Using Brain Retraining and Community to Navigate Grief with Angela Croop

Angela Croop is a speech pathologist turned grief mentor, writer, and retreat leader. After the devastating loss of her daughter Avianna to SIDS, Angela transformed her pain into purpose by creating Fly Avi Fly, a small shop she started in Avianna’s honor. Today, the shop not only keeps Avianna’s name alive through handcrafted items but also funds scholarships for bereaved parents to attend child loss retreats.Blending her professional background with her personal journey, Angela integrates neuroscience into grief mentorship, explaining why the brain gets stuck after loss and how practices like neural rewiring, thought retraining, and accountability can help parents move forward.Through her work, she challenges outdated ideas of grief and equips parents with the tools to rebuild life after unimaginable loss.Her mission is simple yet powerful: to show that while grief never disappears, it can be carried in a way that allows love, resilience, and even joy to exist alongside it.https://flyavifly.com/  https://www.instagram.com/flyavifly  https://www.instagram.com/angela_avi_rebuildsContact Kendra Rinaldi for more information about coaching and being a guest on the podcast.In this episode, you will learn about: The Tragic Loss of Aviana to SIDS: Angela shares the terrifying phone call she received while recovering from bronchitis, the sudden hospital visit, and the painful diagnostic process surrounding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The Turning Point at Target: Angela recalls the eye-opening moment when letting a door slam in someone's face made her realize she was suffering from an identity crisis and needed to actively retrain her mindset . Applying Brain Science to Emotional Pain: How principles from speech pathology—like creating new neural pathways, interrupting ruminating thoughts, and calming fight-or-flight responses—can be used to navigate grief . Rebuilding Your Support System ("Chess Pieces"): Why grievers need different types of support in their corner, including friends who validate feelings and friends who play devil's advocate to help shift perspective . Writing to Aviana with Purpose: How writing daily letters describing the world to her daughter helped Angela rebuild her life in Aviana's honor rather than staying trapped in sorrow . Creating Retreats & Scholarships for Bereaved Parents: How Angela built Fly Avi Fly, a shop and mentorship platform that funds retreats and full scholarships for parents navigating infant and pregnancy loss . Debunking "Time Heals All Wounds": Angela's powerful perspective on why time alone doesn't heal grief—it is what you choose to do with that time that makes all the difference .