Ep 7 When Nature Heals: Celebrating Life After Loss

Thriving Together

Grief transforms us in profound and unexpected ways. In this deeply moving conversation, Kim Han shares how she navigated the devastating loss of her daughter to ovarian cancer and found purpose through her pain. Kim's book, "I Am With You Everywhere, Finding Solace in the Mists of Grief," chronicles not just loss, but also her daughter's extraordinary spirit.
When first diagnosed, Kim's daughter was given just five years to live. After surviving that milestone, she celebrated by embarking on a 1,000-kilometer dog sledding journey along Baffin Island—a month-long testament to her resilience and love of nature. For five more years, she lived fully, embracing her passions until cancer returned "with a vengeance." Even then, her response was remarkable—purchasing her dream car and making a final pilgrimage to the Redwood Forest.
"Just because I have cancer doesn't mean I have a death penalty," her daughter once said, embodying a philosophy that continues to guide Kim. The grief manifested physically for both Kim and her son as "broken heart syndrome"—actual cardiac symptoms requiring hospital visits despite having healthy hearts. Meanwhile, Kim's husband processed his grief differently, stoic until a memory of their daughter's childhood "apple cheeks" finally broke through his composed exterior.
Kim found healing through creative expression, nature, and ultimately by establishing a living legacy. Today, she offers scholarships to Inuit students studying environmental technology and donates all proceeds from her book to Iri Saksvik, a non-profit addressing Inuit mental health challenges stemming from historical traumas. Her journey shows us that grief isn't something to overcome but to move through, honoring loved ones by living meaningfully and helping others. Have you found ways to transform your own grief into purpose? Kim's story reminds us it's possible to climb back toward the light, one step at a time.

Chapters

1. Introduction to Kim and Her Book (00:00:00)

2. Daughter's Cancer Journey and Resilience (00:01:36)

3. Grief's Physical and Emotional Impact (00:03:42)

4. Finding Comfort Through Creative Expression (00:05:50)

5. Creating a Living Legacy (00:09:12)

6. Closing and Support Information (00:15:21)