185: "I'm a Different Person Since My Loss" with Liz O'Donnell

 In this deeply personal episode, Liz O'Donnell talks about the transformative and painful journey following the stillbirth of her child, Aaliyah, at 32 weeks. Liz shares her experiences and the subsequent changes in her life, including her courageous fight for bereavement rights, which led to the passing of an emergency bereavement bill in D.C., granting parents up to two weeks of paid leave after a stillbirth.

What You'll Learn:

·       Not going home when released from the hospital.

·       Daily "Meetings" with Grief

·       Handling Baby Things.

·       Support System that said and did the Right things.

·       Challenges with Her Employer due to no Birth Certificate.

Liz, once known as "spa girl," utilized self-care as a coping mechanism, finding solace in small daily rituals. These acts of self-care became achievements in the hardest days of her grief. Motivated by the messages of solidarity and shared sorrow from other grieving families, Liz founded "Aaliyah in Action," a non-profit dedicated to supporting others experiencing similar losses.

Powerful Reflections:

Liz shares insights on the necessity of setting boundaries even with well-intentioned people, emphasizing the importance of protecting one's peace during traumatic times. She advocates for being assertive in safeguarding personal boundaries to aid healing.

Resources: https://saddadsclub.com/

Connect with Liz:

Email: hello@aaliyahinaction.org

Website: https://www.aaliyahinaction.org/

Connect with Teresa:

EMAIL: teresa@livingaftergrief.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LivingAfterGrief/

Instagram: @livingaftergrief

Website: https://livingaftergrief.com/

click and schedule a free complimentary coaching call: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.com/calendar/grief-discovery-call

Podcast Guest: https://livingaftergrief.coachesconsole.comcalendar/podcast-interview-call