After losing her daughter Kelsey, Debbie Waffle was left with a grief that didn’t fade—but she also felt a quiet pull toward purpose. In Part 2 of her conversation with Heather, Debbie shares how she began to live for Kelsey—writing her book My Grief Jar and training Kelsey’s beloved dog, Brody, to become a therapy dog, just as Kelsey had dreamed. This episode is about the healing that happens in motion, the love that continues long after loss, and the ways a mother keeps her daughter’s spirit alive every single day.
READ DEBORAH’S BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/My-Grief-Jar-Growing-Daughter-ebook/dp/B0DHV6JTRR
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❤️ Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter/
❤️ Jake’s Help from Heaven: https://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/
❤️ Jake’s Help from Heaven IG: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpfromheaven
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FIND HEATHER & JAKE’S HELP FROM HEAVEN ⬇️
❤️ Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter/
❤️ Jake’s Help from Heaven: https://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/
❤️ Jake’s Help from Heaven IG: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpfromheaven
❤️ Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@APlaceofYesPodcast
Connect with us on social media:
• Heather’s Instagram
• Jake’s Help from Heaven
• Jake’s Help from Heaven IG
• Facebook
• Our YouTube Channel
Keep scrolling for the episode transcript.
Checkout our other episodes
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.”
I Couldn’t Save Her: Losing My Daughter Changed Everything
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.