A PLACE OF YES podcast

“We are living every day with the fact that our son died, that our son who was supposed to be alive is not.” –Heather Straughter

Heather Straughter was 36 when her four-year-old son Jake suddenly died. Now, 13 years later Heather is sharing how the only way she could move forward was by channeling her grief for good and finding “A Place of Yes.”

“All I can say is, you can dig deep, figure out where you are, and figure out where you want to be, and for me, I found the answer was in this place of yes,” Heather said.

How I Cope with My Son’s Birthday Now That He’s Gone

“His birthday is coming, and my whole body feels it. People think grief fades with time, but these days—birthdays, anniversaries—they hit just as hard. I should be planning a party. Instead, I’m learning how to survive another year without him.”

Self-Care Sounds Nice, But Who’s Watching My Kid?

“Self-care sounds great until you realize there’s no one else to watch your kid. When you’re a full-time caregiver, even basic things—like rest, a walk, or five minutes alone—feel impossible. But if I don’t take care of myself, I can’t show up for my family. That’s not selfish. That’s survival.”

What I Did After My Daughter Died: Grief, Purpose & Carrying Her Legacy

After Kelsey died, I blamed myself. I replayed every decision, every appointment, every moment. I thought I was prepared to fight for her—I wasn’t prepared to lose her. Grief didn’t just touch my life, it unraveled it. And for a long time, I didn’t know how I’d ever come back from that. This is the part of motherhood no one talks about.