his mom he'd be fine, but within a week of falling ill, he'd passed away. There were only early rumblings of the "coronavirus" when Alex died, but Joanie spoke to his doctors and hindsight points COVID as his cause of death. She will never have all the answers, but Joanie has found support in her faith and the COVID community. Alex survived cancer as a child and in this episode, you can tell that Joanie had a special bond with Alex.  Joanie mentions her Instagram account where she posts about her grief journey.  That link is: https://www.instagram.com/qnckgrl_mypostalexjourney/Rami's Heart COVID-19 MemorialInAmerica Flags installation in Washington , DCFor context on this interview and the ever-changing pandemic, we recorded this episode on March 9, 2022.If you've lost a loved one to COVID and would like to share your story on the show, please send me an email.  My email address is forthosewelostpodcast@gmail.com. Or go to the website forthosewelostpodcast.com and click on contact button and you can reach me that way as well. This show won't ever have a paid members area or episodes you have to pay to listen to, but there are expenses with hosting a podcast. If you would like to help, please support the show. All episodes are written and produced by me and all music is used under the protection of fair use. Our social media accounts can be found:Twitter:   twitter.com/forthosewelostpInstagram: instagram.com/forthosewelostpodcastFacebook: facebook.com/forthosewelostpodcastUntil next time!---Long Road Ahead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100588Artist: http://incompetech.com/Support the show

Episode 23. Kim in GeorgiaIn this episode, I will be talking with Kim in Georgia. Kim lost her husband, Mike, on June 10, 2021. Mike battled COVID for seven weeks and was on a ventilator for a time and then taken off and eventually had to be re-intubated. When he was off the ventilator the first time, Mike asked Kim if he died and went to heaven. He told her he visited heaven and he saw his grandparents, his parents and her grandparents and he even told her of a meeting a grandchild that hadn't been conceived yet. She learned of that new grandchild after Miked died.The story Kim tells of Mike's life and his visit to heaven and his own knowing that he was going to die is extremely emotional and I hope it can provide everyone listening with some hope and peace. Kim told me after we recorded that she will never find another love like Mike. He was her one, but she also said that she is healing and that beauty can come from the ashes. InAmerica Flags installationRami's Heart COVID-19 Memorial The Frontline Families Fund information, though the application period ended on December 31, 2021 Information on FEMA's funeral assistanceFor context on this interview and the ever-changing pandemic, we recorded this episode on January 23, 2022.If you've lost a loved one to COVID and would like to share your story on the show, please send me an email.  My email address is forthosewelostpodcast@gmail.com. Or go to the website forthosewelostpodcast.com and click on contact button and you can reach me that way as well. This show won't ever have a paid members area or episodes you have to pay to listen to, but there are expenses with hosting a podcast. If you would like to help, please support the show. All episodes are written and produced by me and all music is used under the protection of fair use. Our social media accounts can be found:Twitter:   twitter.com/forthosewelostpInstagram: instagram.com/forthosewelostpodcastFacebook: facebook.com/forthosewelostpodcastUntil next time!Support the show

Episode 22. Bianca in CaliforniaIn this episode, I will be talking with Bianca in California. Bianca lost her father, Anthony Faddis, to COVID in April 29, 2021. In episode 13, Nora in California told the story of losing her dad on April 29, 2021 and how on the same day her father-in-law also passed away from COVID. Bianca is Nora's sister-in-law and this episode is Bianca's story of losing her father. Bianca's dad faced a lot of trials in his life, including being homeless for a time, but he always kept his sense of humor. In the years before the pandemic he found stability in rural northern California. Bianca takes so much care in talking about her relationship with her dad and why she feels his loss to acutely. She also talks about the legal struggles she has trying to find a lawyer to investigate her father's death and the days leading up to it.Legal MatchEpisode 13: Nora in California For context on this interview and the ever-changing pandemic, we recorded this episode on January 17, 2022.If you've lost a loved one to COVID and would like to share your story on the show, please send me an email.  My email address is forthosewelostpodcast@gmail.com. Or go to the website forthosewelostpodcast.com and click on contact button and you can reach me that way as well. This show won't ever have a paid members area or episodes you have to pay to listen to, but there are expenses with hosting a podcast. If you would like to help, please support the show. All episodes are written and produced by me and all music is used under the protection of fair use. Our social media accounts can be found:Twitter:   twitter.com/forthosewelostpInstagram: instagram.com/forthosewelostpodcastFacebook: facebook.com/forthosewelostpodcastUntil next time!---Long Road Ahead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100588Artist: http://incompetech.com/Support the show

Episode 21. Allison in MarylandIn this episode, I will be talking with Allison in Maryland. Allison lost her parents to COVID in the summer of 2020. Her mom Terry passed away on July 30 and her father Kenneth passed away just five days later on August 4. Allison lives in Maryland and her parents lived in South Carolina, in the family home that Allison grew up in. Her parents had their own health issues, her dad had just been diagnosed with dementia and they had medical visits they needed to go out for. Allison talks about her grief and her regrets at how her parents died, but she's also coping by sharing her story with others. She is a volunteer through the Yellow Heart Memorial and she was a volunteer at the In America Flags installation last fall in Washington DC. Yellow heart memorial The In America flags that were in Washington, DC in September 2021For context on this interview and the ever-changing pandemic, we recorded this episode on January 7, 2022.If you've lost a loved one to COVID and would like to share your story on the show, please send me an email.  My email address is forthosewelostpodcast@gmail.com. Or go to the website forthosewelostpodcast.com and click on contact button and you can reach me that way as well. If you would like to support the show, please visit this link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/forthosewelostAll episodes are written and produced by me and all music is used under the protection of fair use. Our social media accounts can be found:Twitter:   twitter.com/forthosewelostpInstagram: instagram.com/forthosewelostpodcastFacebook: facebook.com/forthosewelostpodcastUntil next time!---Long Road Ahead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100588Artist: http://incompetech.com/Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/forthosewelost)

Episode 20. Laura in MissouriIn this episode, I talk with Laura in Missouri. Laura lost her mom to COVID in October 2021. Laura reached out to me via email and she said she wanted to tell her mom's story to share the humanity behind the pandemic. Laura's mom, Julie Yepsen, was a wife for over 40 years, she was a mother and she was Grandma Julie to her six grandkids. She was a giving, caring human and she died of COVID during a time in our history when her choices could be questioned. This episode is Laura's beautiful tribute to her mother and also a loving way for her to reach out to others who might be grieving alone. When we recorded this episode and in the weeks before it was live, thousands upon thousands of people died of COVID. Each one of them had a family who loves them and grieves their loss. And those family members are now part of our COVID grief community. I don't want them to grieve in isolation. Laura decided to share her mother's story rather than grieve quietly and feeling alone.  I've included some links on COVID grief and isolation. I've also included the links to information on the national movement to make a COVID memorial day a reality. And finally a link to the bladder disease Laura's mom had. The Atlantic article on secret griefAn NPR article on stigmatized COVID griefCOVID Memorial Day informationInterstitial CystitisFor context on this interview and the ever-changing pandemic, we recorded this episode on February 16, 2022.If you've lost a loved one to COVID and would like to share your story on the show, please send me an email.  My email address is forthosewelostpodcast@gmail.com. Or go to the website forthosewelostpodcast.com and click on contact button and you can reach me that way as well. If you would like to support the show, please visit this link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/forthosewelostAll episodes are written and produced by me and all music is used under the protection of fair use. Our social media accounts can be found:Twitter:   twitter.com/forthosewelostpInstagram: instagram.com/forthosewelostpodcastFacebook: facebook.com/forthosewelostpodcastUntil next time!---Long Road Ahead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100588Artist: http://incompetech.com/Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/forthosewelost)

Episode 19. Jerri in West VirginiaIn this episode, I talk with Jerri in West Virginia. Jerri lost her husband, James, to COVID pneumonia on January 1, 2021 and just six weeks later she lost her mother-in-law also to COVID. Jerri has two girls and they lost their dad and their grandma within six week of each other. Jerri's husband James was a retired marine and was a police officer in their small town and her story of how the police honored James is moving. As Jerri says, James was a home town hero and everybody knew him. Even the people he'd arrested sent their condolences.  Jerri became active in the COVID advocacy community with COVID survivors for Change. She was also featured on Yahoo news, CBS news and the Stolen Goodbyes podcast. Currently, Jerri is an admin of a COVID young widows FB group so if you listen to this episode and you are a young COVID widow, Jerri can help. Finally, I've included a link to the Comfort Zone grief camp her girls attended last summer.  Jerri on Yahoo News Jerri on MSN Jerri on CBS News WRGB AlbanyJerri's Stolen Goodbyes podcast episodeThe Young Widows and Widowers of COVID-19 Facebook groupComfort Zone Camp For context on this interview and the ever-changing pandemic, we recorded this episode on December 30, 2021. Just a couple of days before the one year anniversary of James's passing. If you've lost a loved one to COVID and would like to share your story on the show, please send me an email.  My email address is forthosewelostpodcast@gmail.com. Or go to the website forthosewelostpodcast.com and click on contact button and you can reach me that way as well. This show won't ever have a paid members area or episodes you have to pay to listen to, but there are expenses with hosting a podcast. If you would like to help, please support the show.  All episodes are written and produced by me and all music is used under the protection of fair use. Our social media accounts can be found:Twitter:   twitter.com/forthosewelostpInstagram: instagram.com/forthosewelostpodcastFacebook: facebook.com/forthosewelostpodcastUntil next time!---Long Road Ahead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100588Artist: http://incompetech.com/Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/forthosewelost)

Episode 18. Sara in PennsylvaniaIn this episode, I will be talking with Sara in Pennsylvania. Sara and her family were exposed to H1N1 years ago and since then, they have been navigating complex medical auto immune issues. Because of this, Sara and her husband had their eye on the news when word of what we now call COVID19 first started popping up in Wuhan, China. Sara and her family decided to "close their doors" a few weeks before the United States, but she also acknowledged that with her family's immune compromised status, she may lose people she loved. Her parents got COVID in November of 2020 and her father passed away on December 2, 2020. Sara is an amazing storyteller and she tell she family's story so beautifully. The love she has for her father shines through in each word. Sara also talks about the various medical issues her family faces now and the issues her father overcame during his life. Information on Churg-Strauss syndrome,  and if you'd like to make a donation in her father's name, his name is Andy Rotman-Zaid.Information on POTS Syndrome Right to Health Action Information on Long COVID and a list of symptoms People's Pandemic Prevention PlanYellow Heart MemorialSara mentioned on Rachel MaddowCOVID cross stitch memorialDysautonomia Foundation For context on this interview and the ever-changing pandemic, we recorded this episode on December 27, 2021. If you've lost a loved one to COVID and would like to share your story on the show, please send me an email.  My email address is forthosewelostpodcast@gmail.com. Or go to the website forthosewelostpodcast.com and click on contact button and you can reach me that way as well. All episodes are written and produced by me and all music is used under the protection of fair use. Our social media accounts can be found:Twitter:   twitter.com/forthosewelostpInstagram: instagram.com/forthosewelostpodcastFacebook: facebook.com/forthosewelostpodcastUntil next time!---Long Road Ahead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100588Artist: http://incompetech.com/Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/forthosewelost)

Episode 17. Lisa in NashvilleIn this episode, I will be talking with Lisa in Nashville. She relocated to Nashville from New York City in late 2019 to help her dad as he recovered from a serious illness. Lisa lived in New York City on and off for over 10 years to be near her significant other, Ben. Ben was a MTA train conductor in New York City transit authority for 22 years and he passed away of COVID on April 28, 2020, just a day after his birthday. Ben was also just one of two Orthodox Jewish subway conductors in the MTA system. He was an active member of his Brooklyn community, his Jewish community and the world of train memorabilia and knowledge.As Lisa tells their story, you understand their relationship, why she was in Nashville and how their devotion to the Jewish faith influenced the decisions they both made and how Lisa is working through Ben's loss. Like many of us, she and Ben were not together when he died.  For context on this interview and the ever-changing pandemic, we recorded this episode on December 2, 2021. Below are just some of the online articles on Ben and the other MTA workers who have passed away. One memorial website includes a poem called Travels Far by Tracy K. Smith. It goes like this:What you gave—brief tokens of regard,soft words utteredbarely heard,the smile glimpsedfrom a passing car.Through stationsand years, throughthe veined chambersof a stranger’s heart—what you gavetravels far.Here is a link to that poem: https://new.mta.info/covid-memorialHere is a selection of the news articles about Ben.https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-veteran-mta-conductor-dies-20200429-ipwcbpl5lbc35htae7klbb4gta-story.htmlhttps://brooklynreporter.com/2020/04/mta-conductor-ben-schaeffer-dies-from-covid-19/http://www.twulocal100.org/story/conductor-ben-schaeffer-be-honored-ny-transit-museum-historical-program-tuesdayIf you've lost a loved one to COVID and would like to share your story on the show, please send me an email.  My email address is forthosewelostpodcast@gmail.com. Or go to the website forthosewelostpodcast.com and click on contact button and you can reach me that way as well. All episodes are written and produced by me and all music is used under the protection of fair use. Our social media accounts can be found:Twitter:   twitter.com/forthosewelostpInstagram: instagram.com/forthosewelostpodcastFacebook: facebook.com/forthosewelostpodcastUntil next time!---Long Road Ahead by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100588Artist: http://incompetech.com/Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/forthosewelost)