The Lost Love Stories with Katherine & her husband Ken: Give Yourself Grace & Build the Life You Want

Send us Fan Mail Katherine Hanniford and I didn't know each other before widowhood. Now, she's one of those friendships I consider a silver lining of losing our husbands. In this episode, Katherine shares the story of her 29-year marriage to Ken, the devastating cardiac arrest that left him with a severe brain injury at just 54, and the six years she spent caring for him while working full-time and raising their two daughters. We talk about the realities of caregiving, the importance of preserving dignity, the role hospice played in caring for the entire family, and how Katherine learned to navigate the complicated emotions of anticipatory grief and loss. But this conversation is about much more than what happened to Ken. It's about **what happened to Katherine afterward.** We talk about finding your village, giving yourself grace, letting go of the *"shoulda, coulda, woulda"* game, and learning that there is no single right way to grieve. Katherine also shares how grief support, journaling, and community helped her process her loss. And then there's the part I absolutely love: **Katherine's next chapter.** Six years after Ken's death, she decided she didn't want to stay stuck in the life she'd known. She played the Zillow game, rediscovered her love of the ocean, moved from Georgia to Delaware, retired, and built a completely new life—one filled with tennis, pickleball, golf, book clubs, friends, beach days, and a whole lot of joy. Her message? **Your life is yours.** You are allowed to pivot. You are allowed to change your mind. You are allowed to find joy again. And perhaps most importantly, you can move forward without leaving your person behind. Katherine also shares some beautiful advice for those supporting someone through loss: **be the person.** Be the one who checks in, asks about their loved one, sits with them, and gives them a safe place to talk. This is a conversation about grief, but it's also a conversation about **grace, friendship, resilience, and building a life you actually want to live.** Links to Katherine's resources: Understanding Your Grief:  https://www.centerforloss.com/bookstore/understanding-your-grief-2/ Center for Loss:  https://www.centerforloss.com Grief Observed:  https://epicreads.com/products/a-grief-observed?variant=54825052733731 🎧 Listen to *The Lost Love Stories with Katherine Hanniford and her husband Ken* wherever you get your podcasts. Watch on Youtube:  https://youtu.be/X60TtUHyH4Q #TheLostLoveStories #GriefJourney #LifeAfterLoss #HealingAfterLoss #Widowhood #CaregivingJourney #GriefAndHealing #LossOfASpouse #FindingJoyAfterLoss #HopeAfterLoss #LivingWithGrief #StartingOver #Resilience #GriefSupport #LifeAfterGrief Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.