On this episode  of The Broken Pack™: Stories of Adult Sibling Loss, Dr. Beth Hoffman, a surviving sibling, joins Dr. Dean to discuss the loss of her sister, Emily. Emily was tragically killed in a pedestrian accident. Dr. Hoffman shares how she navigates life as a sibling loss survivor following Emily's sudden death, including her experience in the ICU and honoring Emily's wish to be an organ donor. They discuss the complexities of sibling grief, the importance of normalizing conversations about loss, and the different ways people cope with the death of a sibling. Dr. Hoffman also discusses the challenges of navigating grief in a society that often avoids conversations about death and the importance of recognizing the different ways people experience and process loss.

About Dr. Beth Hoffman
Dr. Hoffman is a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, specializing in the intersection of popular media and health. Her work explores how television, social media, and other platforms can be used for health promotion and education, as well as the spread of health misinformation. She also teaches courses on community health and entertainment media.

More About Emily:
Caring Bridge - https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/emilycrew
Donor Tribute on UNOS - https://unos.org/donor_tributes/emily-hoffman/

Honoring Emily:
Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh's Catio (in Emily's Honor)
Emily Johanna Hoffman Fund - supporting STEM & experiential learning programs,  and other Pittsburgh nonprofits .

To learn more about organ and tissue donation and to become a donor, please see:
In the US:
1. Donate Life America: https://donatelife.net
2. United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) - https://unos.org/transplant/facts/
Globally:
https://tts.org/isodp-resources/isodp-organ-dona

Support the show

If you would like more information or to share your own adult sibling loss story, please contact me, Dr. Angela Dean, at contact@thebrokenpack.com or go to our website, thebrokenpack.com.

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Thank you!

Angela M. Dean, PsyD, FT

Credits:

The Broken Pack™ Podcast is produced by 27 Elephants Media

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