Charlie Hartman: Losing My Only Child Artwork

Holding the Light

Child loss, universally, has been called the single, most devastating experience a family can face. It is a very personal journey, with no handbook for survival. Sharing our stories of love and loss offers validation, hope, and healing. Join Monica and Colby Charette in a very unique, mother-and-son podcast, as they share their personal grief journey, and those of others, with intimate interviews each episode that offer powerful experiences, candid advice for friends, retrospective lessons learned, insight and encouragement, and everything in-between. If you have experienced child loss, or care about someone who has, we invite you to hold the light with us, and keep coming back for inspiration and hope.

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Holding the Light

Charlie Hartman: Losing My Only Child

March 11, 2023 • Monica and Colby Charette • Season 2 • Episode 17

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Is grief different for parents of only children? Charlie Hartman’s answer surprised us. But what didn’t, is the lifetime of grief she now bears after the death of her 30-year-old son, Alec. Her voice lights up when she says his name, as it brings her great joy to share his life and legacy. Charlie is very candid about Alec’s challenges with Aspberger’s Syndrome, and the struggles he faced with crippling anxiety and depression. But what you will remember most is this mother’s pride in sharing Alec’s talent as a gifted photographer, and the captivating images that now tell his story.

We invite you to learn more about Alec and his talent by visiting his stunning collection of photography at www.alecphoto.com.

You can also read Charlie and Alec’s story "A Gifted Maine Photographer Gone Too Soon" published in DownEast Magazine (March, 2022) https://downeast.com/photography/alec-hartman-a-gifted-maine-photographer/

Holding the Light is an original, monthly podcast created and hosted by Monica and Colby Charette, edited and produced by Monica Charette, with support from Julia Vigue and Sophia Speeckaert. EMAIL US (shineoncass@gmail.com) with questions, comments, or a request to join us as a guest. We also welcome you to visit us at ShineOnCass (www.shineoncass.org) where our family continues to Shine the Light of Cassidy.

Our podcast’s theme music is As Long As You Love (Scarlet Wings) written and sung by Cindy Bullens, from the album Somewhere Between Heaven and Earth produced by Blue Lobster Records (1999). Available on CD or download at www.cidnybullens.com. Mention Holding the Light Podcast and receive a signed copy!

If you appreciate our grief podcast and would like the opportunity to support what we are doing to give space for families to share their grief stories, you can make a listener's gift. Your kind support will help fund the host site, editing, and production. You can Venmo @shineoncass noting Holding The Light Podcast, or Email us at holdingthelightpodcast@gmail.com.

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