Grief 2 Growth When Grief Takes Everything: Vanessa May on Surviving Compounded Loss | EP 474
What happens when grief doesn't just visit once—but keeps coming back? In this deeply honest conversation, Vanessa May shares how she navigated losing her son Harry, then her husband Anthony, and father during the pandemic, all while battling COVID and later a cancer diagnosis.
Vanessa doesn't sugarcoat. She doesn't spiritually bypass. She tells the truth about what it's like when the ground keeps getting ripped out from under you—and how she's found her way forward anyway.
In this episode, we explore:
- The unique pain of compounded grief—losing a child and a spouse
- How trauma lives in the body and can manifest as illness
- Why "resilience" can feel like pressure instead of praise
- Soul planning, earth school, and making meaning from loss
- The loneliness of widowhood in the middle years
- How Vanessa still feels Harry and Anthony guiding her
- The six women featured in her new book and what they have in common
- Finding the balance between spiritual hope and raw human grief
About Vanessa May:
Vanessa is a holistic grief coach, certified grief educator, nutritional therapist, and author of three books including Love Untethered: How to Live When Your Child Dies and her newest release, When Grief Takes Everything: A Survival Guide to Devastating Loss.
Connect with Vanessa:
- Website: VanessaMay.co.uk
- Instagram: @may.wellbeing.griefsupport
What resonated with you in this conversation?
I'd love to hear your thoughts. Join the discussion at grief2growth.substack.com, leave a comment, and connect with others walking this road.
Visit the Grief 2 Growth store for FREE items as well as other tools to help you along your journey:
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- My Oracle deck to help you connect with your loved ones
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Check it out at https://grief2growth.com/store
Grief doesn’t follow stages, timelines, or rules.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?”—you’re not alone.
That’s why I created the Grief Check-In.
It’s not a test. There are no right or wrong answers.
In just a few minutes, you’ll gain clarity, reassurance, and language for what you’re experiencing.
👉 Visit grief2growth.com/checkin
This deck is a labor of love. It's a 44 card oracle deck that's about connecting you to your loved one in spirit. The deck comes with a companion digital guide that gives you an affirmation, a reflection, and an activity for the day.
Check it out at https://stan.store/grief2growth/p/oracle-deck
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