The Grief Journals concludes with a conversation about what comes after survival.

In Part Two: Coming Out on the Other Side, Denise reflects on the years following the loss of her son, Ethan, and the difficult work of learning how to live with grief instead of simply enduring it.

This isn't a story about "moving on" or finding a silver lining. It's about ownership, healing, and discovering that grief—while painful and deeply personal—can also become a source of purpose.

In this episode, Denise explores:
• The loneliness that comes after the calls, cards, and casseroles stop coming
• The emotional spiral that often follows loss
• Why she came to believe that her grief belonged to her—and what that realization changed
• How healing leaves scars, not erasures
• The ways grief expanded her capacity for compassion, service, and connection through theater, mentoring students, and the programs that fostered strong family bonds.

Along the way, Hank makes his usual appearance, offering a reminder that healing doesn't require perfection and that sometimes the best support comes from simply being present.

If you've ever wondered whether life can hold meaning after profound loss, this episode is for you.

Because healing doesn't mean becoming who you were before.

Sometimes it means becoming someone new—shaped by love, loss, resilience, and the choice to keep moving forward.

Thank you for joining us for The Grief Journals.

And as always...

Drink your water.
Do your sanity check.
And give the dog an extra treat.