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This segment originally aired in Jacob Hylkins' case update on February 22, 2021.

After that episode was released, I was overwhelmed by the amount of listeners who commented

or sent me messages.

Telling me why this interview helped them realize why they were struggling to process a

loss in their own lives.

To be honest, it helped me too with a loss in my life.

I was also asked by some to publish this as its own piece, so it could be found and shared

more easily within the podcast feed.

When I decided to do this segment, I thought it could be helpful to some people listening,

but I never guessed how many people would be so deeply impacted by listening to this.

And I'm grateful to all of you who took the time to write me so many thoughtful messages

about how hearing this helped you in one way or another.

I wanted to take some time here to discuss ambiguous loss, because this is what the families

you hear on the show are struggling with.

Whether their loved one is still missing or they have found some remains, they are still

left with many unanswered questions.

Ambiguous loss is defined as loss without closure or clear understanding.

It's a kind of loss that leaves a person searching for answers and complicates or delays

the process of grieving, leaving people with unresolved grief.

We decided to bring back Dr. Philip Taft, who was previously contributed to the show.

...