Sunset Stories with Tanya Manley

Wrecked Episode #14 Part 3

Time is the most precious gift you can give someone. We wrapped up the podcast today with Melissa Hatcher who wrote the book Wrecked about the year after she lost her precious son Max. At the beginning of this journey, we were strangers and now we are friends. I'd like to thank her for her time, bravery, grace and compassion. We talked about who we are before and after grief, the value of a support group and finding your tribe. Hard truths, new phobias and those dreadful triggers. We talked about the stuff nobody talks about and I'm so thankful for the time with her. I do hope you listen and share not for clicks but to know you're not alone and you're not crazy. You are just grieving. Thank you to everyone who's checked on me these past few weeks after losing my dad. Love you all, mean it  
 
 
 

Episode #14 Part 2 Wrecked by Melissa Hatcher

This week on Sunset Stories podcast we resume with grief Author and Mom to Max, Melissa Hatcher!  I found her brutal honesty refreshing and familiar. This book is real, raw about the grief journey of bereaved mother and family. She writes ...On a rainy December night, my world turned upside down. My son was in an automobile accident. When he died a part of me died with him. I share with you my lament, My ode, My legacy. This is my heart you are holding in your hands. It is bloody, and raw and broken; but somehow it is still ticking. Somehow, I have survived the inconceivable. I am no grief guru, professional counselor, or healer. I am a mama who lost a child. One who knows this pain and understands this sorrow. I love my son intensely, and I grieve his death deeply, so this will get vulnerable, intimate, messy and or ugly at times. But I'm hoping it will also be a soothing, healing salve that comforts your wounded soul. This book is my grief experience, my version, and my explanation as best as I can recollect of the feelings and events of the night my precious son, Max died-the night my life was wrecked-and that year that followed. We hope this book gives you some answers as to what your brain and body is experiencing and to know you are NOT alone! 
 
 
 

Wrecked By Melissa Hatcher

This week on Sunset Stories podcast we will begin this book by a new friend Melissa Hatcher. You can get it on Amazon for $19. I found her brutal honesty refreshing and familiar. This book is real, raw about the grief journey of bereaved mother and family. She writes ...On a rainy December night, my world turned upside down. My son was in an automobile accident. When he died a part of me died with him. I share with you my lament, My ode, My legacy. This is my heart you are holding in your hands. It is bloody, and raw and broken; but somehow it is still ticking. Somehow, I have survived the inconceivable. I am no grief guru, professional counselor,or healer. I am a mama who lost a child. One who knows this pain and understands this sorrow. I love my son intensely, and I grieve his death deeply, so this will get vulnerable, intimate, messy and or ugly at times. But I'm hoping it will also be a soothing, healing salve that comforts your wounded soul. This book is my grief experience, my version, and my explanation as best as I can recollect of the feelings and events of the night my precious son, Max died-the night my life was wrecked-and that year that followed.
 
 
 

Episode # 13 Grateful for Water

 Sunset Stories is back!  Please join us in Episode 13. I am so proud of Tara Jones for sharing her story of losing her 15-year-old daughter Shatara after a bullet meant for her killed her baby girl! This story has many twists and turns, and she needs our love and support as she prepares for trial and possibly has to come face to face with the man that killed her daughter. 
 
 
 
 
 

Her Fight is Our Fight

Please meet our first recipient for Sunset Cowboy Zoey Moody. Zoey was in a single car crash after coming home from a homecoming parade September of last year. She was in a medically induced coma and has a long way to go but is doing well. She needed help on Wednesdays with her medical care and we at Sunset Cowboy were happy to help and cover those costs. In this video you can see her beautiful spirit shining through. Please consider purchasing a shirt at the link below, sponsoring a pod cast or donate to her family's go fund me.  We love you Zoey! mycheddarup.com

HIs Journey Is Complete ( Ian’s Story) Episode# 12

🎙New episode of Sunset Stories drops Friday🎙 "His Journey is Complete" with Brenda Staat-Tomlinson This is such a wonderful story of healing! I’m so freaking proud of her my heart is full! It was the first public conversation about her son Ian and and how his life was the catalyst for her healing journey. We both had goosebumps and as we reflected after the episode and we could feel the healing that is happening simply because she shared a bit of her journey. ✨️Being comfortable in the uncomfortable ❤️‍🩹 It’s part of the lesson.

Deep Breaths & Baby Steps with Michelle Barbuto

Welcome to episode 11 “Deep Breaths and baby steps” We are spending some time tonight with a very special lady Michelle Barbuto. She is a mother, a RN working with the elderly in her community. She is specialized in trauma yoga and so much more. To say she is an inspiration to me and so many others in life and on her social medial platform is an understatement. You see Michelle is also a mother who has had 3 sons pass away in nine years. Yes, you heard me correctly she has 3 heavenly angels John Michael, Vincent and Frank. I am honored that she is with us today to share their stories.
 
 

Episode 10 Healing Reflections for a Grieving Mom’s Heart pt 3

Back by popular demand we recap and wrap up the last chapters of this book Healing Reflections from a grieving mom's heart by Linda Triplett. We talk about how much this book was a gamechanger in my grief journey. The tools Linda gives in this book really changed my way of coping with the loss of my son. Linda is in year 25 of her grief journey after losing her son Adam at age 23 in a plane crash. She guides us through the different stages of grief and lets us know that no matter what it is ok how and when we grieve. I found it gave me hope while I was in the darkest days that if she could find joy, happiness and peace again so could I. Linda wrote this book and published her journals to Adam so others would not feel alone. Thank you, Linda, for sharing such a personal time with us so that it may be tools for others to begin to heal. 

The Life, Legacy and Loss of CJ Wickham

Family outraged at plea deal after son mauled to death by dogs! In late 2020, Curtis Whickham (CJ) was mauled to death by three pit bulls owned Benjamin Ryan Spence. Now, Whickham’s family is outraged after Spence is given a plea deal to lower his charge of murder to second degree manslaughter.
In late 2020, Curtis Wickham Jr. was mauled to death by three pit bulls owned Benjamin Ryan Spence. Now, Wickham’s family is outraged after Spence is given a plea deal to lower his charge of murder to second degree manslaughter. At the time of attack Spence was on felony probation for burglary, attack on police officer and unlawfully carrying a weapon.
In October, 2020, witnesses said Curtis Wickham Jr. went to Spence’s home to get his phone. At the time, Spence was dating Champaign Walker, and Wickham was Walker’s ex-boyfriend.
Walker said to officers on scene that Wickham and Spence got into an argument before the three dogs attacked him. On the scene, Walker said she recalled Spence pointing the dogs to Wickham before the attack and that Spence did not render aid or attempted to call the dogs off Wickham.
She also said she saw Spence throw a TV at Wickham as he was on the ground after the dog attack.
A second witness told officers on scene that they recalled Spence saying “sick ‘em” to his dogs before the attack.
An affidavit also said that Spence sent Wickham a threatening text saying he would “stab him in the face,” previous to the killing.
Police found Wickham on scene barely responsive with multiple lacerations. He was transported to the hospital and later pronounced dead.
For the incident, Benjamin Ryan Spence was arrested on second degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon in Dec. of 2020.
But since then, both witnesses have retracted their accounts of the incident
Now, two and and years later, April 2022, Spence was convicted of 2nd degree man slaughter and sentenced to 4 years in prison - minus time served. He was on federal probation at the time of the attack for burglary, assault on a police officer and unlawfully possessing a
Assistant District Attorney Erik Grayless said this was because, he doesn’t believe they had a strong enough case to get a jury to convict Spence of murder.
“We thought that there was a possibility that the jury could give less than murder - we wanted to secure a homicide conviction,’ said Grayless.
Grayless was worried of the jury finding Spence completely not guilty and wanted to do his best to ensure Wickham’s family receives justice, rather than risk Spence seeing no time at all.
Wickham’s family however, is outraged.
“We felt like no justice what so ever was served in court,” said Wayne Sanders, Curtis Jr.’s uncle.
Grayless said the plea deal was discussed with Wickham’s family and was agreed upon.
But the family said that’s not true. They said they spoke with Grayless, but told him they full heartedly wanted a trial by jury.
Wickham’s family also said they weren’t notified or in attendance for the Allan hearing, which is a hearing where both parties are usually present to exchange discovery of the crime.
The family believes a jury would have convicted Spence and feels the justice system has failed them.
“We’re really upset with the DA - we’re really upset with the judge,” Sanders said. “CJ [Curtis Jr.] got not justice out of this what so ever - and we’re appalled by all this.”
Sander’s continued, “This guy stood for 13 to 15 minutes and watched his dogs eat CJ alive - while he [Curtis Jr.] screamed and yelled.”
“Nobody deserves to be taken out that way,” Sanders said. “The guy’s gonna be out in a few years - do you really think he’s learned his lesson? He’s a murderer. He murdered CJ. Our hearts & prayers go out to the family. This was not justice!

Stephanie Maldonado The Fight Through ALS

This week we are excited to have Stephanie Maldanado on Sunset Stories as she talks about her grief journey and building her company Heart Spring Organizing to honor her mom Norma after losing her to ALS.  I have had a front row seat for a few years as she has built her company and watching her grow as a woman in grief. I watched her turn her pain into purpose! She talks about being a caregiver at a young age to her mother and the effects of that. Her story is so INSPIRING to me, and I hope it is to you as well!