How Do You Survive the Loss of a Child? Finding Grace in Grief with Jody Hudson

Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb Connect with Jody at https://alexhudsonlymefoundation.com How do you go on after losing a child? Where is God in prolonged suffering—and in the moment of goodbye? And what does faith look like when healing doesn’t come the way you prayed for? In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman talks with Jody Hudson, who shares the story of her daughter Alex’s 10-year battle with undiagnosed Lyme disease—and the grief, faith, and surrender that followed her passing at age 22. Jody opens up about: Alex’s long and difficult journey to diagnosis, including treatment efforts across the country The emotional and spiritual toll of watching a child suffer without clear answers A sacred final moment when Jody gave Alex permission to let go—and Alex passed peacefully She also shares her own life story: Growing up in foster care and being adopted into a home marked by alcoholism Walking through divorce and financial loss And how learning to release control and trust God reshaped her faith over time Out of her grief, Jody chose to build something that helps others: Founding the Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation to support research, treatment access, and education Creating a Lyme disease awareness patch for Girl Scouts Writing her book, My Promise to Alex, with proceeds supporting the foundation This episode is for anyone asking: “How do I live with grief that never fully goes away?” “Can I still trust God after losing someone I love?” “What does surrender actually look like in real life?” “How can I honor someone I’ve lost in a meaningful way?” If you’re carrying grief—or walking closely with someone who is—this conversation offers a quiet but powerful reminder: grace doesn’t remove the pain, but it can hold you through it and help you keep loving, even after loss. 00:00 Suffering and Grace 00:38 Jody Story Begins 02:13 Choosing to Show Up 03:49 Surrendering Control 08:44 Alex Lyme Journey 11:41 Diagnosis and Final Year 14:35 Parting Gift and Hope 19:28 Foundation and Legacy 22:29 Writing the Book 26:13 Get Involved and Resources 27:32 Key Takeaway and Closing 28:54 Host Wrap Up Grace Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb