My Story
On 30th January 2020, my life changed forever. My husband, Chris, had been undergoing tests for what we thought were polyps in his bowel. After a CT scan and awaiting a colonoscopy, we received a call for an urgent appointment with a lung consultant. Together, we attended and were blindsided by the devastating news: Chris had lung cancer. Our world crumbled in that moment. Just two days later, on 1st February, during his colonoscopy, we learned that Chris also had bowel cancer. It was later revealed that his bowel cancer had metastasised to his liver, confirming he had stage 4 primary bowel cancer with metastasis to the liver and lung, making it incurable. Chris was 48, I was 47, and we had two young children.
This life-altering diagnosis coincided with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, dramatically impacting our lives. Chris had to face his treatments alone, as no one was allowed into the chemotherapy suite to support him. Our children were home-schooled, and I juggled working over 30 hours a week, home-schooling, and caring for Chris. On the advice of his medical team, we shielded throughout his illness, a challenging 3.5 years.
From the moment of Chris’s diagnosis, I began to grieve, unknowingly experiencing anticipatory grief. With no one allowed into our home, I prioritised my husband and children’s mental and physical well-being over my own.
As I cared for Chris, I began losing myself. My health and well-being declined, and I felt I was losing control over everything. I felt lost, isolated, abandoned, scared, angry, resentful, and invisible. Adding to the pain, some family members and friends walked away from us, another loss we had to endure.
Despite enduring extensive treatment, Chris sadly passed away in August 2023. A month later, I retired from my 28-year career, and my world was unrecognisable. I had lost so much in such a short time.
Throughout my life, I have faced numerous losses. I have lost family members, friends, and pets. I have endured the pain of divorce in my twenties, the challenges of IVF, and the complexities of having children diagnosed as neurodivergent. I have experienced the emotional toll of abusive relationships and the significant transition of retirement. Each of these experiences has taught me resilience and the importance of self-care.
As a retired police officer with 28 years of service, including work in CID, the Homicide Unit, and Public Protection, I have vast experience in listening, holding space, and offering empathy and compassion. The majority of my career was spent working with victims and survivors of abuse, honing my skills in supporting others through their darkest times.
During the 3.5 years of caregiving, I reached a point where I realised the necessity of investing in my own self-care. I understood that without pouring into myself, I would be too depleted to continue supporting my family. I invested in several courses, integrated healing techniques into my daily routines, and found strength to navigate the deep trauma and pain I was experiencing.
My journey through grief and caregiving has taught me the profound importance of self-care, resilience, and the power of community. With my extensive experience in dealing with loss and my professional background, I hope to inspire and support others facing similar challenges. My story is one of survival, strength, and the enduring belief that even in our darkest moments, there is a path to healing and hope.
I created The Grief Lounge community/podcast along with my Grief coaching and healing as I wanted to create a space that I had been searching for in my own grief journey. I am a certified grief educator who has years of experience of working in a trauma informed space whilst also offering somatic practices to help support nervous system regulation. The grieving process is so sacred, individual and vulnerable so trust and connection is key when working together.
Work with me
Firstly I want to say I am so sorry. I am sorry you find yourself here looking for support through your grief. It really is a place none of us ever want to be. I get it, I understand, I felt exactly the same way when my person died.
At the start of my own grief journey I needed support and searched endlessly looking for a place to connect with others, feel seen and have my pain witnessed as everyone in my life just didn't understand my pain, or at least that is how it felt.
I am a certified coach, grief educator and am also trained in numerous healing modalities. Most importantly I have a vast experience of grief and loss through my own personal lived experiences.
I also have 28 years experience of holding space for others who have been impacted by severe trauma.
Grief is the hardest thing I have ever had to navigate. It has altered the course of my life and I understand that you will also feel this way too.
Let me help guide you through your grief and show you a way forward where you can grow around your grief so you feel more love and less pain.
"Grief is losing friends and family because their life carried on as normal, as yours changed beyond recognition."
Sadie - The Grief Coach
Education and Certifications
My approach integrates a variety of healing modalities that I've trained extensively in:
Certifications
Sadie holds the following certifications;
-
Dharma Coach
-
EFT Level 1 & 2
-
Sound Healer
-
Certified Human Design Reader
-
Level 1 & 2 Reiki
-
Grief Educator
-
Grief Movement Educator