One Bright Star - Life After Loss

Dena and Travis Iverson suffered the stillbirth of their daughter, Cassie. They already had a son, Clayton, and they knew they wanted more children but it was a complicated process. Dena joins our podcast to talk about the emotional toll Cassie's loss took on them but they pushed forward, even after having three additional miscarriages. Dena wants her message for others to be that there is no fast-track to healing, it will wait for you, and people need to allow themselves to, "feel the feelings" and not feel guilty after a loss.

The Iverson's now have another son, Charlie and a daughter, Caylee. Dena tells her story to help others and talks about the projects she immersed herself in to not only help in her family's grief journey, but for the benefit of others who are suffering loss. Joy and sadness can live together and we hope you join us for Dena's inspirational story. OneBrightStar.org

Joan Stanford lost her son, Jeremy Reinarts, to veteran suicide in 2019. Jeremy was an Iraq war vet. Upon his return to civilian life, he suffered with mental illness, PTSD, and, like many veterans, had a difficult time with reintegration. Joan talks about her struggle with loneliness and the difficulties in her life with processing her sons death and her continued journey to keep Jeremy's memory alive. Joan says, "there are no rainbows" in her story. It's raw, difficult and emotional. Joan believes that Jeremy didn't want to die but that he didn't know how to live. He had dreams and goals and he had helped many people in his life but his personal struggle was too much for him to overcome. Joan wants to educate people on how to help those that are grieving. She says dealing with grief starts with being able to talk about it. Please join us for an impactful, emotional and straight-forward podcast discussing grief and finding joy in that grief. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, help is available. Please dial or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for free and confidential support.

Jonna Hruby is a funeral director with Mankato Mortuary and a board member with One Bright Star. She is often times the first person that people come into contact with after a death. In her role, Jonna shares how important it is to help people begin the grieving process and be supportive and empathetic along the way. She details how difficult it is, not only for families, but also for her personally as a funeral director. Making sure all of the details are in place according to the directions from the family is a big part of her position. Being a wife and mother, Jonna knows how overwhelming death can be for a family, and she can fully put herself in the shoes of the bereaved. She feels like her career chose her and she helps people not only during the immediate process but sometimes even years later. Please join us for our podcast outlining a different perspective on death and grieving. 

On this episode of One Bright Star - Life After Loss, we are joined by author Rachael Hanel. She wrote the book, We’ll Be the Last Ones to Let You Down: Memoir of a Gravedigger's Daughter. From an early age Rachael spent her time in cemeteries with her dad and mom and had a much different perspective on death. She visited the graves of those unknown to her as she wondered about the lives of those names on the headstones. The reality of death became more clear as she suddenly lost her 46 year old father at the age of 15. Hanel talks about the people that helped her move through her grief process and to also find humor in an otherwise overwhelming experience. She speaks about the importance of talking about loss and to make sure to carry on the memory of a lost loved one.

Deb is the Vice President of One Bright Star and lost her 23 year old daughter, Crystal, in 2005. Deb leads an outreach program for OBS called, "Comfort Coffee" which is held at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Mankato, Minnesota on the fourth Tuesday morning of each month. On this episode of One Bright Star - Life After Loss, she talks about the importance of this non-judgemental group that gathers to support and share each other's commonality of having lost a child. Deb is seeking to expand and is looking into starting an evening group called, "Comfort Cocktails" if there is an interest to do so. Please join this podcast and learn more about the diverse efforts of OBS to support its mission of being a resource to grieving families. 

On this episode, One Bright Star's Executive Director, Erica Fischer and President, Alicia More, discuss who One Bright Star is here to serve and the mission of this Minnesota nonprofit. They talk about the importance of remembering and honoring a lost loved one, how they've been personally touched by the stories that families sharel and how important it is for all of us to show compassion and empathy. They also talk about the hope and courage that families show when it comes to coping and grieving the tremendous loss they have endured. Please join us on this journey to honor and remember those who have touched our lives and left us much too soon. 

One Bright Star board member, Becca Roberson, shares the story of her dad, Andy. After his diagnosis of Corticobasal degeneration, Becca talks about the life and loss her family faced and shares the memories of a man she held so dear.