Megan Daubert Podcast

Were we created with longings that could only be filled by one being? Were we designed to experience a deep need daily? Sorrow and grief may actually be a gift that leads us deeper into communion with Jesus. When we truly pause to consider the idea of lament, our eyes are opened to a beautiful process of restoring deep connection with our Creator. Sarah Benibo is a musician, worship leader, a graduate of Perkins School of Theology at SMU, and a gifted communicator of the gospel. You are in for a treat! Find Sarah Benibo here:Instagram FacebookWebsite www.sarahbenibo.comHere is a closer look at the lament graphics Sarah talks us through in this episode: Instagram postMegan's website:www.megandaubert.comInstagramSubstackFacebook

My daughter wrote this poem for her 7th grade english class and it completely took me by surprise. It's the perfect glimpse into her grieving and healing mind. She artistically explains a lot of the feelings circulating in our hearts. Enjoy this treasure.WebsitesShare your story 

Brain injuries leave survivors and their families with many invisible struggles. There is no way to be prepared for them. Most people don't even know how to start talking about the struggles or when and where to even bring them up.  Loneliness in the middle of ambiguous loss is confusing to sort out but it can be very real. Megan talks about the survival technique of compartmentalizing and when working through your grief and finding closure becomes necessary.Website and Socials

Lacey Jervis is a Christ-Centered Somatic Practitioner with an emphasis on helping women heal from trauma through understanding how our nervous systems were created. She is a wealth of knowledge and uses her platform to encourage, educate and point others towards true healing. Megan and Lacey talk about the physiology of fear, the power of time, and how a reshaping of your understanding of God is essential to your healing. Check out Lacey Jervis: (she's the best to follow!)Instagram @LaceyJervisWebsite: https://www.daughtershouse.co/Megan:InstagramWebsiteSubstack

Megan shares the realities of some of the little things you might not think of after life with a brain injury. Going out to eat was something we loved doing as a family before the accident, so of course doing it now would be different and involve a little bit of grief. Friends and family and people in general continue to be the backbone of our sanity as a family.WebsiteInstagramSubstack

We're back for more! Megan returns to talk about their story but also shares the vision of what else is in store for us this season. As brain injuries 'happen to the whole family' not just the survivor, this reality is becoming clearer and clearer in our every day lives. I want to see improvements in every area but we just aren't yet. Come along for the ride, we can be crazy together!WebsiteInstagramSubstack

Michael - the man himself - joins Megan on the podcast to say hello and chat a little bit about how he is doing. If you know what you are looking for in his responses and recovery journey, you will find some of this fascinating to watch. Join the community of Megan Daubert Podcast on Instagram or YouTube and sign up for the emails to get the newest episodes and details about what is coming next! Join my email listInstagramYouTube

Megan shares about the one year anniversary of Michael's accident and what unexpectedly happened. She discusses the mystery of healing prayer and how to hold it in tension when the miracles don't seem to happen. Book she mentions: The Familiar Stranger by Tyler StatonWebsiteInstagram

Megan shares about the day she decided to say yes to a new career and then moments later met the man that saved Michael's life on the soccer field.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Megan shares about the self betrayal she felt towards her own expectations and experiences. She tells us what her time capsule goals for 2024 were and how they lined up pretty well with what played out. Book mentioned in episode: Katherine Wolf's Treasures in the Dark https://amzn.to/4pgPALxwww.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Megan shares her honest feelings on the holidays post brain injury recovery. It's been said that holidays can bring out the loneliest, hardest and deepest of feelings and that may be true after all. But we are not without hope!www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

There was a time when we weren't certain if Michael would ever have another birthday. Thirty-nine years seemed too unfinished. When November rolled around we were all ready to celebrate Michael big time. Well actually, every body but Megan. Megan shares how grief impacted her desire to celebrate in a normal way.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Megan shares about Mike's exit from therapy as well as a trick her counselor taught her of how to manage other people's griefs and emotions. Megan also shares what she learned from her time at an event with Rita Springer.Rita Springer's website/new album: https://www.ritaspringer.com/homewww.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Megan shares about the trouble she had sleeping and how her subconscious would overwhelm her thoughts at night. She reflects on her dislike of "endings" and how the Lord is transforming her approach to them.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

"The dream that didn't happen is as much of a loss as losing the one that did." from page 5 of "As Long As You Need" by J.S. Park.In Episode 27, Megan gives us a glimpse into the work and dreams lost as a result of Michael's accident and brain injury.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Megan shares about the frustration she felt as time continued and limitations were everywhere. From brain injury deficits to tennis lessons to missing papers to parenting, nothing seemed to be easy. Megan also shares a vision or word of encouragement from a friend at her church.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Megan shares about Michael's experience with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and shares some personal stories of when things got really tough behind closed doors.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Megan highlights the summer trips they took last year and talks about the feelings and new challenges it brought up for her while living in close proximity to people in "normal" relationships.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: MeganDaubertPodcast

In this episode, Megan recalls the last email Michael sent to the whole family just hours before his accident and the impact it had on the family. Megan also begins to touch on the grief her kids were experiencing.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Megan shares about finding a new brain injury doctor in Richmond, VA. www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Megan shares some of the load she was carrying last summer when everyone was finally back home together. Even the small burdens felt big during this transition season. Megan takes a moment to try and explain why lament is a crucial part of the healing process but we so often get it wrong.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Megan shares examples of what living with memory loss is like for Michael and the family. She goes into a little deeper detail of the tension she felt at home with the grief and joy. Will the brain heal in a way that he remembers all the parts of life that made up who he was? Or will healing be like starting over again as a new person?www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

In this episode, Megan shares stories on what life at home is like and illustrates the complexities of brain injury healing.  She talks about how she is able to keep going, recognizing there is purpose in these trials.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

In this episode, Megan shares her emotional journey as she recounts the first week home after Michael's rehabilitation. She reflects on the challenges of adjusting to their new reality, the joy of reconnecting with family, and the overwhelming nature of medical appointments.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Episode 17 - Megan reflects on the ending of their time at Shepherd Center in Atlanta. They flew back home to re-enter life in their new normal, which Megan acknowledges isn't anywhere near normal.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Episode 16 - Megan shares some of the ways they had to prepare for coming home from the Shepherd Center and reflects on the emotional struggle it was and still is. www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Episode 15 - Megan chats with Anthony Gregoria, a long time friend of theirs, who just so happens to be a Physical Therapist and got to see Michael's recovery at many different stages. Anthony is a perfect example of how when passion and purpose intersect God will use you in big and small ways to change lives.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Episode 14 - Megan passes on encouragement from Katherine Wolf's book "Treasures in the Dark" after a special moment with Katherine in her hometown of Atlanta. Check out this link to recommended readings on my Amazon Storefront. www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

A week of visitors leads to an outside (life after rehab) perspective beginning to form in Megan's mind. Her daughter joins them in Atlanta and they both witness some hard changes in Michael. The fear of the future can seem too heavy at times.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

In this Episode Megan is joined by her friend, Jenny Collins, who was able to visit them at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Jenny shares her insight from her time there and speaks about the role "soul connections" seem to play in a person's healing.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Megan shares some of the humor and moments of joy during their stay at Shepherds Center. She also reflects on the possibility of a silver lining from memory loss in terms of rebuilding the life and person who Michael was before his accident.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: MeganDaubertPodcast

Megan shares more examples of Michael's memory deficits during therapy and reflects on the team-wide meeting where she learned more about what we might expect going forward in recovery. She describes the seemingly backwards act of letting go of control of a situation and what that is meant to produce in us.

Michael's boys got to visit him in Atlanta and it was the first time they saw him since his accident. It was both beautiful and hard. Bringing some of home into the hospital helped Michael remember who he was but it also made the gap between "what was" and "what is" even wider. Megan shares some of her reflections on what was going on internally in her mind during these weeks.www.megandaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

In this episode, Megan reflects on her initial observations of therapy, the overwhelming role of caregiving, and the profound love that emerges through adversity. We begin to see Michael's memory and awareness emerge but it's sitting at alarmingly low levels at this point in his recovery.www.megandaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Megan shares about assessment day at the Shepherd Center and her struggle to process the loss of the man she knew. She shares about what the Lord told her through His Word that morning and encourages listeners to recognize the voice of the Lord in their own lives.www.MeganDaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Megan shares the story of the medial flight down to Atlanta and the initial arrival at Shepherd Center. This was another point of transition for her and Michael as they left behind the initial stage of emergency care and moved into the acute rehabilitation stage. www.megandaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

Megan and her best friend, Rebekah Butterfield, discuss their journey through trauma, grief, and the importance of friendship and community support during difficult times. They reflect on their shared experiences of loss, the complexities of grief, and the beauty found in deep connections amidst suffering. Their dialogue emphasizes the significance of simply being present for one another and the power of community in healing.www.megandaubert.comIG: @MeganDaubertPodcast

In Episode 4 Megan recalls how Michael's cognitive recovery was a significant challenge as Michael struggles to recognize loved ones.The emotional toll on Megan was profound as she navigated her husband's condition. She chose not to bring their children to the hospital initially to protect them from trauma. She did bring their oldest in finally but it wasn't a good moment.www.megandaubert.comIG: @megandaubertpodcast

Michael spent 10 days in the cardiac ICU. He finally got the brain MRI where damage was seen in the thalamus. We didn't know the full extent of the brain damage just yet. Extubation was successful so the next step was to seek out a long term rehab facility. Megan shares how vulnerable and exposed this time in the hospital felt. www.megandaubert.comIG: @megandaubertpodcast

In this episode, Megan shares her journey following her husband's cardiac arrest and subsequent health challenges. She recounts the emotional turmoil of informing her children, navigating the ICU experience, and the overwhelming weight of responsibility that fell on her shoulders.  Megan reflects on the support from family and friends, the uncertainty of medical outcomes, and her search for hope and faith amidst trauma.Chapters00:00 Introduction to a Life-Changing Event00:36 The Cardiac Arrest Incident02:37 Facing the Unknown: Telling the Kids04:35 The Hospital Experience Begins06:58 Transitioning to Higher Care10:43 Hope Amidst Uncertainty12:24 Navigating Trauma and Decisions17:45 Confronting the Reality of Trauma20:47 Finding Faith in the DarknessDevotional Book referenced: Jackie Hill Perry's "Upon Waking" 

Megan shares her family's journey following her husband's anoxic brain injury, detailing the events leading up to the accident, the emergency response, and the emotional aftermath. Through storytelling, she reflects on the challenges of coping with trauma, the importance of community support, and her personal healing process.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Journey10:49 The Emergency Response18:46 The Aftermath and Reflection32:16 Outrowww.megandaubert.comIG: @megandaubertpodcast

Megan shares her personal journey following her husband's cardiac arrest and subsequent brain injury. She discusses the concept of ambiguous loss and grief, the purpose behind her podcast, and the importance of faith and community in navigating hardships. Megan aims to provide encouragement to others facing similar challenges, while also documenting her family's experiences for her children and husband.00:00 Introduction to a Life-Changing Event01:46 Understanding Ambiguous Loss and Grief03:09 The Purpose Behind the Podcast05:07 The Role of Faith and Community in Healing06:02 Looking Ahead: The Journey to ComeMusic: Scarlett by Dodo Danciu, Artlist ioIG @megandaubertpodcastWebsite www.megandaubert.comYouTube @MeganDaubertPodcast