A MOTHER’S JOURNEY THROUGH ADDICTION, LOVE, AND LOSS | JENNIFER VINSON

What happens when a life has held addiction, devastating loss, grief—and somehow, still, joy?

In this episode of Our Grief Connection, I sit down with my friend Jennifer Vinson, trauma-informed grief coach, founder of Love Like Matthew, and author of 23: A Journey Through Addiction, Love and Loss.

Jennifer's story is one of profound loss. She lost her father to suicide, her husband Danny to alcohol-related illness, and in 2023, her 23-year-old son, Matthew, to a fentanyl overdose. She also shares openly about her own journey with addiction and sobriety.

But this conversation isn't only about what Jennifer has lost.

It's about the life she has built around that loss.

We talk honestly about addiction and the pain that so often lives underneath it. We talk about the things people say to someone who is grieving, the things that help, the things that don't, and why sometimes one of the greatest gifts we can give someone is simply the willingness to say the name of the person they lost and ask, "Tell me about them."

And Jennifer tells us about Matthew.

His humor. His love for his family. His pride in becoming a plumber like his dad. The letter he wrote his mom celebrating four years of sobriety. And the many ways Jennifer continues to carry him with her.

We also talk about something I believe deeply: joy does not have to replace grief. It can live alongside it.

Jennifer's story is proof that we can carry tremendous loss, continue loving the people who are no longer physically here, and still give ourselves permission to laugh, love, find purpose, and experience joy again.

Jennifer is now honoring Matthew through Love Like Matthew, including a scholarship fund supporting students pursuing careers in the trades and her advocacy surrounding addiction and long-term recovery.

Jennifer's book, 23, is available on Amazon.

To learn more about Jennifer, Love Like Matthew, the scholarship fund, and ways to get involved:
http://lovelikematthew.com

If you're carrying grief and could use someone to walk alongside you, I'd love to connect with you:
http://ourgriefconnection.com

We all experience grief. The circumstances are different. The people are different. The relationships are different. But loss is part of being human.

Maybe instead of turning away from each other because we don't know what to say, we can learn how to turn toward each other.

Take care of yourself and take care of each other. ❤️

#OurGriefConnection #GriefAndJoy #GriefSupport #AddictionRecovery #ChildLoss #FentanylAwareness #LoveLikeMatthew #GriefPodcast