Navigating the Challenges of Surviving Sibling Loss: Allie’s Journey with Grief and Meaning-Making

Sibling loss survivor, Allie’s brother, Oliver, died suddenly, which led to a reassessment of her family dynamics and the start of a non-profit organization to help families in need of headstones

Dr. Dean talks with Allie about surviving sibling loss, Oliver, changing family dynamics, and the impetus for her and her mom's meaning making process in the development of Oliver's Stones, a charity helping families in need to place beautiful headstones for their young adult family members.

 To learn more about Oliver's stones, go to their webpage at https://oliversstones.com or their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1592295951141490/.

Content Warning: The episode discusses sensitive topics related to substance use and addiction, including the death of a loved one due to a drug overdose. These topics can be upsetting for individuals who have experienced similar losses or who are struggling with addiction themselves.

If you believe you are witnessing an overdose, call 911 or your country’s emergency number immediately even if you are administering Narcan. If you are in the US and would like support for yourself or someone else with substance use, suicidal thoughts, or other topics discussed in this episode, please call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or Text your 5-digit ZIP Code to 435748 (HELP4U) or call a warmline. For more immediate crisis call 911, 988, or go to the nearest emergency room.

In the USA an updated directory of warmlines by state can be found at https://warmline.org/warmdir.html

A warmline directory for trained peer supports in over 20 countries can be found at https://ww

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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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