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Melissa Hull: Creating a Life After Child Loss | Dear Drew, Grief & Spiritual Growth 🌱 | EP 456
Description
What happens when a mother loses her child—and chooses to live bigger than grief?
In this heart-opening episode of Grief to Growth, Brian D. Smith sits down with Melissa Hull—author of Dear Drew: Creating a Life Bigger Than Grief, speaker, and coach—on the very day her book launches.
Melissa shares the heartbreaking story of her 4½-year-old son Drew’s drowning, and how that unimaginable pain became the foundation for a new life of purpose, faith, and healing. But this isn’t a story of “moving on.” It’s about carrying love forward, rewriting the rules of grief, and honoring your child’s life through your own.
💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- 💔 Why the traditional grief model often fails parents
- 🌱 How Melissa transformed guilt into growth through mindfulness and creativity
- ✍️ The healing power of writing, art, and telling your story
- 🧘♀️ Simple practices to stay connected to your loved one in spirit
- 📚 The letter from a stranger that saved Melissa’s life
- 💬 Why continuing the relationship with your child is not only possible—but necessary
🔗 Links & Resources:
- 💜 Buy Melissa’s book, Dear Drew: Creating a Life Bigger Than Grief
➤ https://melissahull.com - 🛟 Free Water Safety Resources (a cause close to Melissa’s heart):
➤ https://melissahull.com - 📬 Join Brian’s Substack for more grief and growth insights:
➤ https://grieftogrowth.substack.com
🗣️ Let’s Hear from You:
What part of Melissa’s story resonated with you the most?
💬 Leave a comment on the episode
🌟 Rate & review the podcast
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs it
You've been listening. You're doing the work. But there's still this feeling that you're circling the same place.
Maybe you've thought about working with me one-on-one. Maybe something's held you back.
I get that. And I want you to know there's still a place for you.
All of it, pay what you want. You decide what it's worth. Nobody gets turned away because of money.
The International Association for Near-Death Studies or IANDS will host its annual conference at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue. The event features an all-star lineup of keynotes like Proof of Heaven Author Eben Alexander, MD, and Dying to Be Me Author Anita Moorjani. I Early bird registration rates are available through July 15.
Visit IANDS.org to register
The International Association for Near-Death Studies or IANDS will host its annual conference at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue. The event features an all-star lineup of keynotes like Proof of Heaven Author Eben Alexander, MD, and Dying to Be Me Author Anita Moorjani. I Early bird registration rates are available through July 15.
Visit IANDS.org to register
Want to go deeper? My Substack is where I share solo essays on grief, consciousness, and continuing bonds — thoughts that don't always make it into the podcast. It's also home to a community of listeners who get it, because they're living it too. Free to subscribe. Find it at substack.com/grief2growth.
🧑🏿🤝🧑🏻 Join me on Substack- connect with others and me
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