Susan is accompanied to today’s episode by Alyse Oram. Alyse’s grief journey started in 2016 with the loss of a childhood friend, then her younger brother six months later. While processing her loss, she became aware of the limited resources available to sibling loss specifically and the discomfort she witnessed from others when discussing the topic. Alyse and her family created a local summer camp scholarship fund in honor of her late brother as a way of creating positivity from tragedy. While not an expert, Alyse hopes that by sharing her story of loss and grief, she can provide hope and support to others in similar situations. Alyse is in the development of her own podcast: Alyse Makes It Awkward, where she discusses uncomfortable topics with her own personal spin. Alyse Makes It Awkward will premiere in early 2022. Alyse lives in Maine with her boyfriend and their fur babies, Stella and Harlow.

Key Takeaways:

• Alyse shares her grief story.
• There is no right way to grief, whatever is a way to cope with your grief and loss it’s OK.
• Surround yourself with the people who matter.
• Time numbs the pain a little bit.
• Alyse shares how grateful she was for spending the last days with her brother who passed away, even though a series of negative personal experiences took her there.
• People who are about to die somewhat know it.
• Alyse talks about how, along with her family, they started a summer camp scholarship fund in honor of her late brother, Nick.
• Find the way to honor the person you lost.
• If you want to feel better try doing something for someone else.
• Alyse shares her advice to people who are grieving: Be gentle with yourself, give yourself time.

Resources:

Tendrilsofgrief.com

Email Susan: susan@tendrilsofgrief.com

Meet Alyse Oram

The Nicholas Daniel Oram Scholarship on Facebook

NDO Scholarship on Instagram

Listen to Alyse Makes It Awkward Podcast