The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations
You have found a podcast about surviving life after a suicide loss, which is nothing short of devastating, leaving you not knowing how to begin picking up the leftover pieces of your shattered heart. The host, Melissa Bottorff-Arey, who lost her 21-year-old son Alex to suicide on August 7, 2016, speaks to this from her own experiences. You will hear her have honest, hard conversations with other loss survivors, healers, and mental health experts on the podcast. She also produces shorter, solo episodes where she shares her own thoughts & experiences in this journey (thus far). She explores relevant topics and asks the hard questions. Nothing is 'off limit' as she delves into all areas of this grief, such as trauma, hope, healing, self-care, legacy & stigma. Melissa believes we learn to live alongside our grief, not get over it. We can make a difference only through authentic, meaningful connections and mindful choices. For a supporter or educator, these conversations hold nuggets of awareness and shine a spotlight on suicide and grief honestly and unapologetically. As a suicide loss griever, one can find the comfort of a community and hope for a little brighter tomorrow. Melissa wants to help others, like herself, go from surviving to finding a life with meaning, maybe even happiness, amid their own leftover pieces.
[Please NOTE: This podcast is for only relational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It candidly and openly discusses sensitive and sometimes activating topics. There will be no in-depth or graphic descriptions of the method, but merely the possible mention of suicide, murder, rape, and the like. Be guided and care for yourself accordingly. Also, Melissa is not a doctor or licensed therapist, and nothing on this podcast should be taken in place of, or as, medical/mental health advice or recommendations.]
The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations
When You are in Such Very Different Places; Marriage After Loss of a Child to Suicide
Today I have a warm and comforting conversation with Kellie Woolf - author, suicide loss survivor, mom, wife, and former educator.
Her Biography: "Kellie Woolf’s debut novel, Mount Hope, is set in Topeka, Kansas, where she was born and raised. While she now lives in Colorado With her husband, Steve, and her cat Figgy, Topeka will always be home. She graduated from Seaman High School, and all other children were born at Stormont Vail Hospital. Mount Hope Cemetery is the resting place for precious family members, and as a young adult, her first employment experiences crisscrossed the city.
Kellie has been a fierce supporter and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Multiple family members on every side, dear friends and herself belong. In this human experience, she believes three things are designed innately for everyone: faith, hope, and love. In this work, she presents all three, with the greatest of these being love.
While she is serious about her family, faith, and social justice, you can usually find her laughing with friends and exploring nature. Her adventures include marrying Steve, raising three children, and adopting two teenagers—to say nothing of evading London’s subway bombs in 2005, competing in Irish hard shoe dancing, and being a contestant on Ellen’s Game of Games. She is currently acting as co-director of a non-profit organization that offers healing and inspiration to today’s weary teachers and is working on her second novel."
You can find Kellie. her BLOG and her BOOK HERE on her WEBSITE
In our conversation you will hear us discuss:
- The suicide loss of her son Chris (24) on July 11, 2020 - and how she leaned into the pain to find hope (and just how Ellen's game show had a role in that)
- How she and her husband found themselves in very different places- and amid complex grief and trying circumstances they chose to battle back from the brink
- Why writing her new fiction novel ( out June 21, 2022) was important and how Chris shows up on pg. 367
- How she is a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and her hope for the novel's effect on the hate in the world
- Why she believes that Christianity is often wielded as a weapon against marginalized communities and why she believes there is a seat for everyone at the table - because love wins.
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My website "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is LIVE and that means my different SUPPORT SPACE Options are available & much more coming! GO THERE TODAY TO FIND ALL OF THE THINGS I OFFER
Go DIRECTLY to my SUPPORT page here where you will find registration for my online support groups for moms
My first two books (tools I am creating for you!) in the "Facing Life After Suicide" series are available on Amazon
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out:
The National Suicide Lifeline is there for you
IN a crisis you can also TEXT--->
TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
in Canada TEXT 686868
in the UK TEXT 85258
And Grievers, I am always here. You can find me