The Broken Pack™: Stories of Adult Sibling Loss Dr. Angela Dean / The Broken Pack™, LLC

This episode of The Broken Pack™: Stories of Adult Sibling Loss explores the enduring impact of sibling loss with guest Dawn Rodgers. Together, Dawn and Dr. Dean delve into Dawn's experience decades after losing her brother, offering support and strategies for navigating this complex and persistent grief.

Dawn Rodgers is a surviving sibling who found solace in photography after the loss of her brother. Her book,a photo essay, "Sorrow" acts as a powerful testament to the transformative nature of art in processing grief, honoring her brother's memory while guiding her through her unique experience of loss. This conversation sheds light on the often overlooked nature of sibling loss and offers hope for those navigating their grief journey.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of murder and violence, including: death of a sibling , grief and trauma related to a sibling's death by murder, the impact of violence on families, and the emotional and psychological challenges of coping with a sibling's murder

Key Discussion Points:

-The overlooked nature of sibling loss and its isolating effect on surviving siblings
-The importance of finding outlets for grief, such as artistic expression
-Creating a support system through therapy, support groups, or connections with those who understand
-The enduring nature and persistence of sibling grief: Dawn's story highlights that the pain of losing a sibling can persist even decades later
-Honoring a sibling's legacy and finding meaning after loss regardless of the time since the loss helped Dawn reconnect with her brother and her own grief

About our guest:

Purchase Dawn's photographic essay "Sorrow" and learn more about her and her work on her website: https://www.dawnrodgers.co.uk/


Support the Show.
If you would like more information or to share your own adult sibling loss story, please contact me, Dr. Angela Dean, at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.com/newsletter

Thank you!

Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:

The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by 27 Elephants Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. MYLWD.)
Licensed for use by The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3vx3kk46

Life Interrupted: Finding Purpose Through Grief
In a deeply moving episode of "The Broken Pack™", Dentist Dr. Parul Dua Makkar shares her sibling loss story of losing her younger brother, Dentist Dr. Manu Dua, to oral cancer. With Dr. Dean, she explores her special sibling special bond, the harrowing experience of Manu's illness, and how this profound loss has transformed her life.
Dr. Makkar describes how the writing of her brother's previously unfinished book, Life Interrupted: A Young Dentist's Journey with Cancer, Legacy, and the Lessons Left Behind, became a powerful act of processing her grief and connecting to Manu.  Her dedication to finishing his story led her down the path of advocacy, raising awareness about not only sibling loss but also the importance of early detection and treatment of oral cancer.

About Dr. Makkar & Links Mentioned in the Show:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/duagoodjob
Linked in: Dr. Parul Dua Makkar
Website (including information on the Dua Good Job Symposium): https://www.duagoodjob.com/
Book: Life Interrupted: Dr. Dua’s Survival Guide
An additional Oral Cancer Awareness / resource:
The Oral Cancer foundation: https://oralcancerfoundation.org/

Young Adult Cancer Resource:  https://yasurvivors.org/about/
Support the show
If you would like more information or to share your own adult sibling loss story, please contact me, Dr. Angela Dean, at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.com/newsletter

Thank you!

Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:

The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by 27 Elephants Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. MYLWD.)
Licensed for use by The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3vx3kk46

In this episode of The Broken Pack™: Stories of Adult Sibling Loss , journalist and author Steven Petrow joins Dr. Dean to discuss various aspects of sibling loss, grief, and medical aid in dying. He shares his personal experiences with losing his sister, Julie, to a six-year ovarian cancer experience, navigating his responses to her choice, and their perspectives on end-of-life choices. The conversation highlights the importance of privacy, listening, and respecting the wishes of cancer patients and etiquette in both grief and cancer. Steven Petrow also shares Julie’s voice and hopes for  expanding access to medical aid in dying for terminally ill individuals. This episode also sheds light on the unique dynamics of sibling relationships and their influence on individuals' identity and well-being.

Content warning: This episode discusses Medical Aid in Dying.

Links Mention and  Other Related Links:
Clearity Foundation - https://www.clearityfoundation.org - An organization that Julie, Steven, and their family found support from. Clearity supports people with ovarian cancer and their families.

Empathy Cards (some may be snarky, others are not, sibling loss ones support The Broken Pack™)- https://tinyurl.com/34ab2js8

FAQ on MAiD- https://www.compassionandchoices.org/resource/frequently-asked-questions/

Steven’s articles on Julie & on MAiD
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/opinion/medical-aid-death-choice.html

NPR Article on Steven learning to understand Julie's choice- https://tinyurl.com/a7x3p58h

Steven's website: https://stevenpetrow.com

Steven's article on cancer etiquette -
https://www.mariashriversundaypaper.com/steven-petrow-cancer-etiquette/

NPR  Science of Siblings  https://tinyurl.com/kj53c2ez
Support the show
If you would like more information or to share your own adult sibling loss story, please contact me, Dr. Angela Dean, at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.com/newsletter

Thank you!

Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:

The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by 27 Elephants Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. MYLWD.)
Licensed for use by The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3vx3kk46

Grieving the Unexpected: A Sister's Loss and Big Changes after Surviving Sibling Loss Unexpectedly

In this episode, Dr. Angela Dean speaks with Heather Mercer about the sudden loss of her sister, Melissa, to a heart attack shortly after giving birth. Heather shares her journey of navigating profound grief, complex custody battles, and the ripple effects of unexpected loss. They explore how Melissa's passing left a void, affecting  family dynamics and resulting in additional secondary and ambiguous loss. Heather's story highlights the unique challenges of sibling loss and the importance of finding support and ways to honor her sister's memory amidst life's ongoing changes.

Related Links:

Camp Ho Mita Koda, diabetes camp located in Newbury Ohio- https://camphomitakoda.org/


Support the show
If you would like more information or to share your own adult sibling loss story, please contact me, Dr. Angela Dean, at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.com/newsletter

Thank you!

Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:

The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by 27 Elephants Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. MYLWD.)
Licensed for use by The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3vx3kk46

Surviving Sibling Loss & Stigma: Sara / Dan

The Broken Pack: Stories of Adult Sibling Loss features Dr. Dean interviewing Sara McCann, who  recounts losing her brother Dan to substance use disorder. In this conversation, Sara unpacks the unique challenges faced by surviving siblings and the stigma surrounding addiction. Prepare to be moved by Sara's raw account and Dr. Dean's expertise as they shed light on sibling loss. Sara's experience underscores the profound grief of surviving siblings and the need for greater support after sibling loss. By amplifying voices like hers, we can create a more understanding world where grieving siblings receive the support they need and validate the misunderstood, disenfranchised loss of a sibling.

Related Links:

-Daniel Snel Memorial Scholarship & 5K- http://www.danthemanrun.com/
- Sara's Mighty article she wrote shortly after losing Dan- https://themighty.com/2018/03/help-brother-heroin-addiction-overdose/

Content Warning: This episode discusses the loss of a loved one due to substance use disorder and may be upsetting for listeners who have experienced similar losses or have experienced substance use disorder firsthand or in loved ones.

-If you believe you are witnessing an overdose, call 911 or your country’s emergency number immediately even if you are administering Narcan.
-If you are in the US and would like support for yourself or someone else with substance use, mental health issues, or other topics discussed in this episode, please call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or Text your 5-digit ZIP Code to 435748 (HELP4U) or call a warmline.
-For more immediate crisis call 911, 988, or go to the nearest emergency room.
- In the UK, a list of related resources can be found at https://tinyurl.com/3fknb36c
-In the USA an updated directory of warmlines by state can be found at https://warmline.org/warmdir.html
-A warmline directory for trained peer supports in over 20 countries can be found at
Support the show
If you would like more information or to share your own adult sibling loss story, please contact me, Dr. Angela Dean, at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.com/newsletter

Thank you!

Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:

The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by 27 Elephants Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. MYLWD.)
Licensed for use by The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3vx3kk46

An Oncology Nurse's Journey of Grief and Loss: Navigating Sibling Loss , Knowledge, and Devastation

In this episode, of The Broken Pack: Stories of Adult Sibling Loss,  surviving sibling Cally Marzolf-Adams, an oncology nurse shares her difficult sibling loss story of losing her sister, Sarah, to metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Through her conversation with Dr. Dean, Cally shares her profound story of love, loss, and heartbreas, highlighting the challenges and coping mechanisms involved. Her knowledge as an oncology nurse both prepared her and haunted her as she watched her sister decline, eventually dying from the illness.

Together with our host and fellow sibling loss survivor, Dr. Angela Dean, they discuss out-of-order loss, Cally's relationship with Sarah who she described as a kind, calming, soul, memories, seeking help in grief, and so much more.

Also mentioned in this episode was Young Adult Survivors United, an organization whose mission is to help young adult cancer survivors and caregivers/co-survivors cope and thrive by providing emotional, social, and financial support. For more information on this organization please see https://yasurvivors.org/about/.
Support the show
If you would like more information or to share your own adult sibling loss story, please contact me, Dr. Angela Dean, at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

Please like, subscribe, and share!

Please follow us on social media:
Facebook: @BrokenPack
Instagram: @thebrokenpack
TikTok: @the_broken_pack
YouTube: @thebrokenpack

Sign-up for Wild Grief™, our newsletter: https://thebrokenpack.com/newsletter

Thank you!

Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:

The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by 27 Elephants Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024
Written by Joe Mylward and Brian Dean
Performed by Fuji Sounds (feat. MYLWD.)
Licensed for use by The Broken Pack™
Now available on all streaming platforms including Apple Music & Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3vx3kk46