Sorry To Hear That

About CJ’s Diary CJ’s Diary is an episode where CJ Williams discusses some of her thoughts from an interview or happenings in the world that may change the way we interact with the stories being told on the podcast. CJ’s Diary will evolve over time and is an opportunity to hear her unabashed thoughts. About this Episode of Sorry To Hear That This week CJ Williams discusses Mother’s Day on CJ’s Diary. It has been almost three years since she lost her mother and preparing for an Instagram takeover with Surviving Our Parents (@survivingourparents) during the next week has inspired some thoughts and ideas about what Mother’s Day, coming on May 10, will look and feel like. This also comes with acknowledging that sometimes complicated feelings of jealousy, anger, and sadness will come to the forefront, sometimes in situations that don’t make a lot of sense. Mentions CJ brings up that her mom’s story is bigger than just how she died, as explained in Episode 1 called I’m CJ Williams; and CJ mentions what it may have felt to lose a parent for an even longer time than she has, like Marcus & Brenda in Episode 3; and Living life in and cognizant of The Dash, a poem by Linda Ellis, that was a part of CJ’s mother’s memorial program; and The Hallmark commercial reminding you about how we should think about mothers, but also with the traditional “twinkly music”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw4nYanJ8Cs We welcome your comments and feedback about the episode. Share your story or comments via email at sorrytohearpodcast@gmail.com or on the contact form, www.sorrytohearpodcast.com/contact or on Instagram (@SorryToHearPod) For more Sorry To Hear That podcast, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, @SorryToHearPod. Share your story and subscribe to our newsletter on our website, www.sorrytohearpodcast.com/ Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict Hosted by: CJ Williams

Chris’ brother, Derrick, was just 53 years old when he suffered a sudden stroke. While scary and unexpected, Derrick seemed to be on the mend in the hospital. Then suddenly, while still in the hospital, Derrick suffered a heart attack. Seven days later, Chris and his mom made the decision to take Derrick off of life support. Chris speaks with CJ Williams about his brother, Derrick, and how he has had to learn how to deal with the aftermath of brother’s death — figuring out how to come back after a life-altering event like this and learning where his inner strength comes from. While Chris realizes that in life, he and Derrick were not that close, in Derrick’s passing - he was a role model both for himself and for others. Unfortunately, he cannot share that realization with the person he wants to know it the most - his brother, Derrick. Share your story or comments about this episode via email at sorrytohearpodcast@gmail.com or on the contact form, www.sorrytohearpodcast.com/contact For more Sorry To Hear That podcast, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, @SorryToHearPod. Share your story and subscribe to our newsletter on our website, www.sorrytohearpodcast.com/ Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict Guest: Chris Williams, you can find him on Twitter and Instagram, @animal_brown, and his website, reelvillemedia.com Hosted by: CJ Williams

CJ Williams speaks with B. Pagels-Minor (@bpagelsminor on Instagram and Twitter) about their mother, Suzi Anne Franklin who died in 2012 of complications from Epiglottitis, a swelling of the epiglottis which is a part of the mouth located near the back of the throat. This had led to B. feeling as though they have much to accomplish in a little time as possible considering Suzi Anne died at the young age of 48. Dealing with their mother’s death, including the aftermath of a lawsuit with the hospital and the sort of normal business of death to close out the estate left B. feeling drained. B.’s new reality was that they were angrier and, in some ways, unable to cope with the pressures of their mother’s death for several years, but meeting their now wife and partner is what made them feel like they could and should move into a better space to address the feelings and emotions that come after a catastrophic loss. Share your story or comments about this episode via email at sorrytohearpodcast@gmail.com or on the contact form, www.sorrytohearpodcast.com/contact Resources: What is the Epiglottis?: https://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/epiglottis#1 What is Epiglottitis?: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/epiglottitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20372227?page=0&citems=10 What are some treatments for Epiglottitis?: https://www.emedicinehealth.com/epiglottitis/article_em.htm#what_is_the_treatment_for_epiglottitis If you ever need to complain or bring up an issue with you or your loved one’s medical care: https://www.ama-assn.org/about/publications-newsletters/frequently-asked-questions-ethics What is a health center?: http://www.nachc.org/about/about-our-health-centers/what-is-a-health-center/ Howard Brown Health, a health center with locations in the North, West and South sides of Chicago, Illinois: https://howardbrown.org/ YWCA Chicago, https://ywcachicago.org/ For more Sorry To Hear That podcast, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, @SorryToHearPod. Share your story and subscribe to our newsletter on our website, www.sorrytohearpodcast.com/contact Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict Guest: B. Pagels-Minor https://www.bpagelsminor.com/ and on Instagram and Twitter, @bpagelsminor Hosted by: CJ Williams

Trigger warning. This episode has some discussion about suicide. Ansel speaks about his father, Charles, who passed away in 2018 from kidney and heart complications after he stopped taking his medication. Ansel discusses losing his father, navigating his new normal, and his many struggles with his “grief shroud”, a way to describe the emotions that can come over you while dealing with the loss of a loved one. Ansel recognizes that the condolences and well-wishes were well meaning but he wasn’t in a place to receive them. While he also better understands where patience truly comes from - as a parent and going through grief. When he asked for a sign that his father made it to heaven, he saw a red cardinal that gave him peace. His experience is similar to what Lashelle experienced (Ep. 2: Lashelle & Linda). Listen to Ansel’s story. For more Sorry To Hear That podcast, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, @SorryToHearPod. Share your story and subscribe to our newsletter on our website, www.sorrytohearpodcast.com/contact Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict Guest: Ansel Parker Hosted by: CJ Williams

CJ Williams speaks with Pam who lost her father, Hollis, in February. Pam discusses the relationship that she has with Hollis and how they were able to more fully develop their relationship before he died. Even though Hollis wanted a more casual memorial service, Pam and her siblings decided to have a Scottish wake. Grief has surprised Pam as she adjusts to living without her father present. References about a Scottish Wake: 1. CUNY (http://userhome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/anthro/jbeatty/Scotia/issue57/issue57b.html) 2. Visit Dunkeld (http://www.visitdunkeld.com/a-scottish-wake.html) For more Sorry To Hear That podcast, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, @SorryToHearPod. Share your story and subscribe to our newsletter on our website, www.sorrytohearpodcast.com/contact Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict Guest: Pam Hosted by: CJ Williams

Kim, co-host of the podcast Millenial Vibes, joins CJ Williams to talk about her father, Kenneth. Their relationship was and is special - she’s daddy’s little girl through and through. Her father lost his eyesight because of a tumor that began on his retina which caused him to go blind shortly after a risky surgery. The last time he saw Kim physically, she was 10 years old. Through it all, Kim thought of her father as her “Superman” and, unfortunately, the tumor that took his sight ultimately took his life. Kim struggling with understanding her new place in the world without her father while also newly experiencing panic and anxiety attacks, grief that doesn’t allow you to get out of bed, and dealing with the business of death while her mother cries. She’s had to deal with death before, but not at this level. Join CJ Williams as she talks with Kim about who her father was, who she was and who she is now. For more Sorry To Hear That podcast, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, @SorryToHearPod. Share your story and subscribe to our newsletter on our website, www.sorrytohearpodcast.com/contact Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict Guest: Kim, co-host of the podcast Millenial Vibes, find her on Instagram @millennialvibespodcast Hosted by: CJ Williams

Marcus lost his mother, Brenda, right before Christmas of his senior year of high school 17 years ago. As he has made big choices and little choices, including college, graduate school (twice), ministry, and now in his second church as a pastor - Brenda has missed a lot. The conversation with Marcus is about grief and loss, but, perhaps more importantly, also about wonder, curiosity, and the big “what if”. What if his mother had been able to see him graduate or become a pastor or preach his first sermon? These are questions and thoughts we explore in this episode of Sorry To Hear That podcast. For more Sorry To Hear That podcast, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, @SorryToHearPod. Share your story and subscribe to our newsletter on our website, www.sorrytohearpodcast.com/contact Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict Guest: Marcus Hosted by: CJ Williams

Meet Lashelle as she speaks with CJ Williams about her mother, Linda. Linda had “the perfect storm with the worst outcome” after suddenly falling ill and being put on life support for 10 days. Lashelle’s life was forever changed after she received the phone call that sent her across the country to her mother’s bedside. Exploring Lashelle’s journey and uncovering the many layers that come with grief makes her story a relatable one, including using the words, “I don’t know.” For more Sorry To Hear That podcast, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, @SorryToHearPod. Share your story and subscribe to our newsletter on our website, www.sorrytohearpodcast.com/contact Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict Guest: Lashelle Hosted by: CJ Williams

Join the host, CJ Williams, as she discusses her own struggles with grief and loss after losing her mother to a car accident in 2017. Reflecting on “the fog”, the confusion of not knowing where to turn when she expected her mother to be there forever, and forgiveness are tackled in the first episode of the brand new podcast, Sorry To Hear That. For more Sorry To Hear That podcast, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, @SorryToHearPod. Share your story and subscribe to our newsletter on our website, www.sorrytohearpodcast.com/contact Subscribe to new episodes on your favorite podcast listening app: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict Hosted by: CJ Williams

This is Sorry To Hear That -- www.sorrytohearpodcast.com I was supposed to launch in July... life, grief, and a whole lot of things got in the way. I won't make any excuses. Here's a quick recap of where I am now. See you in November!

Sorry To Hear That, a new podcast coming in July 2019, explores grief and loss and life.