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In this episode of osTEAo, Mia and Sammy, joined by Mackenzie and Alejandro, opened up about their personal experiences with loss: loss of friends, loss of health, and the quieter losses that come with life after cancer. They spoke about the challenges that come with changing abilities and missing parts of the lives they once knew. Grief, they shared, can come not only from saying goodbye to loved ones, but also from saying goodbye to versions of themselves.
As the conversation deepened, they explored the many ways people process and honor grief. They shared the sentiment that emotions should be allowed to surface naturally, and that remembrance can become a gentle way to heal.
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They also reflected on how grief evolves over time. What once felt overwhelming can grow softer and more manageable, even if it never fully disappears. Memories that were once painful can eventually bring warmth or connection. The group acknowledged that grief looks different for everyone and that there is no right or wrong way to move through it.
Storytelling stood out as a way the group stays connected, especially as they talked about losing friends, the weight of reminders, and how their shared experiences sharpen their purpose. Despite the heaviness, they ended on a hopeful note — grief may be tangled with love, but that means it can also bring clarity, resilience, and community. Through shared stories, little rituals, laughter, and leaning on each other, they continue to honor those they’ve lost and remind everyone that no one has to carry their grief alone.
🎧 Listen now for the full episode of osTEAo: Navigating Grief in the AYA Community. Because your story matters. Your voice matters. And we're all in this together.
