{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Kara Loses Brandon To \u200aEmphysema","description":"On Episode 7 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast\u00ae, host Maya Roffler is joined by Kara Leigh, a surviving sibling, who shares the story of losing her brother Brandon after a long battle with addiction\u2014and the unexpected reality of learning his official cause of death was emphysema. Kara takes us back to her childhood growing up in a family of three siblings, where Brandon was her older brother and she fell right in the middle. Their early years were filled with opportunity, family vacations, and a life that, on the outside, looked stable and full. But underneath it all\u2026there were early signs of something deeper. Brandon began using substances at a very young age\u2014long before the family fully understood what they were facing. What started as experimentation quickly escalated into addiction, creating tension, instability, and emotional strain within the household. Kara shares what it was like growing up alongside addiction\u2014navigating fear, unpredictability, and the weight of trying to protect both herself and her family. From cleaning up messes to stepping into a role of responsibility far too young, her childhood and teenage years were shaped by survival as much as they were by love. As they moved into adulthood, their relationship became a cycle many siblings of addiction understand deeply: connection\u2026 distance\u2026 hope\u2026 heartbreak. In January 2022, Kara\u2019s life changed forever. She didn\u2019t receive a phone call from family. She didn\u2019t hear it from authorities. She found out her brother had died\u2026 through Facebook. What followed was chaos, confusion, and a desperate search for answers\u2014trying to piece together what had happened, where Brandon was, and why no one had contacted the family directly. The initial assumption was what many feared: overdose. But nearly a year later, after waiting for the autopsy results, Kara learned something unexpected. Brandon\u2019s official cause of death was emphysema\u2014not overdose\u2014despite substances being present in his system. This revelation brought a different kind of grief. A different kind of processing. And a deeper reflection on how addiction had impacted his life\u2026 without being the final cause. Kara opens up about the complexity of losing a sibling to addiction\u2014the guilt, the boundaries, the \u201cwhat if\u201d questions\u2014and what it means to love someone deeply while also protecting yourself. She shares her journey through therapy, writing, and healing\u2026 including beginning a book to honor Brandon not just for his struggles, but for who he truly was as a person. This episode also explores the emotional weight of reading an autopsy report, the reality of delayed answers, and the layers of grief that come with unexpected twists in loss. In This Episode: (0:00:00) \u2013 Meet Kara + Remembering Brandon Kara introduces her family dynamic, growing up with her older brother and younger sister. (0:02:00) \u2013 Early Addiction + Family Impact How Brandon\u2019s substance use began young and quickly affected the entire household. (0:05:00) \u2013 Growing Up Around Instability Navigating fear, tension, and survival in a home impacted by addiction. (0:07:00) \u2013 Taking on Responsibility Too Young Kara reflects on stepping into a caretaker role and protecting herself. (0:10:00) \u2013 Adulthood + Cycles of Addiction The ongoing pattern of hope, relapse, and trying to maintain boundaries. (0:15:00) \u2013 The Complexity of Loving an Addicted Sibling Balancing tough love, boundaries, and deep care. (0:24:00) \u2013 The Night Everything Changed Kara shares the moment she learned of Brandon\u2019s death\u2014through Facebook. (0:30:00) \u2013 Waiting for the Autopsy The emotional toll of waiting nearly a year for official answers. (0:33:00) \u2013 The Truth About Brandon\u2019s Death Learning his cause of death was emphysema\u2014not overdose\u2014and what that meant. (0:42:00) \u2013 Remembering the Whole Person Why it\u2019s important to honor both the struggles and the goodness of someone\u2019s life. (0:48:00) \u2013 Grief Isn\u2019t Linear Breaking down myths around grief and what it really looks like over time. This episode is sponsored by The Surviving Siblings\u00ae Connect with Kara:  Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/karafitzluss?igsh=OHI2dXB5dXhqZmlj Facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/14NS2Hpn4no\/ Tik Tok: https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@karaleighlussier?_r=1&_t=ZS-91tnLBADBDe Connect with Maya: Podcast Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/survivingsiblingspodcast\/ Maya's Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mayaroffler\/ TikTok: https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@survivingsiblingspodcast Twitter: https:\/\/x.com\/survivingsibpod Website: thesurvivingsiblings.com Facebook Group: The Surviving Siblings Podcast YouTube: The Surviving Siblings Podcast Patreon: https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/TheSurvivingSiblingsPodcast   ","author_name":"The Surviving Siblings\u00ae","author_url":"https:\/\/www.thesurvivingsiblings.com","html":"