As a surviving sibling, there are defining moments in your journey. The first defining moment is the call, that call that changes your life forever, the call when we discovered what has happened, the call to provide information that you'd never want to receive.

This week I’m sharing the first part of my journey, how that call changed my life and the first series of events that happened after that first call. In this episode, I’m covering:

• The first event [00:01:42]
• Getting to the hospital [00:09:00]
• Seeing my brother for the first time after the call [00:27:00] 
• Meeting my brother’s girlfriend [00:35:00]
• Maya provides updates to the family [00:45:00]
• First encounter with a detective[00:57:00]

For full episode show notes and transcript, click here

Connect with Maya 

Instagram | @survivingsiblingspodcast | @mayaroffler 

TikTok | @survivingsiblingspodcast

Twitter | @survivingsibpod

Website | The Surviving Siblings

This week I’m sharing the first pieces of information that the detectives were able to gather and share with us, as well as how it was seeing my sisters, my mother, and my father while they arrived at the hospital.

In this episode I’m covering:

• Meeting the first detective [00:01:04]
• Organizing everything for the family arrivals [00:07:30]
• My sisters arrive [00:08:30]
• Another detective delivers more information [00:10:30]
• My mother arrives [00:16:00]
• Confronting my sister [00:18:07] 

For full episode show notes and transcript, click here

Connect with Maya 

Instagram | @survivingsiblingspodcast | @mayaroffler 

TikTok | @survivingsiblingspodcast

Twitter | @survivingsibpod

Website | The Surviving Siblings

Everything is so clear but yet blurry at the same time. When it's time to say our last goodbyes, we often find ourselves in disbelief. Disbelief that this is actually happening, disbelief that this is the last time that we will ever see our sibling again.

This week I’m sharing how things were after my father arrived from Africa, more pieces of information we got from the detectives as well as my last goodbye to my brother.

In this episode I’m covering:

• Supporting me and remembering my brother [00:02:20]
• Getting my brother ready [00:08:00]
• The first time reality hit me [00:15:00]
• Meeting with another detective and getting more details on what really happened [00:19:07]
• Saying our last goodbye [00:27:49]

For full episode show notes and transcript, click here

Connect with Maya 

Instagram | @survivingsiblingspodcast | @mayaroffler 

TikTok | @survivingsiblingspodcast

Twitter | @survivingsibpod

Website | The Surviving Siblings

Death can be something that can unite or separate families. It’s not natural for parents to lose their children, but what happens to the other siblings that are still on this Earth?

Surviving the death of a sibling is not easy, every step of the journey is painful. On top of that pain, the siblings have to deal with so many other situations. Reality begins to hit and everything starts to feel real. You feel lonely, even if you’re surrounded by a sea of people. 

In this week's episode, I am sharing about when reality hit me, being abandoned by my family, and my mother’s relationship with her boyfriend.

In this episode I’m covering:

• Returning from the hospital [00:01:04]
• Efforts of trying to lift everyone's spirit [00:04:15]
• My mother and her boyfriend  [00:06:30]
• Walking to my father’s hotel [00:09:45]
• Sleeping for the first time in days [00:15:00]
• The story of how I got my dog, Scarlett [00:15:15]
• Waking up to a party in my living room [00:19:15]
• The chaotic Thanksgiving dinner [00:29:15]
• Feeling abandoned by my family [00:32:00]

For full episode show notes and transcript, click here

Connect with Maya 

Instagram | @survivingsiblingspodcast | @mayaroffler 

TikTok | @survivingsiblingspodcast

Twitter | @survivingsibpod

Website | The Surviving Siblings

Abandoned and alone, I had to wait for my family to call me back. When you’re grieving, you really need a support system, someone that’s going to be there for you and help you through the trauma. My family was not that for me.

In this week's episode, I am sharing about how I was coping with not only grief but also abandonment, what happened before my brother’s celebration of life, and disappointing moments with my mother.

In this episode I’m covering:

• Abandoned and alone [00:01:00] 
• Memories of my brother [00:09:30]
• The parents come back [00:19:15]
• My friend Caleb [00:22:45]
• Running errands with my mother [00:26:30]
• Arriving at the hotel [00:37:25]
• Picking the urn for the ashes [00:47:30]

For full episode show notes and transcript, click here

The purpose of a Celebration of Life is to remember a loved one, to tell their story and to come together to celebrate their unique personality. My mother decided to celebrate my brother by scattering his ashes in a creek close to where we grew up. 

In this week's episode, I am sharing about the moments I shared with my mother before the Celebration of life, my thoughts and feelings during the event and what happened after, at my brother’s girlfriend's home.

In this episode I’m covering:

• Conversations with my mother [00:02:15]
• The Celebration of Life [00:15:15]
• Eulogy for My Brother [00:27:00]
• Words from the rest of the family [00:38:15]
• Scattering my brother’s ashes [00:43:00]
• My brother’s girlfriend house [00:45:45]
• The advice from the girlfriend’s father [00:51:25]
• Hearing my brother’s voice [00:56:15]

For full episode show notes and transcript, click here

The pain of loss is overwhelming, it’s something that we learn to cope with as we are going through this journey of losing a loved one. Big feelings always come to the surface, which makes coping with the loss even more challenging.

In this episode I’m covering:

• What happened after walking away [00:01:02]
• Words of Wisdom from my father [00:08:45]
• Sharing moments with Caleb and Phillip [00:16:45]
• Heading home [00:22:30]
• My friend Walter and going back to work [00:26:30]
• Handing my notice [00:33:00]
• Finding Bonnie Blue [00:38:00]
• My different ways of coping [00:50:30]

For full episode show notes and transcript, click here