Hope After Child & Sibling Loss: An Empty Chair Endeavor Podcast
This is a Christ-centered podcast offering hope and encouragement to parents and families who are learning to live again after the devastating death of a child or sibling.
Here, grief is allowed to be honest, faith is allowed to wrestle with hard questions, and healing doesn’t mean forgetting the empty chair.
Host Greg Buffkin, who with his wife Cathy experienced the devastating loss of their son Ryan to suicide, shares honest conversations with bereaved parents, siblings, counselors, ministry leaders, and others who have walked through child or sibling loss.
Together, we explore grief, trauma, loss and how they impact our relationship with God, our marriage, family, and surviving siblings. On each episode, guests share stories of unthinkable loss, and their journey afterwards to experience healing and hope as they rediscover meaning and purpose through the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
There are no easy answers here—just honest stories, compassionate voices, biblical truth, and the reminder that you are not alone.
Because hope doesn’t forget the empty chair.
l Thessalonians 4:13-14
Hope After Child & Sibling Loss is part of The Empty Chair Endeavor.
If you find this podcast helpful and encouraging, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser by clicking the links below.
https://www.podchaser.com/HopeAfterChildSiblingLossTheEmptyChairEndeavor
You can contact us by email at: hope@emptychairendeavor.com
If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
Thank you for listening!
DISCLAIMER: The views, beliefs, and opinions expressed by our guests may not necessarily be shared by this podcast or its host. We believe there is only one triune GOD: the Father, His son Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit. We believe that
Jesus humbled himself to become fully human, conceived by the virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit, retained his divine character and identity, lived a sinless life, executed on a Roman cross as an atonement for the sinfulness of mankind, buried, and raised back to life three days later to offer the hope of eternal life to all who would receive his free gift by grace through faith. Jesus tells us in John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
* Reaching over 100 countries with messages of hope.
Episodes
102 episodes
A Devastating Diagnosis, Traumatic Loss, and Restored Hope with Kimberly Crumby, Hannah Grace's Mom
A four-year-old who loves songs, big laughs, and making faces on stage should be worrying about preschool, not chemotherapy. Our guest, Kimberly Crumby, tells the story of her daughter Hannah Grace, whose childhood leukemia diagnosis in 2009...
Faith After Losing a Child: Can Faith Survive the Unthinkable Loss?, with Sandy Cooper, Noah’s Mom
What happens to a parent’s faith after losing a child? Sandy Cooper shares her deeply personal journey after the sudden death of her nine-month-old son, Noah. We talk honestly about child-loss grief, the shock and confusion that follow, ange...
“I Still Believe” with Janette Henning, Melissa Camp’s Mom
A 21-year-old newlywed. Ovarian cancer. A mother watching the unthinkable unfold while trying to keep breathing. I’m joined by Jeanette Henning as she tells the story of her daughter, Melissa Camp, who died in February 2001 just three months...
Grace in the Wilderness of Grief with Sharon Hawkins, Bradley’s Mom
One minute you’re talking in the driveway, and the next minute your whole life splits into before and after. Sharon Hawkins joins us to tell the story of her son Bradley, a larger-than-life 21-year-old with a contagious laugh, an Eagle Scout...
Leaning on Faith And Community After Losing Annie, with Cheri Fletcher
Thirteen days can change an entire family’s history. We sit down with Cheri Fletcher to remember her daughter Annie, a 29-year-old singer-songwriter, social worker, and photographer whose sudden decline ended in an unthinkable goodbye. With ...
Wrestling With God After Losing Three Children: Grief, Faith & Hope with Roxanne Hutchinson
How do you keep going after losing a child—and what happens when a family experiences that loss more than once?Roxanne Hutchison shares the extraordinary story of losing three of her children and, later, her son-in-law. We talk...
Grieving the Loss of a Child: Cultivating a Grief Garden with Ron & Nan Deal, Connor’s parents
What does grief look like 17 years after losing a child?Ron and Nan Deal share the story of losing their 12-year-old son, Connor, and what years of child-loss grief have taught them about love, memory, grief triggers and learni...
After the Sudden Loss of a Child: Grief, Faith & Restored Hope with Linda Stirling, Jeff’s Mom
What happens after the sudden death of a child? Linda Stirling knows that journey firsthand after losing her 19-year-old son, Jeff, in an airplane crash.In this conversation, Linda shares what sudden child loss feels like in th...
When “The Knock” Comes with Diane Grotberg, David’s Mom
A midnight knock can split your life in two. Diane Grotberg remembers the moment two sheriff’s deputies told her their 19-year-old son, David, was dead, and how the first thing she felt was that everything had changed forever. David was a Ba...
When Your Darkest Loss Becomes Your Ministry, with Samantha Watson
Miscarriage can shatter your world in minutes, and sometimes it happens in a place you never expected. I sit down with Samantha Watson, a military wife and mom, as she tells the story of her 2015 pregnancy loss while stationed far from famil...
Navigating Life After Suicide with Melissa & Todd Shaffer, Tristan’s Parents
A teen can look like he is just “being a teenager” while he is privately fighting for his life. We talk with Todd and Melissa Shaffer about the loss of their 18-year-old son, Tristan, to suicide after a long, confusing road that included iso...
Grieving the Loss of a Son to Suicide: A Mother’s Story of Grief, Faith & Hope with Anne Starke, David’s Mom
What is it like to grieve the suicide of a son? Anne Starke shares the story of losing her 16-year-old son, David, and the grief, questions, guilt and depression that followed.We talk about suicide-loss grief, the questions par...
Contagious Hope with Billy & Julie Melton, Juliana’s parents
The phone call changes everything. One minute you’re living a normal week, and the next you’re racing toward tests, scans, and words like “concerning” and “brain tumor.” I’m joined by Billy and Julie Melton to remember their daughter Juliana...
Remembering Micaela, with Doug Schneider, Micaela’s Dad
A father checks “Find My iPhone” and realizes the unthinkable might be true. From that moment, Doug Schneider’s world changes forever. Doug joins me, Greg Buffkin, to tell the story of his daughter Micaela, a recent college graduate who land...
“Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength” with Jodi Snowdon, Grace-Linzey’s Mom
Jodi Snowdon is an author, podcaster, and speaker who serves women through her podcast, Depth, and her blog,
When Hearts Shatter, with Carol Brown, Jackie’s Mom
In this transparent and hope-filled conversation, Carol Brown shares her journey of grief after the tragic loss of her precious 29 year old daughter Jackie, who was a dedicated teacher and a bright light in the lives of many. Carol refle...
In a Single Moment, with Karen McCord, Carley’s Mom
On this episode, Karen McCord shares her profound experience with grief, following the loss of her daughter Carley, a well known ESPN sports reporter, in a tragic plane crash while traveling to cover the Atlanta Peach Bowl in December 2019. ...
Grieving Between The Two Rails With Ron Deal, Connor’s Dad
In this heartfelt episode, Greg Buffkin welcomes Ron Deal from FamilyLife to discuss the profound journey of grief following the loss of his precious son Conner. Ron shares his personal story of losing Connor to a sudden, tragic medical comp...
A Story of Faith, Hope and Love in Loss with Angie Ford-Green, Kevin’s Mom
In this hope filled conversation, author and speaker Angie Ford-Green shares her journey of grief after the loss of her son, Kevin in a surfing tragedy. She reflects on the profound impact of his life and death on her identity, her marriage,...
Incomprehensible Loss, Courageous Faith with Janet Boxx
In this heartfelt conversation, Janet Boxx shares her profound journey through grief after experiencing the loss of her son through stillbirth and later, the tragic loss of two daughters in a car accident. You’ll hear us talk about how she’s...
Sharing Our Grief, with Sam Hodges
In this episode, Greg Buffkin speaks with Sam Hodges, president of Church Initiative, about GriefShare, the number one grief support program in the world, and its significance in providing support for those experiencing grief, as well as the...
Ashley Opliger, Bridget’s Mom & Founder of Bridget’s Cradles
In this heartfelt conversation, Ashley Opliger shares her journey of grief after the stillbirth of her daughter, Bridget, and how it led to the creation of Bridget's Cradles, a ministry that provides cradles for families experiencing loss. A...
Navigating Grief: Insights from Melanie DeSimone, Dominic’s Mom
In this heartfelt conversation, Melanie DeSimone shares her journey of grief after the tragic loss of her son, Dominic. She discusses the profound impact of child loss on family dynamics, the importance of community support, and the lessons ...
Finding Joy in the Midst of Loss, with Linda Cook, Joscelyn’s Mom
In this heartfelt conversation, Greg talks with Linda Cook about her journey of grief after losing her beautiful daughter Jocelyn in a tragic accident. Linda shares her experiences of navigating the complexities of loss, the impact of her fa...
Navigating the Journey of Child Loss with Kathe Wunnenberg
In this heartfelt conversation, Greg talks with Kathe Wunnenberg, founder of Hope Lifters Unlimited, about her profound journey of grief and healing. Kathe shares her personal experiences with loss, including the death of her son and multipl...
