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
Movement, Signs & the Love of a Dog; A Mom Living Forward after Suicide Loss
Today I speak with suicide loss survivor mom Fronzie Roemer. This is a warm and real conversation that you won't want to miss. Find out more at Paws for Patrick
We talk about:
- Living forward (vs moving on)
- Fitness - or really, movement - and it's role in grief.
- Being Open to Signs from our kids ' - including a funny mouse story, some cardinals & sea glass treasures!!!
- Her families "grieve as YOU grieve" rule
- Her son Patrick and his Cici
- The love of a dog - and the legacy that became.
"Fronzie Roemer and her husband Steve are lifelong Illinoisans and currently live in Lake Forest. They have been married for 24 years and have three children. Ben, a senior at University of Michigan studying business and computer science, Patrick, forever 18, and Magdelene, a senior at Woodlands Academy. A graduate with a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Denison University, Fronzie spent many years in the non-profit sector in development, marketing and communications, and program development before returning to the fitness industry. She is currently an ELI (exclusive Lifetime Instructor) at Lifetime Northbrook as a Group Fitness Instructor, small group personal trainer and yoga teacher. She always has loved the connection between physical and mental health and how good exercise can make you feel emotionally as well as physically. They lovingly home 2 cats and 2 dogs that truly are an extension of their family. Fronzie and her husband, along with their children, Ben and Mags, founded Paws for Patrick after Patrick, their son and brother, died by suicide in May of 2020 to honor his memory and his deep connection to animals.
Paws for Patrick is a non-profit 501 c3 organization that connects young people with emotional support animals and therapy dogs to aid them as they live with mental illness.
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Fronzie talks about this poem-
The Uses of Sorrow | Mary Oliver (In my sleep I dreamed this poem)
Someone I loved once gave me
a box full of darkness.
It took me years to understand
that this, too, was a gift.
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The book she mentioned is "My Search for Christopher on the Other Side" by Joe McQuillen
AGAIN - PAWS FOR PATRICK
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My WEBSITE "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" support central - MY HUB - and that means my different SUPPORT GROUP Options are available. Go DIRECTLY to my SUPPORT page here where you will find ALL of the ways to connect and find support. 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:
CALL 988 OR, you can also TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
in Canada TEXT 686868
in the UK TEXT 85258