RE-RELEASEChris’ brother, Derrick, was just 53 years old when he suffered a sudden stroke.While scary and unexpected, Derrick seemed to be on the mend in the hospital. Then suddenly, while still in the hospital, Derrick suffered a heart attack. Seven days later, Chris and his mom made the decision to take Derrick off of life support.Chris speaks with CJ about his brother, Derrick, and how he has had to learn how to deal with the aftermath of his brother’s death — figuring out how to come back after a life-altering event like this and learning where his inner strength comes from.While Chris realizes that in life, he and Derrick were not that close, in Derrick’s passing - he was a role model both for himself and for others. Unfortunately, he cannot share that realization with the person he wants to know the most - his brother, Derrick.We welcome your comments and feedback about the episode. Share your story or comments via email at sorrytohearpodcast@gmail.com.Instagram (@SorryToHearPod)Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcast, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, iHeartRadio, or wherever you like to listen.Hosted by: CJ

This week on Sorry To Hear That, Crystal AC Salas - poet, writer, and teacher - reflects on her Abuelito aka ‘Ito, Serafin, and her Uncle/Tío, Miguel aka Mike.Their passings were similar but different - needing family to advocate for stays in the hospital - but one was in the hospital during COVID and the other was not. Their treatment by health professionals and their ability to show them love by the family also was different.Grief is complicated, disorienting, and confusing. Crystal’s discussion with CJ definitely shows that.We welcome your comments and feedback about the episode. Share your story or comments via email at sorrytohearpodcast@gmail.com.Instagram (@SorryToHearPod)Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcast, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, iHeartRadio, or wherever you like to listen.Hosted by: CJ

CJ comes back with Season 2 of Sorry To Hear That. In the first episode of the season, CJ explores how to be curious, curiosity in grief, and what grief might be like if we put ourselves in others' shoes to better learn about ourselves on the grief journey.We welcome your comments and feedback about the episode. Share your story or comments via email at sorrytohearpodcast@gmail.com.Instagram (@SorryToHearPod)Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcast, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, iHeartRadio, or wherever you like to listen.Hosted by: CJ

Welcome to the Best Of Sorry To Hear That. While on hiatus, once a month an old episode that was most listened to will be put back in your feed to catch you up in case you missed it. This month is Chris and Derrick.Listen to his story.Chris’ brother, Derrick, was just 53 years old when he suffered a sudden stroke. While scary and unexpected, Derrick seemed to be on the mend in the hospital. Then suddenly, while still in the hospital, Derrick suffered a heart attack. Seven days later, Chris and his mom made the decision to take Derrick off of life support. Learn more at sorrytohearpodcast.com

Welcome to the Best Of Sorry To Hear That. While on hiatus, once a month an old episode that was most listened to will be put back in your feed to catch you up in case you missed it. This month is Pam and Hollis.Listen to her story.CJ Williams speaks with Pam who lost her father, Hollis, in February. Pam discusses the relationship that she has with Hollis and how they were able to more fully develop their relationship before he died. Even though Hollis wanted a more casual memorial service, Pam and her siblings decided to have a Scottish wake. Grief has surprised Pam as she adjusts to living without her father present.Learn more at sorrytohearpodcast.com

Welcome to the Best Of Sorry To Hear That. While on hiatus, once a month an old episode that was most listened to will be put back in your feed to catch you up in case you missed it. This month is Halle and Lilah, also honoring October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Listen to her story. CJ Williams speaks with Halle Marenger as she talks about her infant daughter, Lilah. While Halle had a young son at home, she and her husband were over the moon to be expecting a little girl. She would make their little family complete, especially after 3 previous miscarriages. After many challenges and seven weeks of bed rest in the hospital, little Lilah was born December 9, 2018, in an emergency C-section after she had stopped moving in utero. Barely 48 hours later, little Lilah had died, but only after a lot of love given to her from family near and far. In the wake of Lilah’s death, Halle has made advocacy around infertility, baby loss, and miscarriage a part of her mission as she shares her story with others by becoming a writer, speaker, and leader around this issue. Halle’s most recent article shares her thoughts about what Mother’s Day feels like after having experienced loss and miscarriage. Learn more at sorrytohearpodcast.com

As a podcaster, business owner, and wife, CJ Williams reflects on what this season of Sorry To Hear That has brought to enrich her life. The next season of Sorry To Hear That will have more stories and a revamp of the format to better showcase the guests and what the overall goals of the show are. Sorry To Hear That will return in early 2021. Until then, a “Best of” will be released each month - a replay of some of the best episodes. See you in 2021.Learn more about the show at sorrytohearpodcast.com

This week CJ Williams reflects on the first and second seasons of After Life, a show on Netflix that stars Ricky Gervais. He plays a character named Tony that has lost his wife, Lisa, to breast cancer. Each episode begins with Tony watching a video of Lisa where she tells him something important or gives him a reminder.The show may reflect some lived experiences in the community of grievers and those that support them. CJ discusses therapy, feelings of anger that may come out of nowhere, being spoken to by random strangers, and developing a superpower.We welcome your comments and feedback about the episode. Share your story or comments via email at sorrytohearpodcast@gmail.com.Instagram (@SorryToHearPod)Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcast, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, iHeartRadio, or wherever you like to listen.Hosted by: CJ

In this bonus episode, CJ gets to speak with Jules from the blog GotGuts08 about what it is like to lose her grandparents, not even 60 days apart, during COVID.Her grandparents, both living in Assisted Living Facilities (ALF) in South Florida had been ill for a while. Jules and her family would spend as much time as they could heading to Miami to be able to spend the time with them that they could. Even prior to COVID, there was a question of “Would this be the last time?”So after COVID placed the entire world in a different operating state, Jules and her family saw from afar first her grandmother’s decline and eventual death and then her grandfather’s.Read more about Jules' grief and loss on her blog. CJ and Jules get to talk about what grief is and what a funeral (or two) is like during COVID when social distancing and masks are the norm - not the exception.We welcome your comments and feedback about the episode. Share your story or comments via email at sorrytohearpodcast@gmail.com.Instagram (@SorryToHearPod)Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcast, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, iHeartRadio, or wherever you like to listen.Hosted by: CJ

Darcy, a huge Harry Potter fan, speaks with CJ about her dad, William, who passed away from complications with prostate cancer.William, now known as WilliMo because of an old email address, passed away and July 2020 marks 10 years.Learning what grief is and what it is not has been a large part of what Darcy has learned in the last decade.Darcy and CJ have been friends for about 9 years and they have an in-depth discussion about how Darcy’s memories of her dad both introduces CJ (and others) to WilliMo and keeps Darcy’s memory of him alive. Sort of like Luke, Thomas & Cindy, Darcy had a similar experience where leaving town created a lot of guilt and feeling like something would always happen while she was away.TO COMMEMORATE WILLIMO’S LIFETo commemorate WilliMo’s life and battle with cancer, each year Darcy and her sister do a 5K and fundraise for a cure. Unfortunately, this year that won’t be able to happen. However, donating to an awesome cancer organization of your choice and submitting your information will get you an awesome sticker in the mail.

1. Check out the organizations that Darcy suggests. Choose one of them OR find one that you support.
2. Make a donation!
3. Run/Walk a 5K in honor or in memory of someone you care about… even WilliMo!
4. Give your information to Darcy and she will send you a sticker of her original artwork.

MENTIONS

• Luna Lovegood tells Harry Potter about the Thestrals

We welcome your comments and feedback about the episode. Share your story or comments via email at sorrytohearpodcast@gmail.com.Instagram (@SorryToHearPod)Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcast, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, iHeartRadio, or wherever you like to listen.Hosted by: CJ