I know from the title this sounds like a major downer of an episode, but I assure you it's not. Joel and Samantha Brandt have walked through heartache few of us know but their hope, faith, and joy overflow in our conversation together. When pregnant with their first child, Joel and Samantha learned at the anatomy scan that their daughter was diagnosed with Trisomy 18. Delivered at 38 weeks after her heart stopped beating, the Brandts held Reagan for the first and last time. Grieving their loss while hoping to still add to their family, Joel and Samantha tried to get pregnant again for a year and, for still unknown reasons, were not able to conceive. They turned to the adoption process to help create their family and were excited to bring home son, Tucker Cole, in early January 2017. In this podcast, you'll hear from both Joel and Samantha as they share their story of loss and hope. And you'll hear little Tucker chime in at one point! Their waiting arms are now filled with a gift from the Lord.
Resources mentioned:
After years of sending her husband off to work as a fireman, Nancy and Mike Lamont, were anticipating a new season in their life together when Mike retired. Sadly, that didn't come to fruition as Mike was diagnosed and passed away from pancreatic cancer shortly after retiring. Nancy was thrust into a new life she didn't expect when she became a widow. Listen to Nancy share her story of allowing God to create something new with the scattered pieces of her life after this loss. Nancy's shares from a place of honesty, vulnerability, and deep wisdom. I think you'll walk away feeling blessed by Nancy's story of hope.
Resources Nancy mentioned in this episode:
Books:
"Healing After Loss" Martha Whitmore Hickman
"A Grace Disguised" Jerry Sittser
On-line Support Groups:
"Widow's Christian Place"
Facebook page "One Fit Widow"
Live Support:
"GriefShare"
"Grief Recovery"