How do I cope with the loss of my child?

In this moving episode, Dr. Jennifer Arnold speaks with Dr. Richard Goldstein, director of the Robert’s Program on Sudden Unexpected Death in Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital. They discuss the unimaginable experience of losing a child and how families can begin to cope. Dr. Goldstein shares what he’s learned about grief, healing, and staying connected after loss.

Together they address the following questions:
• How often does child loss occur in the U.S., and how many of these losses remain medically unexplained?
• What is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?
• Who is most at risk for sudden unexplained infant death?
• How does the loss of a child affect a parent’s identity and emotional well-being?
• What is role of confusion in grief, and how do parents experience it?
• How can friends and family support grieving parents without causing more pain?
• What is prolonged grief disorder?
• How might the grief experience differ between parents and within couples?
• How does the death of a sibling affect surviving children?
• What is the dual process model of grief and how does it help parents cope?
• What are transitional objects of grief?
• How does the Robert’s Program help families?
• What kinds of questions do grieving parents need help answering?
• What emotional and practical resources are available for bereaved families?
• What research is being conducted about unexplained pediatric deaths?

Grief is not something to fix — it's something to carry. Listen to the full episode to hear how parents can move forward while keeping their child's memory alive.