167: Why I am Still Grieving: A Mother’s Story of Caregiver Grief, Complex Trauma, and Finding Hope After Losing a Child
Why am I still grieving years after losing a loved one? How long does caregiver grief last? If you’ve experienced the death of a child, prolonged grief, or the loss of your caregiving role, this conversation offers biblical hope and practical understanding.
For parents and caregivers, grief often extends far beyond the funeral. When years of caregiving, chronic illness, and trauma become your daily life, the loss of the person you love also means the loss of the role that shaped every moment of your day. Many people aren’t prepared for the overwhelming grief, identity loss, and emotional exhaustion that can follow.
In this episode, Megan sits down with Paula Romang, a mother whose faith was tested and strengthened through the challenges of raising her son Matthew, who lived with a seizure disorder and passed away at the age of twelve. Through years of heartache and loss, Paula relied on her faith as her bedrock, Scripture as her foundation, and Jesus as her stronghold. She shares how God sustained her through seasons of uncertainty, why grief often lasts far longer than expected, and how she now helps others navigate the painful journey of loss with compassion and hope. Paula lives in the Midwest with her husband, Mark.
Their son Luke has graduated with his Master’s degree and is enjoying life, love, and a fulfilling career, while their son Matthew is in Heaven. Together, they discuss caregiver grief, complex trauma, prolonged grief, faith through suffering, and what healing can look like when life changes forever.
In This Episode
The long-term emotional impact of caregiver grief What it feels like to lose a child after years of medical caregiving How faith can be both tested and strengthened through suffering Navigating identity loss after caregiving ends Why grief can feel prolonged and complicated Finding hope and meaning after devastating loss Key Takeaways Grief after caregiving is often deeper and longer than people expect Faith can become a sustaining foundation through unimaginable loss Healing does not mean forgetting—it means learning to live with love and loss together You are not alone in feeling disoriented after caregiving ends Support, faith, and community are essential in the grieving process.
Connect with Paula
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DDn2k34y6/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Website: https://www.paularomang.com
Resources Mentioned
Thriving in Barren Places https://a.co/d/08vHiU0h
About the Podcast It's Your Story to Tell is a podcast where courageous people share the hardest parts of their stories and how they found hope, healing, and transformation. Through honest conversations rooted in faith, neuroscience, and trauma-informed principles, we explore what it means to overcome adversity, build healthier relationships, strengthen emotional resilience, and discover that your past does not have to define your future. Every story shared is an invitation to believe that healing is possible—and that your story matters.
About the Host Megan Babcock is a Board Certified Holistic Nurse Coach, Certified Trauma and Crisis Mental Health Coach, Certified Brain Health Coach, speaker, bestselling author, and founder of It's Your Story to Tell, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals heal from life's hardest seasons and discover hope, purpose, and transformation. Drawing from more than two decades of experience in healthcare, neuroscience-informed coaching, and her own journey of overcoming childhood trauma, abuse, unhealthy relationship patterns, perfectionism, and people-pleasing, Megan helps individuals understand the connection between the brain, nervous system, emotions, relationships, and faith. She is the creator of The Unstuck Key™, a practical framework that helps people move from overwhelm and reactivity to calm, clarity, and confident communication.
Learn more at https://www.itsyourstorytotell.com
#GriefSupport #CaregiverGrief #ChildLoss #ComplexTrauma #ChristianPodcast
