Living with an Open Heart

When Lewis Baxter stood on a bridge at 17 years old, watching cars race beneath him, he couldn't see a way forward.What followed was a conversation with his parents, support from Child Action Northwest, and the first steps on a journey that would ultimately change the course of his life.In this episode of Stories of Survival in the Modern Age, Sarah talks with Lewis about depression, suicidal thoughts, grief, and what it means to keep moving forward when life changes shape.Lewis shares his experience of severe depression as a teenager, the support that helped him recover, and the devastating impact of losing his mum to breast cancer at just 21-years-old. He speaks candidly about becoming her full-time carer during the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating grief, and learning to live with what he calls "an open heart."Together, Sarah and Lewis explore mental health, masculinity, resilience, compassion, and why speaking openly about our struggles can create space for others to do the same.This is a powerful conversation about survival, loss, hope, and finding meaning in the chapters we never expected to write.Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.