Our New Helping Fathers Heal Book, Compiled by Chris Ryan!
Helping Fathers Heal: Grief, Hope and Our Search for Connection
In this collection of 25 short stories, you will hear from fathers trying to heal from a life-changing tragedy: the passing of one or more of their children. It's a club no one wants to be in. These men are also members of a weekly support group comprised of other dads who are on this difficult grief journey. May you find in these stories a source of inspiration and hope, so that you might lighten your burden, gain resources and insight, and begin to heal your broken heart. We believe there can be healing when we connect with each other in love. We choose to remember and celebrate our children's lives. We understand how hard this journey is, and we travel it together as brothers.
Please watch interviews about our new book! You can order our book by clicking here.
*Please watch Chris' Interview with Helping Parents Heal by clicking here
*Please watch Chris' interview with Tom Bender of Heroes in Grief by clicking here.
*Please watch Chris' Interview with Suzanne Giesemann by clicking here.
*Please watch Chris' Interview with Reverend Sue Frederick by clicking here.
*Please watch Chris' Interview with Jamie and Maggie Clark, Psychic Evolution, by clicking here.
*Please watch Andy Bohart's interview with Tom Bender of Heroes in Grief by clicking here.
*Please watch Chris' interview with Jacob Cooper by clicking here.
Please contact Chris Ryan by clicking here!
Our community is rapidly growing, so please check back here often. Click here to join Helping Fathers Heal, a private Facebook group that is exclusively for Fathers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HelpingFathersHeal/
From Top: Left to Right
Mike Edwards, Founder, HFH (in spirit):
Our son and only child, Dylan, passed from a heroin overdose on November 28, 2016, just after his 24th birthday and just before receiving a chip to celebrate six months of continuous sobriety. My wife, Allyson, and I were devastated and really struggled to release the new hope we had from the enormous progress Dylan had made. We attended various grief meetings and two things always stood out – the meetings weren’t designed to help parents continue to live when they came out of “the fog” and very few fathers ever participated. So we turned to an evidential medium to hopefully find some answers and that reading put us on a path to attend the 2018 Helping Parents Heal Conference. The conference provided even more validation and a venue to share with other parents who were searching for answers. For the first time, we left a meeting feeling lighter and more hopeful than when we arrived.
We will always remember and miss Dylan but now understand that we’re living and learning what is meant for us. I’ve decided to help other parents, and particularly fathers, learn how to have good lives after their loss and come to know their own “truth” which will certainly help me to do the same.
Andy Bohart:
I’m a father of 3 amazing men, two here on this side and one across the veil. On September 16, 2019, my oldest son, Josh, exited this life in a single car accident. At that time, I was in England on a business trip and was flown home immediately. From the outset, Josh worked hard to let the family know he was still with us and was safe and happy on the other side. My spiritual awakening started that day and has been growing and evolving to this day. HPH/HFH has been central to my healing and growth, and I am extremely glad that I can help facilitate the growth and healing of other shining light fathers. I feel particularly called and I am passionate about standing alongside my brothers in grief and helping give men a safe and secure space in which to heal from what we have all been through. Josh is with me every day helping me, assist others and for that I am immensely blessed and honored to be able to help in whatever way I can.
Jeff Cottrell:
Our son Austin, forever 24, passed in a tragic and unexpected accident involving cold weather on December 15th, 2019. HPH has helped my wife Nan and I navigate this grief journey together and has opened doors to a higher understanding of the afterlife. I am a member of HFH and want to give back the love and support I have been shown by an incredible group of fathers.Austin loved his family more than anything. Nan, Kevin, Baylee and I will cherish his memories forever and knowing he is still part of our lives gives us comfort.
Warren Gibbons:
I have been married to my wonderful wife Kynda for 37 years and am the proud father of two remarkable sons—one who is with us in this world, and one who has transitioned across the veil. On April 1, 2017, I retired after 32 years of service with the Illinois Department of Human Services. Throughout my career, I held various clinical roles at a state psychiatric facility in Springfield, Illinois. Upon retirement, I thought I could finally slow down and enjoy all that life had to offer.
This way of thinking was profoundly shaken on October 18, 2018, when our oldest son, Judson, took himself home. Judson had struggled with depression during his adolescent years, but with therapy, he showed significant improvement. In the meantime, he was able to graduate from the University of Kentucky and start a family. We learned later that he had a few dark times but managed to make it through. We had no sign of the depth of his despair—I spoke with him the night before, and our conversation was good. None of his friends sensed anything was wrong, either.
After Judson’s death, I realized that traditional therapy was not what I needed. My soul was wounded, and I needed a more spiritual solution. I began by shrugging off the last of my conservative Christian upbringing, a process that had started a long time ago. I started exploring new perspectives through podcasts, reading, and attending a session with a medium at Kynda’s encouragement. By encouragement she boldly said, “We’re going.” When I let myself be more open to new ways of looking at the universe and began believing that Judson was ok, the process of healing could begin.
Learning to communicate more openly with Judson brought a measure of manageability to my journey—it did not make things easier, but it became bearable. The support of HPH has been invaluable. Finding HFH has been a major part of my continued personal and spiritual development. I feel like I have found my “tribe.” I have become brothers with men who are compassionate, supportive, non-judgmental, and, most importantly, who understand what this journey entails. They “GET IT.” They all understand just how much this journey sucks but walking together, knowing I am not alone has given me hope that continued healing is possible. I am deeply grateful to be part of this group of shining light men.
The meetings are held every Wednesday on Zoom; 7:00- 8:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada).
My name is Maor Peled. I was born in Israel and moved to the States in 2005. I met my wife Hilda 2 years after my arrival here and embraced her 3 kids Chris, Kevin and Kayla as my own.
Kevin’s tragic transition from Fentanyl poisoning changed us forever. Kevin lived in the human experience for 28 years. He passed 11 days after his Birthday. I was blessed to be a part of his experience for half of his life. I understand now that my soul connection with him started long before I met his mom and it has been getting stronger since his transition.
Kevin was a gifted and a multifaceted artist. He was an illustrator and created beautiful artwork. Being very connected spiritually, he always tried to help his family and friends by showing them a different perspective. He believed we were “all one” and that we were beings of energy, which could not be destroyed. He believed the universe is infinite. We could not understand the full extent of his beliefs and teachings because we were too busy in our own human experience but since his transition Kevin’s words have become my daily guide.
After Kevin’s passing I closed my business in the Diamond and Jewelry industry and started a spiritual journey with Kevin as one of my angel guides. Since then Hilda and I walked the full Camino De Santiago twice (French and Portuguese route), which was an amazing and very healing experience. The Camino gave me a sense of connection I never felt before.
We were also blessed with being introduced to HPH early on in our grief and through them I was able to join HFH, which has been a huge source of healing for me personally.
HPH/HFH have played a big role in my healing and spiritual growth. Now I am honored to be able to give back in any way I can.
Chris Zeiter
My wife Teresa, son Judd and I live between Rockport, TX and Lake City, CO. Our lives were transformed forever when our 21 year old son and brother Levi crossed the veil into spirit on August, 9 2022 in a motorcycle accident. Levi became my child in 2009 when he had recently turned 9 years old and Teresa and I began our relationship.
Levi’s love of people, helping others and being a high energy, positive dude all shine so bright. Levis favorite sport and passion is skateboarding where these characteristics are amplified. Levi’s energy from spirit is equally powerful. I am so grateful for this.
One year after Levi’s transition I joined HPH and HFH after listening to Mark Ireland on Coast to Coast radio. Teresa and I attended the HPH conference in August 2024 where at the closing ceremony I had an epiphany and saw Levi and many other children looking down at me. This experience, Levis messages through mediums, meditation, signs in daily life and a never ending circle of synchronicities have led me here to offer my ear, my heart and a safe space to other bonus dads walking a similar journey.
Please join our FB group:www.facebook.com/groups/hphbonusdads/