Kara Loses Brandon To Emphysema
The Surviving Siblings®
On Episode 7 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host Maya Roffler is joined by Kara Leigh, a surviving sibling, who shares the story of losing her brother Brandon after a long battle with addiction—and the unexpected reality of learning his official cause of death was emphysema. Kara takes us back to her childhood growing up in a family of three siblings, where Brandon was her older brother and she fell right in the middle. Their early years were filled with opportunity, family vacations, and a life that, on the outside, looked stable and full. But underneath it all…there...
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Teri Loses Joey To Marfan Syndrome
The Surviving Siblings®
On Episode 6 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host Maya Roffler is joined by Teri Gosselin, a surviving sibling, speaker, and grief advocate, who shares the story of losing her brother Joey to complications related to Marfan Syndrome—and how that loss forever intertwined grief, love, family, and purpose in her life. Teri takes us back to her childhood growing up just outside of Washington, DC, where she was the oldest of three. From the moment Joey was born, she stepped into the role of protector, advocate, and “sissy”—completely devoted to her little brother. Their...
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Heather Loses Garrett To Accidental Overdose
The Surviving Siblings®
On Episode 5 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host Maya Roffler is joined by Dr. Heather Taylor, a surviving sibling, therapist, and grief advocate, who shares the story of losing her brother, Garrett, to an accidental overdose, and how that loss completely reshaped her life, her career, and her mission in the grief space. Heather takes us back to her childhood growing up in a small town in Washington State, where she and her younger brother Garrett were raised surrounded by nature, imagination, and a deep sibling bond. They were each other’s constant—playing outside,...
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Erica Loses TJ To A Car Accident
The Surviving Siblings®
On Episode 4 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host Maya Roffler is joined by Erica Bohn, a surviving sibling who shares the story of losing her brother, TJ, in a car accident over 30 years ago, and how that loss shaped her life, her healing, and ultimately her path into helping others. Erica takes us back to her childhood growing up in a close-knit Midwestern family. Both she and her brother TJ were adopted as babies, raised in what she describes as a loving, “perfect” family, until one summer night in 1995 changed everything. TJ, just weeks away from starting his senior...
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Gyani Loses Pete To Cancer
The Surviving Siblings®
On Episode 3 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host Maya Roffler is joined by Gyani, a surviving sibling and grief professional, who shares the story of losing his brother, Pete, to cancer, and how earlier loss in his life shaped the path he walks today. Gyani takes us back to his first encounter with grief at 13, when his father died of cancer. Raised in what he describes as a “Leave It to Beaver” style family. Mom, dad, and five boys—he reflects on how grief rippled through their family system like a bomb, in a time when there were few tools or conversations available to...
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Earla Loses Leigh-Ann To Pancreatic Cancer
The Surviving Siblings®
On Season 9, Episode 2 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host Maya Roffler is joined by Earla Dawn, who shares the story of losing her sister, Leigh-Ann, to pancreatic cancer. Earla takes us back to their childhood on the prairies, four siblings, endless fun, and the kind of relationship that started with “fighting like cats and dogs”… and grew into a deep, lifelong bond. Leigh-Ann was the polished one, the “always put together” sister, a devoted mom, a dog lover, and a woman who reinvented her life, starting over after divorce, and eventually moving across the world to Spain in...
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Stephen Loses Stacy To A Car Accident
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 1 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast® host, Maya Roffler is joined by Stephen Stott who opens up about the tragic loss of his sister, Stacy, to a car accident 24 years ago. Stephen was just 16 when his life changed forever. After being "voluntold" to accompany his sister to a cheerleading camp six hours away, he shared a moment of deep personal truth with her the first person he ever came out to as queer. Just days later, on the drive home, they both fell asleep behind the wheel. Stacy didn’t survive. Stephen did. What follows is a deeply moving story of grief,...
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Chelsey McHale Interviews Maya Roffler On Sibling Loss
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 10 of season 8 of The Surviving Siblings® Podcast, guest host Chelsey McHale takes over the mic to interview podcast founder and host Maya Roffler in a deeply personal and reflective conversation. With 2026 marking 10 years since the loss of her brother Andreas, Maya opens up about what this milestone means to her, how her grief has evolved, and the legacy her brother continues to leave behind through this powerful community. From the early days of navigating violent loss to founding the podcast, the summit, and a thriving support network, Maya shares what she’s learned from...
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Katherine Loses Colin To Cancer
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 9 of Season 8 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host, Maya Roffler sits down with Katherine Mandzak, a writer and advocate, as she opens up about losing her beloved younger brother Colin to a rare and aggressive form of bile duct cancer. From growing up as inseparable homeschool siblings to navigating a shocking cancer diagnosis, Katherine shares the raw reality of becoming the only surviving sibling and how her identity, grief, and life path were forever changed. She walks us through the six-month rollercoaster from diagnosis to hospice, the sacred final moments, and the...
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Dan Loses Patti To Appendicitis
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 8 of Season 8 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host, Maya Roffler speaks with Dan Dunsmore, a devoted brother, father, and educator who shares the heartbreaking story of losing his sister Patti at just 13 years old to a sudden and misdiagnosed case of appendicitis. Dan takes us back to 1968 in South Knoxville, Tennessee, and walks us through the idyllic beginnings of his childhood, followed by a series of devastating family losses, each one reshaping the course of his life. Dan opens up about the traumatic last words he spoke to Patti, the moment he found himself alone in a...
info_outlineIn this deeply emotional episode of The Surviving Siblings Podcast, host Maya Roffler welcomes Kayla, a bereaved sibling who lost her baby sister, Ashley, in a tragic and unexpected medical event in 2006. At just eleven years old, Kayla’s world changed forever when her one-and-a-half-year-old sister suddenly stopped breathing—an event that would later be revealed as a preventable tragedy.
Kayla opens up about the deep bond she shared with Ashley, the impact of her sister’s passing on their entire family, and how grief shaped her childhood, teenage years, and adulthood. She shares the devastating realization that Ashley’s death was caused by a misdiagnosed medical condition and how the hospital’s oversight led to a prolonged struggle for answers and justice.
This episode explores the complexities of grieving at a young age, how Kayla’s family navigated immense loss, and the lifelong journey of healing. Kayla also discusses the anxiety and trauma that followed, the lasting effects of sibling loss, and how she has found strength in sharing her story for the first time.
If you’ve ever experienced loss at a young age or struggled to process grief over the years, Kayla’s story will remind you that healing is possible, and you are not alone.
In This Episode:
(00:01:09) – The Role of a Big Sister
Kayla reflects on growing up as the oldest sibling and the deep love she had for her younger sisters, Mia and Ashley.
(00:02:41) – When Ashley Got Sick
Kayla recalls the months leading up to Ashley’s passing, the concerning symptoms, and the repeated hospital visits where doctors misdiagnosed her condition.
(00:06:20) – The Day That Changed Everything
Kayla describes the morning she learned about Ashley’s passing and the shock of hearing the news from her father and stepmother.
(00:12:00) – Attending School the Next Day
Despite the tragedy, Kayla insisted on going to school, determined to maintain her perfect attendance and a sense of normalcy in the chaos of grief.
(00:15:22) – Ashley’s Funeral
Kayla shares the surreal experience of attending her sister’s funeral, seeing Ashley one last time, and the heartbreaking traditions her family developed to honor her memory.
(00:18:00) – The Truth Behind Ashley’s Passing
Weeks later, the autopsy revealed that Ashley had been choking on a peanut for months—something doctors had missed in her chest x-ray.
(00:22:30) – The Aftermath: Lawsuits & Family Divides
Kayla details how the misdiagnosis led to legal action against the hospital, the ripple effects it had on her family, and how relationships were fractured as blame and guilt took over.
(00:35:00) – The Long-Term Impact of Grief
Kayla discusses how losing Ashley at such a young age led to severe anxiety, control issues, and the fear of losing loved ones, as well as how therapy and medication have helped her manage these struggles.
(00:47:00) – Healing & Moving Forward
Years later, Kayla’s family has slowly started to mend. She shares how her father overcame addiction, her stepmother found ways to honor Ashley, and how she has learned to navigate life after loss.
(00:56:00) – Advice for Young Bereaved Siblings
Kayla reflects on what she would tell her younger self and encourages others to allow themselves to grieve, seek support, and embrace the healing process.
This episode is sponsored by The Surviving Siblings
Connect with Kayla:
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kayla.updike?mibextid=ZbWKwL
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylaupdike?igsh=MTBuNHdtcjNvMzhlMw==
Connect with Maya:
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Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/survivingsiblingspodcast/
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Maya's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayaroffler/
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Website: thesurvivingsiblings.com
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Facebook Group: The Surviving Siblings Podcast
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YouTube: The Surviving Siblings Podcast
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Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheSurvivingSiblingsPodcast