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In this heartfelt episode of The Lost Love Stories, Pam sits down with friend, author, podcast host, Army veteran, and widow advocate Dr. Tina Fornwald for a powerful conversation about love, grief, healing, and the unexpected beauty that can emerge after devastating loss.

Dr. Tina shares the story of meeting her late husband, Mark, in the Army, their whirlwind romance, and the profound blessing of being by his side when he unexpectedly passed away. Nearly ten years later, she reflects on what it means to carry grief while also embracing joy, purpose, and a life still worth living.

Together, Pam and Tina discuss:

✨ The gift—and heartbreak—of being present when a loved one transitions

✨ Why widowhood isn't a competition and there is no "better" way to lose someone

✨ The importance of having conversations about death and preparing for the unexpected

✨ How one late-night phone call inspired Dr. Tina to create Widowhood Real Talk with Tina

✨ Building community instead of competition among widow advocates

✨ The incredible impact of the Children of Widowhood Secret Santa Program, which provided Christmas gifts to 29 children last year

✨ Why fiction can sometimes tell the deepest truths—and the inspiration behind Dr. Tina's Amazon bestselling novel, Five Widows

✨ Learning to hear God's whispers and act on the "downloads" that life sends us

✨ The healing power of widow retreats and giving yourself permission to laugh again

✨ Why thriving after loss isn't betrayal—it's honoring the life we still have

✨ The ripple effect that occurs when widows reclaim joy

Throughout the conversation, one truth shines brightly:

You can deeply love the person who died and still choose to fully love the life you have remaining.

📚 About Dr. Tina Fornwald

Dr. Tina R. Fornwald is a grief advocate, transformational speaker, author of The Five Widows Club, and founder of Widowhood Real Talk with Tina. A retired and decorated Army officer, widow, breast cancer survivor, and mother of two, she helps individuals and organizations understand where grief gets stuck and how people can reconnect with life, community, and a renewed sense of belonging.

Connect with Dr. Tina

Dr. Tina’s website https://tinafornwald.com/

Purchase The Five Widows Club https://bit.ly/TheFiveWidowsClub

Where Grief Gets Stuck: https://tinafornwald.com/where-grief-gets-stuck/

WRTWT Home page https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/

Children of Widowhood Secret Santa https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/children-of-widowhood/

Retreat web page https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/real-widowhood-weekend-nextyou-experience/

Interest form for 2026 Real Widowhood Weekend: #NextYou Experience https://bit.ly/nextyou-experience-interestform

Memorial Garden https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/events/community-memorial-garden/

Podcast https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/podcast/

Events https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/events/

Watch on this episode on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/6-wyc4klh3Q

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

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Some people leave behind memories.

Others leave behind movements.

In this heartfelt episode of The Lost Love Stories, Pam sits down with her friend Kate O'Donnell to share the remarkable story of her father, Joe O'Donnell—a beloved leader in the cystic fibrosis community whose impact continues to be felt long after his passing.

Joe's journey into advocacy began after his son Joey was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. What started as a father's determination to help his child evolved into a lifetime of service, fundraising, storytelling, and leadership that helped transform the future of CF care for countless families.

But this conversation is about far more than fundraising.

Kate shares what it was like growing up in a family shaped by both profound loss and extraordinary purpose. She reflects on losing the brother she never had the chance to know, watching her parents turn grief into action, and eventually stepping into her father's legacy after his death from pancreatic cancer in 2024.

Together, Pam and Kate explore the realities of anticipatory grief, caregiving, hospice, family traditions, and the ways we continue relationships with those we love after they're gone.

This episode is filled with laughter, tears, wisdom, and a powerful reminder that the people we love never truly leave us—they live on in the stories we tell, the lives they touched, and the work we continue in their honor.

In This Episode We Discuss:

• Growing up in the shadow and light of a sibling lost to cystic fibrosis
• How Joe O'Donnell became one of the most influential advocates in the CF community
• The power of storytelling to inspire change
• Turning grief into purpose and action
• The realities of pancreatic cancer and anticipatory grief
• Hospice, caregiving, and end-of-life experiences
• Continuing bonds with loved ones after loss
• Why talking about death helps us live more fully
• Carrying forward a loved one's legacy

About Kate O'Donnell

Kate O'Donnell is a passionate advocate, fundraiser, and leader within the cystic fibrosis community. Following in the footsteps of her father, Joe O'Donnell, she continues to support the mission of improving and extending the lives of people with CF while helping carry forward the extraordinary legacy her family has built over decades of service and advocacy.

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Joe O'Donnell—a storyteller, fundraiser, leader, husband, father, grandfather, and friend whose impact continues to ripple through countless lives.

Follow Kate and her work with The Joey Fund on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thejoeyfund?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Watch this episode on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/7T_lc0-Fr0U

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.

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In this deeply moving and eye-opening episode of The Lost Love Stories, Pam sits down with longtime friend Kate Boccia to share the heartbreaking and complicated story of her son, Daniel Boccia.

What began as a seemingly “normal” suburban upbringing slowly evolved into a devastating journey through addiction, incarceration, systemic failure, and unimaginable grief. Kate candidly shares how Daniel’s opioid addiction began during the height of America’s prescription pill crisis, eventually leading to heroin addiction, incarceration, trauma, and ultimately his death from fentanyl in 2021.

But this episode is about far more than addiction.

It’s about motherhood. Shame. Survival. The hidden grief families carry when someone they love enters the prison system. It’s about what happens when punishment replaces healing — and what true rehabilitation could look like if we chose humanity over stigma.

Kate also shares how her pain transformed into purpose through the creation of the National Incarceration Association, where she now advocates for incarcerated individuals and their families while fighting for meaningful criminal justice reform.

This conversation is raw, emotional, and incredibly important.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How addiction quietly entered Daniel’s life
• The opioid crisis and its impact on families
• Parenting through addiction and legal trouble
• The trauma of incarceration for both inmates and families
• PTSD and post-incarceration syndrome
• Why rehabilitation inside prisons matters
• The stigma families face when a loved one is incarcerated
• Turning grief into advocacy and action
• Finding purpose after unimaginable loss

If you’ve ever loved someone struggling with addiction, incarceration, or mental health challenges — or if you’ve ever wondered what families behind these stories endure — this episode will stay with you.

🎧 Listen with an open heart.

Watch on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/IZ4fqVwjuVg

To learn more about Kate and The NIA visit:

https://joinnia.com/

Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.