• Hope

    After Loss of a sibling

After Loss of a sibling

Do you feel your loss is overlooked? Find inspiration in stories by others who have lost siblings.

Articles

  • Sisters: The Last of Three

    December 27, 2018

      There is no one like a sister. Sisters are constant, champions, and competitors. Margie, Judy, Jane. I am a sister. I had those relationships. I had them for the years I had them. They are always with me. Three sisters. A trio, a triangle, a tripod, and a trilogy. Identified to be proud, secure, […]

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  • Sibling Loss: Interview with Stephen Stott

    December 22, 2018

    At the annual ADEC (Association of Death Education and Counseling), I spoke with Stephen Stott about the loss of his sister and how eventually he found peace and hope with new friends and The Compassionate Friends organization. Stephen lost his sister in a car accident in 2002. His mother started going to The Compassionate Friends […]

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  • Revelations Along the Grief Ride

    December 5, 2018

    The amusement park rides illustrate the trajectory of revelation and power of change. Every ride makes us feel different sensations, from the slow to the chilling speed of the roller coaster to the flowing music as the vibrant horses of the merry-go- round move up and down. The smiles, excitement, and thrill, to the disappointment, […]

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  • Multiple Sibling Loss: Interview with Shavaun McGinty

    September 3, 2018

    At the annual ADEC (Association of Death Education and Counseling), I spoke with Shavaun McGinty, an expert on sibling loss. In the video below I talk to Shavaun about the loss of her three siblings, the effect it has had on her life, and how she went on to find hope after loss. Here are […]

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  • Remembering a Big Sister Who Struggled with Eating Disorder

    December 8, 2017

    I never comprehended the summer of 1970. At age 14, I witnessed my beautiful older sister Margie fading away when she picked me up from overnight camp. My sister whom I idolized was a shadow of herself. For so many years, I had held on to who I wanted her to be. Our lives would […]

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  • Birthdays … Beautiful and Bittersweet

    January 11, 2017

    I turned 60 in October, the day filled with a range of emotions. Etched in my brain and soul was the last time I saw my sister Jane, to celebrate my 25th birthday. For 35 years, my birthday held a cloud, never the joy of celebrating me on my birthday, always the pain of the […]

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  • Active Grieving Can Help After Sibling Loss

    September 17, 2016

    “Every loss is unique. The truth is, the worst loss is the one that is happening to you, the one that has picked you up and thrown you down and left you struggling to put your life back together.” (Devita-Raeburn, 2004, p. 184) When I was 20 years old, I was awakened in the middle […]

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  • Coping With Sibling Loss

    June 23, 2016

    Houston, Texas counselor Beryl Kaminsky shares tips for handling sibling loss during the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) conference. She wrote Mending the Broken Heart: After Your Child Dies, which is also an audiobook. Working through the loss of a sibling can be traumatizing. Growing up in the shadow of sibling loss can […]

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  • Adult Sibling Loss

    June 1, 2016

    Dr. Gloria Horsley interviews Dr. Brenda Marshall from Toronto, Canada. A management executive and executive coach, she’s completing her doctorate degree in adult education at the University of Toronto. Adult sibling loss is one of the most disenfranchised of losses. Suddenly, a few years ago, Marshall’s brother died. That was her “last day of normal.” […]

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  • Sibling Loss Changes a Sister Left Behind

    April 25, 2016

    “Every loss is unique. The truth is, the worst loss is the one that is happening to you, the one that has picked you up and thrown you down and left you struggling to put your life back together.” — (Devita-Raeburn, 2004, p. 184) When I was 20 years old, I was awakened in the […]

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Open to Hope Radio

Open to Hope TV

  • Episode 147: Who Am I Now?

    October 9, 2018

    Loss of a sibling especially a twin is a devastating experience as there are many identity issues. On this show Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley discuss with Carolyn Shane who was separated from her twin brother at an early age and Tasha Hepburn whose twin sister died at age four about how they have […]

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  • Episode 145: Babies Don’t Die. Why Mine?

    October 5, 2018

    On this show Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley discuss with Alison Jacobson CEO/Executive Director of First Candle and Nicole Alston Founder and President of Ok2Grieve how they have dealt with the personal tragedy of infant loss, and gone on to find happiness and success. The show closes with bereaved parent and singer, songwriter Denise […]

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  • Episode 144: Dads and Sons Get Real With Their Grief

    September 26, 2018

    On this show Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley explore the unique aspects of men and grief with bereaved fathers Babe Muro and Arnie Wendroff along with their bereaved sons Keith Singer and Jason Wendroff-Rawnicki. The show closes with bereaved parent and singer, songwriter Denise Ganulin performing.

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  • Episode 141: Grief Shock; Your Body Is Your Buddy

    September 24, 2018

    On this show Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley interview Jason Wendroff-Rawnicki, co-founder of Shine Yoga Center and Heather Stang podcast host and author of Mindfulness & Grief on the importance of paying attention to the physical as well as the mental aspects of Grief. A video is shown of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk […]

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  • Episode 133: Peer Support Can Change Your Life

    June 27, 2018

    On this show Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley interview comedian and bereaved sibling Jordon Ferber, Manhattan chapter leader for The Compassionate Friends and Katherine Castelo social worker providing support and counseling for families at TAPS, an organization for those who have lost a loved one in the military.  Videos of The Compassionate Friends and […]

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  • Episode 123: On The Road Again-Angels Across The USA Tour

    February 26, 2018

    On this show Dr. Heidi Horsley talks with Alan Pedersen, singer, songwriter and bereaved parent. Alan is the past Executive Director of The Compassionate Friends and is currently on the road with The Angels Across the USA Tour where he will speak and perform in over 100 U.S. cities in 2018. Joining them on the […]

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  • Episode 121: Impact of Sibling Loss in Early and Later Life

    February 23, 2018

    On this show Dr. Heidi Horsley and Alan Pedersen explore with Allie Franklin Sims, whose baby brother  “Big A”, died when she was four and Mitch Carmody who whose twin sister Sandy, died when he was an adult, the relationship between age and grief.  Allie is the president of the board of The Compassionate Friends […]

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  • Episode 120: Resources for grieving families

    January 8, 2018

    On this show Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley highlight three outstanding programs for grieving families. Nancy Cincotta MSW talks about her work with families at Camp Sunshine in Maine. Bereaved parents Marie Levine, National Board member of The Compassionate Friends and Allison Jacobson Executive Director of First Candle discuss their missions and how they […]

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  • Episode 114: Guys and Grief, Healing Stories of Sibling Loss with Zach Sullivan and Ryan Tomasello

    November 17, 2017

    On this show Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley discuss the healing power of stories with two bereaved siblings; Zach Sullivan bereaved brother of Kyle and Ryan Tomasello bereaved brother of Rory. A video clip is shown featuring Jordon Ferber discussing the importance of remembering his brother, Russell.

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  • Episode 102: Fay Zenoff and Julia Sachs-Finding Oneself After Sibling Loss

    March 27, 2017

    How’s your mother? Take care of your parents! But what about me? On this show Dr’s Gloria and Heidi Horsley and Alan Pedersen, Executive Director of The Compassionate Friends, discuss with bereaved siblings Fay Zenoff MBA executive director of Center For Open Recovery (COR) and Julia Sachs MSW the challenges of coping with the deaths […]

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  • Episode 93: Grief: A Public and a Private Matter with Mary Rockefeller Morgan and Scarlett Lewis

    December 7, 2016

    How does a family grieve a high-profile loss? On this show Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley explore the issue with Mary Rockefeller Morgan whose twin brother, Michael, went missing in New Guinea and Scarlett Lewis whose son, Jessie, died in the Sandy Hook school shooting. Mary is the author of When Grief Calls Forth The […]

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  • Episode 90: Sibling Death; Unacknowledged Loss with Elizabeth DeVita-Raeburn and Jim Giaccone,

    November 14, 2016

    Sibling Death! Unacknowledged Grief! Join Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley in exploring with Elizabeth DeVita-Raeburn and Jim Giaccone, sibling loss. Elizabeth is the author of, The Empty Room, Losing a Brother or Sister at any Age, and The Death of Cancer. In honor of his brother who died in the Sept. 11th attacks, Jim […]

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  • Episode 88: Male Grief: Sudden Traumatic Loss with Jim Giaccone, Franklin Cook and Eric Marcus

    November 7, 2016

    Have you or a male friend had a sudden or traumatic loss? Are you wondering how men cope? If so join Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley in a frank discussion of men and grief with Jim Giaccone, Franklin Cook and Eric Marcus. Jim’s brother Joe, died on 9/11 while Franklin and Eric suffered the […]

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  • Episode 82: Coping With Murder with Zander Sprague, Koshin Ellison and Robert Campbell

    August 20, 2016

    On this show Dr’s Gloria and Heidi Horsley interview Zander Sprague regarding the murder of his sister and the strong emotions of anger, shame and guilt experienced by survivors. Joining in the discussion of forgiveness and hope are Buddhist Monks, Koshin Paley Ellison, Robert Chodo Campbell, and Jeffery Sirkman, Senior Rabbi of Larchmont Temple. The […]

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  • Episode 77: Proactive Grieving

    June 3, 2016

    On this show Dr. Gloria Horsley and Alan Petersen, Executive Director of The Compassionate Friends, interview Megan Carmody, bereaved sibling of Kelly and Gwen Oliver, bereaved daughter of Marlene, on finding hope after the death of a sibling/parent. Megan’s father Mitch, author of Letters To My Son, and is founder of Proactive Grieving®, joins the […]

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  • Episode 67: Finding Hope After A Terrorist Attack

    April 26, 2016

    Joining Dr’s. Gloria and Heidi Horsley on this show are Melissa Pettignano, singer and songwriter and her mother Evelyn whose aunt/sister Arlene was killed in the World Trade Center and Mary Fetchet who Co-founded Voices of September 11th in 2001 following the death of her son Brad on 9/11. A clinical social worker, Mary created […]

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  • For the Ones Left Behind: A Guide for Helping Loved Ones After a Death

    May 23, 2016

    A death can shatter the lives of those left behind. Now, there are so many things to do. Who do you call? Where do you start? How can you help? Managing to survive in the aftermath of a loved one’s death is a daunting task. For the Ones Left Behind, A Guide for Helping Loved […]

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