Contagious Hope with Billy & Julie Melton, Juliana’s parents

The phone call changes everything. One minute you’re living a normal week, and the next you’re racing toward tests, scans, and words like “concerning” and “brain tumor.” I’m joined by Billy and Julie Melton to remember their daughter Juliana, a newlywed with a contagious laugh, a love for people, and a faith that stayed steady through a long, painful 16-month cancer fight that ended on Valentine’s Day 2018.We talk about what happens after adult child loss, when the world keeps moving but your time feels stuck. Billy and Julie describe the raw first year, the heavier second year when reality sets in, and the very real experience of grief triggers at church, at work, and in everyday places. We also dig into what actually helps grieving parents: community that shows up with practical care, the freedom to set boundaries without guilt, and the courage to let someone else hold you up when your faith and energy run thin.They share how hospice support, counseling, grief groups, and time with other bereaved parents helped them heal, and why surviving siblings need attention too. We also explore the hunger many Christians feel to understand heaven more clearly when someone you love is there. Finally, Billy and Julie explain how God redeemed their suffering into Restoring Hope, a Greensboro-area ministry offering biblical hope and a safe space for bereaved parents facing adult child loss.If this conversation helps you, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more grieving families can find it. What’s one practical act of support that mattered most to you or someone you love?Share any comments here *** If you have an Apple account, please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy this podcast by clicking the link below. By doing so you help increase our visibility and discoverability for others, and we value your feedback!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/id1654053256**** You can also opt to leave a review or rating on Podchasers by clicking the link below. Your opinions matter and mean so much to us!https://www.podchaser.com/HopeAfterChildSiblingLossTheEmptyChairEndeavorYou can contact us by email at: [email protected] you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.Thank you for listening!