Is it Possible to Be Happy After Serious Tragedy?

Fran Caffey Sandin, a retired nurse, has authored two books, contributed to several anthologies and magazines. Fran lost two sons. She shares her story of how she found the strength to get through severe trauma.

Through all this heart-wrenching loss, including her father's suicide, she has learned much including what the three stages of grief are and how to survive them.  

She teaches us that we can overcome the effects of tragedy and how to help others survive their circumstances.

We need to know what to say and what not to say when our friends are suffering. 

During her interview, she details the three stages of grief:

1. Crisis
2. Crucible
3. Construction

How to Deal with a Cancer Diagnosis for your Child

Jay Hix Jones is the host and executive producer of the UplifTV documentary series, The Experience, producer of “Hoarders” and as a media professional also worked on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and “Ice Road Truckers.”  Jay and his wife Kara co-authored the book The Experience: 40 Days to Reconnecting Your Soul. Together they operate the film production company Hungry Fish Media with Dr. Charles Hix.  

Two years ago, Jay requested to be on Never Ever Give Up Hope but before we could do the interview, Jay's life was turned upside down when his four-year-old daughter, Hunter Rose, was diagnosed with stage four cancer. 

What Can Happen if You Only Dare to Hope?

Hope Mueller is an author, inspirational speaker, executive, and active not-for-profit volunteer. A results-driven leader and change agent, Hope is passionate about career development and community service, among others. 

Her early years were marked by the experiences of a hippie commune. Hope's unique childhood shaped her approach and interaction with the world, with a gift of creating order out of chaos and turning vision into reality.

To realize success:

• FOCUS on the solution instead of the problem

• Be comfortable with change

• Persistence, persistence, persistence, and laser-focused on goals

Honest and raw with 

no request for empathy or complaint

Hopey chronicles the story of a courageous girl in a 70s southern Indiana commune, complete with flowers for dinner, a ball of acid in the freezer and orgies on the living room floor.

The chaos of her formative years, which are littered with violent episodes, periods of hunger and assaults, leads Hope to set off on her own at the age of 15.

Written as intense past moments, reflective chapters, and flash-forwards, these three voices come together to transcend time and connect the past and the present. 

Hopey is a reminder that we can love, believe, and be successful beyond all expectations -
if we ONLY DARE TO HOPE.