There are some birthdays I will never stop celebrating in my heart.

People often say that time heals, but if you've lost someone you love, you'll know that grief doesn't heal, it changes.

You learn to carry it, and somehow you learn to carry the love too. That's what this episode is about.

In this episode I reflect on the journey of living with loss, and read the beautiful poem - The Dash.

This poem reminds us that our lives are not measured simply by the dates at the beginning and end, but by the little dash between them.

That tiny line represents every smile, every act of kindness, every challenge overcome, every person we've loved, and every life we've touched.

Matthew's dash lasted just 27 years, but the love he gave and the difference he made continue to ripple through the lives of those who knew him.

His story reminds me that it isn't the length of our lives that matters most, it's how we choose to live them.

If you're grieving someone you love, I hope this episode brings you comfort.

I hope it reminds you that love doesn't end when a life does, and that the people we miss most continue to shape who we are every single day.

Thank you for allowing me to share Matthew with you.

His life will always be one of the greatest gifts I've ever known, and I hope that, through this episode, his legacy encourages you to treasure every precious moment of your own dash.

I recorded this special birthday episode in Matthew's memory.

Together we reflect on the beautiful poem The Dash and what it teaches us about grief, love, legacy, and living a life that matters.

Whether you're grieving a child, a parent, a partner, a sibling, or a friend, I hope this episode brings comfort and reminds you that love never dies.

If this conversation has helped you, please consider following or subscribing to A Gift For Grief.

Leaving a review and sharing the episode helps these important conversations reach more people who may need them.

Connect with your host Louise: https://www.louisebates.co.uk/

Credit: The Dash poem, written by Linda Ellis, copyright Southwestern Family of Companies (www.thedashpoem.com), Used by Permission.

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In this episode I'm joined by Anna-Maria, a widow, a mother of three, and advocate for bereaved families.

Following the death of her husband, Dermot in 2024, Anna-Maria found herself facing not only the devastating reality of grief but also a welfare system she believes is failing widowed families across the UK.

We talk about Dermot's cancer diagnosis, the challenges of raising three children through loss, the reality of life after bereavement, and the impact grief has had on their family. Anna-Maria also shares why she became involved with the Widows Fight UK campaign, which is calling for urgent reform of Bereavement Support Payment, and discusses its recent success in bringing the issue before Parliament.

This is an honest conversation about love, loss, resilience, and why no bereaved family should have to fight for financial security while trying to rebuild their lives.

• Recommended book: Signs by Laura Lynne Jackson
• Link to Widow's Fight UK here
• Link to Widow's Fight UK Facebook page here
• Sign/Follow the petition here
• Widow's Fight Instagram page here
• Widow's Fight TikToc page here

Connect with your host Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebates

If this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.

You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.

#GriefPodcast

#BereavementSupportPayment

#GriefSupport

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In this deeply moving episode, I sit down with TEDx speaker, grief advocate, and mother Nicola Marshall.

Nicola's life changed forever when her 12-year-old son, Lucas, tragically fell from a balcony while the family was on holiday in Spain. The unimaginable loss of a child is something no parent expects to face, yet Nicola has found a way to transform her pain into purpose.

Since Lucas's death, Nicola has dedicated herself to helping others navigate grief, loss, and life after tragedy. Through her speaking, coaching, and advocacy work, she has become a source of hope and understanding for people facing some of life's darkest moments.

This episode is an honest and powerful exploration of love, loss, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit. Nicola's story is heartbreaking, but it is also one of courage, compassion, and finding meaning in the aftermath of unimaginable tragedy.

Recommended Books: The Body keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk.

Nicola’s Links:

TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYF_4m4r5Yw

Web: www.nicola-marshall.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicola.marshall.752

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolamarshall.griefandgrace/?hl=en-gb

Connect with your host Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebates

If this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.

You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.

#Grief

#GriefSupport

#Bereavement

#Loss

#HealingAfterLoss

#GriefJourney

#LifeAfterLoss

#Grieving

#GriefAwareness

#GriefPodcast

#ChildLoss

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In this deeply moving episode of A Gift For Grief, we explore a form of grief that often goes unseen: the grief that comes with chronic illness, loss of identity, and the life we once imagined.

Wenke Langhof author of, From Endo War to Inner Peace - joins us to share her powerful journey through stage IV endometriosis.

What began as a debilitating physical condition became a profound path of inner transformation, reshaping her relationship with her body, her beliefs, and her sense of self.

This conversation is honest, expansive, and ultimately hopeful.

It offers insight not only for those living with chronic illness, but for anyone navigating loss, healing, and personal growth.

We discuss:

• The hidden grief of chronic illness and living with endometriosis
• Losing and rebuilding your sense of identity and connection to your body
• Wenke’s alternative healing journey, including holistic and scientific approaches
• The role of mindset, belief systems, and emotional healing in recovery
• The balance between physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing
• Ancestral trauma and how it may influence our health and wellbeing
• The impact of pain as a teacher and catalyst for transformation
• Spirituality, signs from loved ones, and perspectives on the afterlife

Key Takeaways:

• Grief is not limited to bereavement - it can stem from losing health, identity, and control
• Healing is rarely linear and often requires a multi-dimensional approach
• Our relationship with our body can shift from conflict to compassion and understanding
• Exploring unconventional paths can sometimes lead to unexpected breakthroughs
• Hope itself can be a powerful and healing force

Connect with Wenke:

• www.wenke-langhof.com
• FB @wenke Langhof Gold
• IG@ wenkelanghof
• YouTube Wenke Langhof

Recommended Books:

• Wenke Langhof’s Book: From Endo War to Inner Peace https://amzn.eu/d/05N85Qrc
• Evette Rose: Metaphysical Anatomy: Your body is talking, are you listening?
• Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife by Eben Alexander
• The Body keeps The Score by Bessel van Der Kolk

Connect with your host Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebates

If this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.

You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.

#Grief

#GriefSupport

#Bereavement

#Loss

#HealingAfterLoss

#GriefJourney

#LifeAfterLoss

#Grieving

#GriefAwareness

#GriefPodcast

#Endometriosis

#EndometriosisCure

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this special milestone episode of A Gift for Grief - Life After Loss.

In this 50th episode, I step away from interviews to share something deeply personal, the inner experience that has shaped my own grief journey over the past nine years.

This episode explores the ongoing dialogue between two parts of myself: the human mind, which feels the raw pain of loss, and the spiritual mind, which offers a sense of peace, perspective, and continued connection.

If you’ve ever felt torn between deep sorrow and moments of calm or meaning, this conversation may resonate with you.

In This Episode, I Share:

What it’s really like living with grief 9 years after losing my son Matthew

The internal conflict between emotional pain and spiritual understanding

Why grief doesn’t disappear — but life can grow around it

How both heartbreak and healing can exist at the same time

The importance of allowing all feelings without judgement

A comforting perspective on love, memory, and continued connection

Connect with your host Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebates

If this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.

You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.

#Grief

#GriefSupport

#Bereavement

#Loss

#HealingAfterLoss

#GriefJourney

#LifeAfterLoss

#Grieving

#GriefAwareness

#GriefPodcast

#Endometriosis

#ChildLoss

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In this episode, I’m joined by Lucy Bee, both a therapist and the founder of Rage Rooms Leamington Spa.

In this episode we talk about a powerful and often overlooked side of grief - anger.

Lucy brings a unique perspective on grief, emotional suppression, and why sometimes talking alone isn’t enough. In this conversation, we explore how movement, expression, and safe release can play a role in healing.

Lucy created her rage room as a place where people can safely release what they’re holding inside. While smashing objects might sound unusual at first, the intention behind it is deeply therapeutic - allowing people to physically move emotions that feel stuck in the body.

We also dive into Lucy’s personal experiences with grief, what helped her move forward, and why acknowledging the full spectrum of emotions, including anger can be an important part of the healing process.

If you’ve ever felt like your grief doesn’t fit the neat, quiet version society expects, this episode may help you feel less alone.

Recommended reading:

The Body Keeps The Score - Bessel van der Kolk

The Courage To Be Disliked - Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi

Metaphysical Anatomy - Dr. Evette Rose

Tapping Therapy (EFT) - www.thetappingsolution.com

Connect With Lucy Bee – theinsidejobwithlucybee@gmail.com

www.ragerooms-leamingtonspa.co.uk

Connect with your host Louise Bates:

https://linktr.ee/louisebates

If this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.

You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.

#Grief

#GriefSupport

#Bereavement

#Loss

#HealingAfterLoss

#GriefJourney

#LifeAfterLoss

#Grieving

#GriefAwareness

#GriefPodcast

#Endometriosis

#RageRoom

#TheBodyKeepsTheScore

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Gentle Note: This episode contains discussion of mental health struggles, trauma, and the death of a young person. Please listen with care and seek support if you need it.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Marianne Griffiths, a mother who shares her experience of losing her adult daughter - first through years of separation and struggle, and later through her heartbreaking sudden death in 2019 from SUDEP.

SUDEP stands for Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. It refers to the sudden, unexplained death of someone with epilepsy who was otherwise healthy, where no other clear cause is found after investigation.

In this deeply moving and important conversation, Marianne shares the story of her daughter, Abi, a young woman who spent much of her life fighting to be understood, supported, and believed.

From an early age, Abi faced learning difficulties, mental health challenges, and repeated trauma. Her family spent years navigating education systems, social services, and mental health support in search of the right care. Along the way, there were moments of hope, heartbreak, and resilience.

This is a conversation about unconditional love, advocacy, and the urgent need to listen to vulnerable voices before it’s too late.

In This Episode, We Explore:

Marianne’s journey as a mother navigating complex systems

Abi’s early life and the challenges she faced

The impact of separation when a child is taken into care

Living with ambiguous grief and loss

The reality of grieving twice

Advocacy within education, social care, and mental health services

The importance of being heard, seen, and believed

Remembering Abi and the legacy she leaves behind

Connect with your host Louise Bates:

https://linktr.ee/louisebates

If this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.

You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.

#Grief

#GriefSupport

#Bereavement

#Loss

#HealingAfterLoss

#GriefJourney

#LifeAfterLoss

#Grieving

#GriefAwareness

#GriefPodcast

#MentalHealth

#Epilepsy

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