161: The Five Seasons of Grief after Child Loss, Part 1 (with Mitch Carmody)

The five stages of grief were not to be applied to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, but for those who have received the news they have a terminal illness. If you have been frustrated because you are not following those five steps, you will be relieved to hear about the seasons of grief which today’s guest, Mitch Carmody, shares. Mitch is a “seasoned” griever with over thirty years of experience after the death of his twin sister and her two children, as well as his young son shortly after. In today’s episode, Laura and Mitch begin by talking about having hope, and then share about two of the five seasons. Next week they will continue with the other three seasons. Mitch lost his 9-year-old son over thirty years ago. Since that time, he has done more than most to help others who are grieving deep loss, including speaking around the nation, being a grief artist, interpretive sign language, writing a book, and more. Mitch moved with his wife from Minnesota to Wisconsin as part of his recent retirement.  (Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)   Today’s episode is sponsored by Michelle & Craig Enanoria, in loving memory of their son, Kyle Enanoria. Links Mentioned in this episode: Connect with Mitch: heartlightstudios.net. Sponsor an episode in honor of your child. Find out more about joining Dave and Laura on The Grief Cruise.     Birthdays: Alayna Lisboa was born on May 29 and is forever 7 weeks. Kyle Enanoria was born on May 30 and is forever 11. Shawn Klein was born on June 1 and is forever 33. Kyron was born on June 2 and is forever 18. Riley Whitehead was born on June 3 and is forever 19.   Fill out the short form to have your child’s birthday shared with our listeners. The special song “I Remember Well“, which was written by Laura for our children’s birthdays, can be heard on your favorite music app. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.   Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE! www.gpshope.org   Would you like to have Laura come and speak to your group? Contact us at [email protected]. Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose. It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.