Matthew Efird and his wife, Hannah, were joyfully expecting their second son when the word "abnormalities" during a routine ultrasound changed everything. What followed was a journey into anticipatory grief after their son Noah was diagnosed with Trisomy 13, a condition often described as “incompatible with life.”

In today's episode, Matthew shares what it was like to walk through the remainder of the pregnancy with that knowledge—holding both hope and heartbreak at the same time. He talks about how he and Hannah navigated those months together, how they learned to communicate in the middle of grief, and the intentional ways they chose to spend their time with Noah before he was born.

Matthew also shares about Noah’s birth and the unexpected gift of 57½ hours together — time to hold him, to introduce him to family, and to fully experience what it meant to parent their son on this side of heaven.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The joy of expecting a second child after a season of waiting
• The moment everything changed at a routine ultrasound
• Processing the word “abnormalities” and a Trisomy 13 diagnosis
• Walking through anticipatory grief during pregnancy
• How Matthew and Hannah supported each other in their marriage
• Two simple but powerful questions that helped them communicate in grief
• Choosing to be intentional with the time they had with Noah
• Noah’s birth and the gift of 57½ hours together
• What it meant to parent Noah during his brief life

Be sure to join us next week for the second half of this conversation, when Matthew shares what life looked like after Noah’s passing and offers insight into grief from a father’s perspective.

Resources & Links:

• Matthew’s book: Even Though We Will
• Website: https://eventhoughwewill.com/
  
  

If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to share it with someone who may need encouragement today.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.)

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

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Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

In this second half of my conversation with Keallie Wozny, we shift from Trevor’s story to what it looks like to live in the aftermath of his death.

Keallie shares with honesty and clarity about the questions that so many suicide loss parents carry — questions like why and could I have done something to prevent this? She reminds us that while those questions are natural, we are not always given the answers we long for — and learning to trust God with the unknown becomes an important part of the journey.

We also talk about the realities that aren’t always openly discussed:
the stigma surrounding suicide loss, the fear that suicide might be an unforgivable sin, and the uncertainty some parents carry about their child’s eternity. Keallie gently points listeners back to the truth of Scripture and the character of God — merciful, compassionate, and trustworthy.

Throughout this conversation, Keallie offers deeply practical insight drawn from her own experience:

• The physical toll of grief and how it affects the body
• The importance of community and being cared for by others
• How to approach milestones, anniversaries, and unexpected triggers
• Why seeking “signs” from loved ones can be misleading—and how to instead recognize God’s presence
• What it looks like to worship, even when you don’t have the strength to sing

She also shares simple but powerful encouragement for those early in their grief journey — that joy does return, even if it looks different than before. As she beautifully puts it, grief and joy can coexist.

Click HERE to listen to the first half of my conversation with Keallie.

Click HERE to find Keallie's book "Circle of Sorrow" on Amazon.

Click HERE to follow Keallie on Instagram.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.)

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

In this first half of my conversation with Keallie Wozny, we begin by getting to know her son, Trevor, as she shares stories from his childhood, his love of music, his strong work ethic, and his desire to serve others, including his dream of becoming a Marine.

But as his story unfolds, things begin to shift.

What follows is a difficult and complex journey as Trevor begins to struggle with mental health challenges that grow increasingly severe. Keallie walks us through those changes with remarkable clarity, offering an honest look at what their family experienced as confusion, fear, and uncertainty began to take hold.

This episode includes a detailed account of the days leading up to Trevor’s death by suicide. While this is a hard story to hear, it’s one that reflects the reality many families face ... and one that deserves to be told with both honesty and care.

You may recognize Keallie as the author of the book Circle of Sorrow. In our conversation, she explains that this title comes from the realization that, after losing a child, you are ushered into a kind of fellowship of suffering. It’s a circle no one chooses to join, and yet within it, there is a shared understanding among those who walk this road. It is both a painful place to be and, at the same time, a place where you are not alone.

And even in the midst of this heartbreaking story, you’ll hear glimpses of God’s presence ... moments of grace, truth, and redemption that would become anchors for Keallie and her family in the days ahead.

Coming Next:

In next week's episode, Keallie shares what it has looked like to live in the aftermath of Trevor’s death. We’ll talk about the questions many parents carry, the stigma surrounding suicide loss, and the practical ways she has learned to walk through grief with faith and honesty.

Get a copy of Keallie's book, Circle of Sorrow, HERE.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.)

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org