Join us as I - the host of the Empty Arms Podcast - share my story. Erin Hatch joins me and we switch seats as she interviews me and asks me deep questions about loss, about grief and about purpose.

After TWO heartbreaking back to back losses, I found myself in a place where I could either drown from the pain or use it to bring forth light and healing into the lives of others like me who hold a baby in their heart and not their arms. I spend time with Erin talking about my experience through both of my losses, regrets that I have as well as the direction my life has taken after my losses, including serving on the board as well as launching this podcast.

This episode is generously sponsored by Tiller & Rye.

Taryn's daughter June was diagnosed with Stage IV HR MYCN amplified neuroblastoma when she was just 8 months old after many months of sleepless nights and a mother's instinctual worry. Taryn recounts the early days of the diagnosis, the rollercoaster of emotions she felt along the journey and then openly discusses the depths of grief she experienced after her daughters passing as well as the tumultuous healing journey she began when her daugther died and continues to walk.

And while her story is filled with heartache and loss - its also filled with tremendous hope, beautiful healing and a passion that has been ignited within her soul along her own healing journey. Her words are tender, her voice is soft, her openness is admirable.

Taryn has used written word to heal. And healing it has done. She shares her blog that she often updates that can be found here. https://carryingjune.com Her writing shows us that are seeking hope that it's possible to dance with grief and hope and to carry on to live a meaningful life after such devastating loss.

While pregnancy and infant loss is the primary focus of the non-profit, a mother's grief is the commonality amongst us all. It's the invisible string that ties us together. And while Taryn's story falls a little bit outside of the "norm" of content we typically stick to - her story is too beautiful and moving to not be told. Her story is too full of hope and encouragement not to share with all of you! I hope you leave this conversation as touched as I was.

This episode is generously sponsored by Rett's Roost. https://rettsroost.org

Kayla's son Milo was diagnosed with a massive tumor on his neck while in utero. It was determined during testing that Dr. Christopher Hartnick, an Otolaryngologist who specializes in pediatric care, would be a part of the amazing team working to save the life of both Kayla and Milo.

While determining the roadmap in which to safely bring Milo into this world, it was decided that Milo had to make it to 32 weeks in order for Dr. Hartnick to do whats called an EXIT procedure. You can read more about the procedure as well as Kayla's story here in an article written by Dr. Hartnick called "Whose life do I prioritize? A choice no parent wants to make." This article was written on Aug. 30, 2022 and can be found here. https://www.statnews.com/2022/08/30/whose-life-do-i-prioritize-a-choice-no-parent-wants-to-make/

In a devastating turn of events, Kayla went into labor at 28 weeks and ultimately, Dr. Hartnick was unable to save Milo due to the fact that the tumor never allowed the proper airway to develop while in utero. Dr. Hartnick talks about what it's like to walk a loss family through this experience and the toll it takes on him as a human being having to witness such loss.

Kayla and Dr. Hartnick tenderly replay what transpired with Milo and how the conversation around pregnancy and infant loss impacts the medical world. It is a beautiful conversation between a loss mom and her doctor.

This episode is sponsored by 207 Wellness. They can be reached at 207-949-6589.