Category Archives: Death of a Child

The Mary Mac Show | Death By Fentanyl Podcast Series | Michael J Gray 25 yo daughter Amanda I

In Episode 192, I speak with Michael J. Gray, Founder of The Fentanyl Awareness Coalition and the Actus Foundation, who discusses the death of his daughter, Amanda to fentanyl poisoning.

Next week in Part II we will speak about Michael’s advocacy work to help young people better understand the incredible danger of this poison and how by using just once can kill them if they take a pill or other drug laced with fentanyl.

We spent this session speaking about Amanda’s young years, how her mental health declined and how her family was affected.

I am thankful for Michael’s candid sharing of their struggles and how he is dealing with his grief after his daughter’s death.

Michael J Gray and daughter, Amanda
Amanda Gray

Visit The Fentanyl Awareness Coalition – https://www.the-fac.org and The Actus Foundation – https://www.actus.org which were started after Amanda’s death.

Watch the video version here:

Thank you Michael for your time and sharing your story with us.

We are grateful!

xoxo

Please share this episode with others who could benefit from it and subscribe to be alerted to future episodes.

#death #fentanyl #onepillcankill #poison #deathofadaughter #michaeljgray #amandagray #themarymacshow #marymac #grieving #grievingchildren #griefpodcast #marymacjournals #themarymacjournalcollection #marymacjournalcollection #marymacjournals #grief #myjournal #mygriefjournal #mygratitudejournal #myremembrancejournal #grieving #death #dying #journalsbymarymac #marymacjournalcollection #themarymacshowjournalcollection

Your support of my work, through PayPal – https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=DN22KFWSZ8XY8 – is greatly appreciated.

Visit our other sites:

https://www.MaryMac.info – our primary hub. Pick up our free ebook “21 Things You Must Know About The Grieving Process.”

https://www.TheMaryMacShow.com – for all episodes of my podcast. Join my mailing list here.

The Mary Mac Show You Tube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/@themarymacshow – please subscribe to our channel, like our videos and share.

https://www.GriefAuthority.com – pick up our digital book collection to download immediately upon purchase.

https://www.FoundationForGrievingChildren.org/donate/ – your donation to our cause will be a big help for hurting young ones.

Lets Be Friends:

Facebook – Ask Mary Mac
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/marymccambridge/
Instagram – @themarymacshowpodcast
Twitter – @askmarymac

author, death, dying, grief, grief education, grief education podcast, grief podcast, grief podcaster, grieving journals, journals as gifts, journals as presents, journals for women, journals for writing, loss, Mary M. McCambridge, Mary Mac, mary mac journals, my gratitude journal, my grief journal, my journal, my remembrance journal, podcast for grief, podcaster, podcast for grief education, podcast for grievers, the mary mac journal collection, the mary mac show, writing

The Mary Mac Show | Death By Fentanyl Podcast Series | Jaime Puerta 16 yo son Daniel

In Episode 191, I speak with Jaime Puerta, Co-Founder of VOID (Victims of Illicit Drugs), who discusses the death of his son, Daniel to fentanyl poisoning.

He graciously agreed to speak with me about his horrific experience finding his son in his room early on the morning of April 1, 2020. Daniel had taken only one half of what he thought was an oxycodone pill but instead it was laced with fentanyl.

On April 5th, Daniel was taken off life support.

Jaime Puerta with son, Daniel

Since that time, in addition to his grieving process, Jaime co-founded an advocacy group to help other families learn about the dangers of obtaining drugs online through SnapChat, a social media platform which erases correspondence very quickly.

Young people are buying drugs from dealers who claim to be giving them the drug they ask for, but instead, are selling them a deadly pill.

We also speak about Jaime’s advocacy work and the documentary by Dominic Tierno and Christine Wood entitled “Dead On Arrival” exposing the illegal drug trafficking of fentanyl from Mexico and four parents who tell their painful stories of how this claimed their children’s lives and the affects on their families.

Please visit the following sites to learn more:

“Dead on Arrival” documentary and VOID (Victims of Illicit Drugs) – https://www.stopthevoid.org the organization Jaime co-founded.

Learn more about Fentanyl and the upcoming “Fentanyl Awareness Day” on August 21st – https://facingfentanylnow.org/

And watch the episode here:

Thank you Jaime for your time and sharing your story with us.

We are grateful!

xoxo

Please share this episode with others who could benefit from it and subscribe to be alerted to future episodes.

#death #fentanyl #onepillcankill #poison #deathofason #jaimepuerta #danielpuertajohnson #themarymacshow #marymac #grieving #grievingchildren #griefpodcast #marymacjournals #themarymacjournalcollection #marymacjournalcollection #marymacjournals #grief #myjournal #mygriefjournal #mygratitudejournal #myremembrancejournal #grieving #death #dying #journalsbymarymac #marymacjournalcollection #themarymacshowjournalcollection

Your support of my work, through PayPal – https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=DN22KFWSZ8XY8 – is greatly appreciated.

Visit our other sites:

https://www.MaryMac.info – our primary hub. Pick up our free ebook “21 Things You Must Know About The Grieving Process.”

https://www.TheMaryMacShow.com – for all episodes of my podcast. Join my mailing list here.

The Mary Mac Show You Tube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/@themarymacshow – please subscribe to our channel, like our videos and share.

https://www.GriefAuthority.com – pick up our digital book collection to download immediately upon purchase.

https://www.FoundationForGrievingChildren.org/donate/ – your donation to our cause will be a big help for hurting young ones.

author, death, dying, grief, grief education, grief education podcast, grief podcast, grief podcaster, grieving journals, journals as gifts, journals as presents, journals for women, journals for writing, loss, Mary M. McCambridge, Mary Mac, mary mac journals, my gratitude journal, my grief journal, my journal, my remembrance journal, podcast for grief, podcaster, podcast for grief education, podcast for grievers, the mary mac journal collection, the mary mac show, writing

The Mary Mac Show | Death By Fentanyl Podcast Series | Stephanie Hellstern 16 yo Son Kyle

#fentanyl #death #onepillcankill

In Episode 189, we begin our Death By Fentanyl Podcast Series featuring Stephanie Hellstern whose 16 year-old son, Kyle, died of fentanyl poisoning by the use of just one lethal pill.

She graciously agreed to share her story and has become an advocate in this area so other families do not have to go through the sorrow and pain she had felt from losing her son.

Stephanie Hellstern and her son, Kyle

She is the Founder, Director, CEO at North Texas Fentanyl Coalition NTXFC and Founder, Director, CEO at Kyle Still Speaks.

Recently, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law four bills to protect Texans from the danger of fentanyl which has been crossing over the border in enormous quantities. Watch him and the grieving families here and educate yourself and your children to this deadly poison that can kill with ONE dose, ONE pill, laced inside joints and other drugs like cocaine and heroin.

Watch the video version below. Please subscribe, like and comment and share this episode with others who may benefit from its knowledge.

Thank you Stephanie for sharing your story with us!

Much Love as we remember Kyle!

xoxo

#death #fentanyl #onepillcankill #deathofason #stephaniehellstern #kylesexton #txgovernorabbott #txlegislature #deathbyfentanylpodcastseries #themarymacshow #marymac #grieving #griefpodcast #marymacjournals #themarymacjournalcollection #marymacjournalcollection #marymacjournals #grief #myjournal #mygriefjournal #mygratitudejournal #myremembrancejournal #grieving #death #dying #journalsbymarymac #marymacjournalcollection #themarymacshowjournalcollection

Your support of my work, through PayPal is greatly appreciated.

Visit our other sites:

www.MaryMac.info – our primary hub. Pick up our free ebook “21 Things You Must Know About The Grieving Process.”

www.TheMaryMacShow.com – for all episodes of my podcast. Join my mailing list here.

The Mary Mac Show You Tube Channel – please subscribe to our channel, like our videos and share.

www.GriefAuthority.com – pick up our digital book collection to download immediately upon purchase.

www.FoundationForGrievingChildren.org/donate/ – your donation to our cause will be a big help for hurting young ones.

author, death, dying, grief, grief education, grief education podcast, grief podcast, grief podcaster, grieving journals, journals as gifts, journals as presents, journals for women, journals for writing, loss, Mary M. McCambridge, Mary Mac, mary mac journals, my gratitude journal, my grief journal, my journal, my remembrance journal, podcast for grief, podcaster, podcast for grief education, podcast for grievers, the mary mac journal collection, the mary mac show, writing

The Mary Mac Show | Bereaved Mothers Podcast Series | Death of a Young Adult

In Episode 181, we continue our Bereaved Mothers Podcast Series featuring Raina of Southern California whose son Josiah had been diagnosed with cancer at 20 yet succumbed to a motorcycle accident at age 29.

A true creative, Josiah knew early in life that he wanted to perform.

And that’s exactly what he did.

But at the age of 20 he was having trouble breathing and a visit to the hospital proved a difficult diagnosis – hodgkins lymphoma.

Yet that didn’t stop Josiah.

He did everything he knew to cure his body through natural medicine, good food and much more.

And he succeeded.

And along the way, he learned flute and became a massage therapist.

Yet it was a motorcycle accident that ultimately took his life which was never expected.

In this episode, I am honored to welcome Raina Irene, Josiah’s mother, who shares her story of his life, diagnosis and death and with the wonderful support of her husband, Richard and children, Jeremy and Valerie, have coped with his death.

Watch my interview with Raina in video format below:

Visit Raina’s website – www.RainaIrene.love – to obtain her book, Because of Josiah, her cards and her blog.

Her Facebook Group – Sacred Alchemy/Lullaby Letters group for our Sacred Mommaz
~Sacred Alchemy~ {Lullaby Letters, Letters from Our Children in Spirit} | Facebook – www.facebook.com/groups/lullabyletters

And her Author page on Facebook – Raina’s Realm, Heart, Soul, Spirit Writer | www.facebook.com/gypsyraina

#childloss #deathofayoungadult #cancer #Josiah #RainaIrene #BecauseofJosiah #author

If you are aware of others who may need this knowledge, please share this post or our youtube interview with them, as well as on social media.

Much Love, my Warrior.
xoxo

Additional Notes – Some things that will help along this journey to ease the pain:

If you are having an especially difficult time emotionally, I recommend you speak with a specialist at a hotline near you. Here you will find hotlines all around the world. Trained counselors are there to listen, free of charge, to what’s going on with you. Take advantage of their great kindness. Vent with an objective individual. You don’t have to be ‘suicidal’ to call them, but if you are, that’s the best place to call. Don’t hestitate!

For parents and teens, there is an amazing resource where you can email or text counselors for help at The Boys Town National Hotline! Outstanding assistance for your children and you. You can also dial 988 for assistance.

Visit Julie’s EFT episodes on grief and she will teach you the Emotional Freedom Technique. Her videos calm your spirit and help you release emotional and physical pain as you move forward.

Here are some meditation music to help you rest.

You can order your Bach’s Rescue Remedy from most health food stores, either in person or online. Remember, these do have alcohol in them.

I use the Rescue Remedy 20ml drops but they have spray and other versions which might work better for you. And…they also have products to calm pets, too.

*To find a homeopathic doctor, visit here or here. Many offer phone consultations if you cannot find one in your area. They work with patients around the globe. You can also research in your area of the world.

Grab my free ebook, 21 Things You Need to Know About the Grieving Process, right here on my site.

Please share with anyone who may need this knowledge. Also subscribe, rate and review this podcast on whichever podcast platform you listened in.

The Mary Mac Show | Bereaved Mothers Podcast Series | Death of a Teen

In Episode 180, we continue our Bereaved Mothers Podcast Series featuring Lisa of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada whose daughter Katie was 17 when she was killed in a car accident in 2015.

It was December 8th and Katie, a devoted student, jutted out the door saying she’d be back soon.

But it was the knock at the door not long after by a police officer and coroner that would change their life forever. Katie had been killed in a car accident and Lisa, her husband and son’s life would never be the same.

In this interview, Lisa shares how life was before the accident and how life changed after it.

She courageously tells her family’s story since then and the challenge to keep a family strong while grieving.

Watch my interview with Lisa in video format below:

Join Lisa’s facebook page.

Lisa’s book Journey to Healing: A Mother’s Guide to Navigating Child Loss can be obtained through amazon.

Visit her website to learn more about her work and her community for Bereaved Mothers.

#childloss #deathofateen #caraccident #JourneytoHealingbook #author #lisakboehm

If you are aware of others who may need this knowledge, please share this post or our youtube interview with them, as well as on social media.

Much Love, my Warrior.
xoxo

Additional Notes – Some things that will help along this journey to ease the pain:

If you are having an especially difficult time emotionally, I recommend you speak with a specialist at a hotline near you. Here you will find hotlines all around the world. Trained counselors are there to listen, free of charge, to what’s going on with you. Take advantage of their great kindness. Vent with an objective individual. You don’t have to be ‘suicidal’ to call them, but if you are, that’s the best place to call. Don’t hestitate!

For parents and teens, there is an amazing resource where you can email or text counselors for help at The Boys Town National Hotline! Outstanding assistance for your children and you. You can also dial 988 for assistance.

Visit Julie’s EFT episodes on grief and she will teach you the Emotional Freedom Technique. Her videos calm your spirit and help you release emotional and physical pain as you move forward.

Here are some meditation music to help you rest.

You can order your Bach’s Rescue Remedy from most health food stores, either in person or online. Remember, these do have alcohol in them.

I use the Rescue Remedy 20ml drops but they have spray and other versions which might work better for you. And…they also have products to calm pets, too.

*To find a homeopathic doctor, visit here or here. Many offer phone consultations if you cannot find one in your area. They work with patients around the globe. You can also research in your area of the world.

Grab my free ebook, 21 Things You Need to Know About the Grieving Process, right here on my site.

Please share with anyone who may need this knowledge. Also subscribe, rate and review this podcast on whichever podcast platform you listened in.