Surviving Sibling Loss of a  Special Needs Sister and Surviving Changing Family Dynamics

Dr. Angela Dean talks with fellow sibling loss survivor, physician, Dr. Becky Von Handorf, about the loss of her sister to a rare genetic condition.

Dr.  Von Handorf, a pediatric medical resident, discusses the loss of her sister, Aly, who had a rare genetic disorder, Sanfilippo Disorder. Becky shares about what her relationship was like growing up with a sister with a terminal illness, her grief, the influence on her career choice, family dynamics, and meaning and purpose. 

• Dr. Van Handorf shares her experience of disenfranchised grief and the challenges of navigating the loss of a sibling with special needs.
• She describes the challenges of having her grief discounted due to her sister’s special needs.
• The anticipation of her sister’s death was a heavy for Dr. Van  Handorf. She felt like she was “just sitting there and just like waiting for her to go."

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Thank you!
Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT, GTMR

Credits:
The Broken Pack: Stories of Sibling Loss  is produced by Not Done Here Media

"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" © ℗ 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
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