196: Resources and Tools for Healing and Recovery with Michelle Cramer

In this episode of Resilient Moms I am joined by Michelle Cramer, the founder and executive director of On Angels' Wings, a nonprofit dedicated to providing support for families who have lost a child at birth or have a child with a terminal risk diagnosis. Michelle shares her personal journey and the story behind creating On Angels' Wings, a powerful organization that offers free therapeutic photography and grief recovery services to families in need.

As a Certified Grief Recovery Method Specialist and author of Unshattered Grief: Helping Others Through Loss Without Breaking Them… Again, Michelle sharesher passion for improving the way our society handles grief, especially for families experiencing loss.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• ​Michelle's Background & Passion for Healing:

Michelle has been a photographer for over 18 years, and her deep empathy and personal experiences inspired her to create On Angels' Wings in 2013 to improve mental health and wellness for families dealing with child loss or medical fragility.​

• Therapeutic Photography for Grieving Families:

On Angels' Wings offers free, professional photo sessions to grieving families, providing them with treasured memories of their children. These sessions serve as a therapeutic tool, helping families honor and remember their lost children.​

• Grief Recovery Services:

Michelle’s organization goes beyond photography, offering grief recovery programs that emphasize moving forward, not simply "moving on." The goal is to help families find strength, healing, and connection as they navigate their grief journey.​

• Expansion and Growth:

What started in one location has now expanded to include out-of-state chapters, reaching more families and offering much-needed support on a broader scale.​

• Advocacy for Bereavement Policies:

Michelle is also actively advocating for a statewide bereavement leave policy to ensure grieving families receive the support they need during their most difficult times.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Michelle’s Book: Unshattered Grief by Michelle Cramer Grief Recovery Method: GriefRecoveryMethod.com

Connect with Michelle Cramer: Website: https://oawphoto.org/ 

Instagram: @oaw_photo

Facebook: oawphoto

youtube: @oawphoto

Retreat Link:

https://livingaftergrief.com/emotional-freedom-after-loss-retreat

Connect with Teresa: EMAIL: teresa@livingaftergrief.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LivingAfterGrief/ Instagram: @livingaftergrief Website: https://livingaftergrief.com/ click and schedule a complementary Hope Exploration call: https://livingaftergrief.com/calendar/hope-exploration-session Podcast Guest: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/podcast-interview-call