Navigating Grief: A Father's Journey Through Love, Loss, and Legacy
Healing Through Grief: Jason Tuttle's Journey of Love and Loss
In this episode of Real Men Feel, host Andy Grant welcomes guest Jason Tuttle, a former stay-at-home parent who shares his deeply personal journey of grief and healing after the loss of his special needs son, Zachary. Jason discusses the challenges he faced as a father caring for two children with significant medical issues, how their unexpected loss impacted his life, and the creation of 'Letters to Zachary' as a way to express his emotions and support others.
The conversation touches on male grief, the importance of emotional expression, and the ways in which Jason has turned his pain into a legacy of love and understanding for others.
00:00 Introduction to Real Men Feel
00:20 Meet Jason Tuttle: A Father's Journey
01:19 Becoming a Stay-at-Home Dad
02:39 Challenges of Raising Special Needs Children
07:30 Daily Life with Zachary
20:20 The Unexpected Loss
30:39 The Final Moments and Pronouncement
31:11 Breaking the News to Family
32:06 Processing the Immediate Aftermath
33:06 Grieving and Seeking Information
35:00 Returning Home and Family Support
38:58 Men and Grief: A Personal Perspective
43:38 The Birth of 'Letters to Zachary'
48:25 Expanding the Grief Community
53:35 Advice for Men Dealing with Loss
58:44 Faith and Moving Forward
01:00:20 Conclusion and Resources
Connect with Jason
Letters To Zachary -- https://letterstozachary.com/
Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/letterstozachary2022/
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/134438966423994
LinkedIn -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-tuttle-4264112a7/
TikTok -- https://www.tiktok.com/@letterstozachary2022
Resources
Letters to Zachary Coloring Book -- https://amzn.to/4iijmvU
Connect with Andy and the Real Men Feel Podcast:
Confused about where you are headed in life? Book a Clarity Call with Andy at https://theandygrant.com/talk
Instagram | @realmenfeelshow & @theandygrant
Personal Website | https://theandygrant.com for coaching, healing, and book info!
Podcast Website | http://realmenfeel.org for all things podcast-related!
RMF Facebook Group | http://realmenfeel.org/group
YouTube | https://youtube.com/realmenfeel
#RealMenFeel ep 343
Jason Tuttle
Grieving Dad / Author
I am a married father of two kids with multiple mental and physical disabilities (some rare). I was a Stay-at-Home Dad for 12 years until my son suddenly and unexpectedly passed away from issues related to his needs on 01/28/22. Since the day my son passed, I created a website, FB blog, and community (Letters To Zachary) on grief that details my raw, unfiltered, and open grief journey from a male's/father's perspective. It is a place where men can feel vulnerable enough to share their emotions, empower women to help the grieving men in their lives, and see that it is OK to share vulnerability through my example. My community is open to all grievers.
