I so enjoyed chatting with Erica McAfee founder and podcast host at Sisters in Loss. Our conversation explores the racial disparities in our healthcare system that lead to vastly disproportionate rates of stillbirth and maternal mortality. To learn more about Erica’s work and the Sister’s in Loss podcast visit them on Instagram @sistersinloss

We are starting off Season Three of the Mourning Dove with a conversation with App creator Reid Peterson! Reid discovered that nature and meditation helped him find comfort while grieving. These discoveries led Reid to create the App “Grief Refuge”.  In this episode, we chat about Reid’s grief journey as well as his insights on surviving great loss. I highly encourage listeners to check out the beautiful Grief Refuge app as well as their Instagram @griefrefugeapp www.instagram.com/griefrefugeapp/ you can also visit their website www.griefrefuge.com To share your story and engage with the podcast add us on Instagram @mourningdovepod

I have been honored to host so many beautiful and heartbreaking stories this Season. To all my guests thank you so much for sharing your heart, your loved one and your insights on grief.

Today I am honored to share my conversation with Claudia mother to Andrew whose precious life was only with us for 3 weeks. Claudia’s faith and spirituality has played a big role in her grieving, and despite the tragedy of losing her son she still holds a space for hope. You can learn more about Claudia and connect with her on Instagram @claudiavilla10

I am honored to share my conversation with Michelle Vande Hey creator of Light of Love Coaching. Michelle’s grief journey began in her teenage years when she learned she would not be able to have biological children. Michelle went on to adopt two babies and learned that her second child had a brain injury at birth. James died very suddenly in infancy.  Michelle’s grief journey led her to pursue health and coaching and she eventually became a life coach. In our conversation, we chat about the identity shifts that often occur in grief. We also discuss coping mechanisms and the importance of physical health.  To learn more about Michelle you can find her on Instagram @michellevandehey and here https://linktr.ee/michellevandehey Share your story! email me [email protected] Follow along on Instagram @mourningdovepod

Dr Julie Shaw is the creator of Hello I’m Grieving, a grief visibility and awareness brand. Julie’s sister died from complications with lupus in 2020. In our conversation Julie shares her grief journey and insights surrounding grief. I know our conversation will bring hope and encouragement as we talk about what it really means to find acceptance and the importance of self love.

As the year comes to a close I want you to congratulate yourself on surviving year of grief. Maybe you lost your person this year. Maybe you are processing multiple losses. Maybe you are feeling the weight of another year missing your person. Wherever you are at I want to encourage you. You have made it through the year and though you may not feel like it, you are standing strong. Let’s finish out this year together and connect with our person as we set intentions for 2022 while affirming ourselves for 2021.

Self Care and Self Love after loss can be so difficult to achieve and yet it is such an important part of the healing process. In order to love and accept ourselves, we need to give ourselves grace. Amy's story and her mission to help women in life after loss is a beautiful example of making friends with grief, and living in self-acceptance.  Amy is a grief and pregnancy after loss coach. She is a mother to six living children and two angel babies; Lauren and River. I am delighted to share Amy's Insights on grief and I know that our conversation will spark healing for many.  To learn more about Amy and her coaching you can visit her website www.smoothstonescoaching.com  and add her on Instagram @amy.smoothstonescoaching

Eileen Robertson Hamra is the Author of Time to Fly, a memoir in which Eileen shares her journey mourning the loss of her husband Brian. I know our conversation will bring encouragement and hope as we chat about parenting after loss, grief in children, and other insights in mourning.  Reality, as Eileen Robertson Hamra perceived it, instantaneously altered the moment authorities confirmed that the plane her husband was piloting had crashed, and he had not survived. In the process of mourning her loss, with three young children in tow, where Eileen wandered and landed was nothing short of miraculous. Between the valleys of grief and the peaks of hope, she discovered that keeping promises to those that have left this world is a lifelong act, and honoring one love does not mean foregoing the freedom and joy that is found in reopening your heart, trusting in new love, and expanding your definition of family. Her book, Time to Fly, shares her story, her insights and more.  To learn more about Eileen you can visit her personal website www.eileenrobertsonhamra.com and add her on Instagram @eileenrhamra  To learn more about her work visit Fittogetherllc.com

I am honored to share my conversation with Reyna about the loss of her son Weston. Reyna and I share many similarities in our stories and our grief journeys. Reyna shares her experience in her blog and has connected with other loss moms on Instagram. Her work aims at de-stigmatizing baby loss and helping other women feel less alone.  To learn more about Reyna visit her blog www.thebabylossdiary.com/home and on Instagram @reyyy____ To learn more about the Mourning Dove and engage with our grief community add us on Instagram @mourningdovepod