Transforming Grief into Kindness: Jeanette’s Story of Healing and Inspiration | Ep 38

In Episode 38 of The Lost Child Podcast, we sit down with Jeanette, whose son Ben tragically stopped breathing in front of her at home. Paramedics arrived and rushed Ben to the hospital; subsequently, he was transferred to a trauma hospital. Unfortunately, Ben passed away from the incident. It was determined that Ben had croup, which caused his airway to close. After his passing, Jeanette turned her grief into something powerful. She started small, giving away books and creating small art pieces, which eventually became known as "Ben’s Bells." These bells are now distributed worldwide, with their own website sharing Ben's story and their community impact. Jeanette's journey didn’t stop there. She returned to the University of Arizona to study kindness and now serves as the Director of the Science of Kindness Community Collective. She holds a PhD and continues to explore how kindness affects our lives, focusing not on the outcomes but the actions of kindness itself. Jeanette’s perspective on life, surrendering to the unknown, and transforming tragic experiences into purpose is truly inspiring. In this episode, Jeanette shares her story of surviving, thriving, and finding fulfillment in the aftermath of unimaginable loss. (Amazon Affiliate Statement: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases when you click on the links below) Resources mentioned in the episode: Ben's Bells: https://bensbells.org/ Grief support groups: https://tunidito.org/ A book Jeanette recommends: Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss: https://amzn.to/4kbz2S3 StoryCorps Website: https://storycorps.org/ This episode will leave you inspired, reminding us all that it’s possible to thrive even after the most difficult tragedies. Tune in and hear Jeanette’s incredible story. 🎙️ Subscribe to The Lost Child Podcast for more heartfelt conversations and stories of resilience. Support The Pod on Patreon - patreon.com/LostChildPodcast390 Buy a Shine Bright Shirt - https://lostchildpodcast.store/ 0:00 - A Journey of Grief, Kindness, and Healing 1:29 - Who Was Ben? Remembering His Joyful Childhood 7:46 - The Heartbreaking Moment: What Happened 24:07 - Parenting After Loss Can Be Hard 30:54 - Coping with Grief: Exercise, Therapy, and Mindset Strategies 37:15 - What Not to Say: Unhelpful Things During Grief 40:12 - Using ChatGPT for Grief Support: Exploring Helpful Ideas for Coping 44:18 - Overcoming the thought of, "I Should Have..." 49:38 - Turning Grief Into Action: The Birth of Ben’s Bells 56:02 - The Power of Kindness: How Action, Not Just Thought, Can Heal 1:07:09 - Surrendering to the Unknown: How Belief and Trust Helped Her Heal 1:18:57 - Can I Find Happiness After Trauma? #LostChildPodcast #LoveandLoss #ParentingJourney #GriefHealing