The Unthinkable Loss

Grieving and surviving the loss of a child is a sorrow few can imagine- and none can prepare for. In this powerful and deeply moving episode, I speak with author and therapist Sally McQuillen about her memoir, Reaching for Beautiful, written in the wake of her son Christopher’s tragic death in a boating accident.Sally shares her raw, courageous, and inspirational journey through the darkest terrain of grief, offering wisdom not only as a bereaved mother, but also as a clinician who had to navigate the unimaginable. We explore the complexities of loving a wildchild, the weight of ‘mother guilt’, the necessity of new levels of self care, and the importance of having a plan when waves of grief hit. Sally reveals how she found the strength to keep going- and even reconnect with life- through the enduring inspiration of her son’s character.This episode is a testament to the resilience of a mother’s love and the healing power of storytelling.Check out more of Sally's work at Sally McQuillen Substack Get full access to Wisdom of Grief at lesliepalumbo.substack.com/subscribe