Grief Advocate, Megan Devine, Sees Grief as Love in its Most Wild Form

grief wisdom from psychotherapist and author, Megan Devine, accompanied by a rustic handmade heart from the SevenPonds team
Posted on December 8, 2025 by Chelsea Kirtley
flowers and branches arranged in a heart shape

credit: heart handcrafted by SevenPonds

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Posted in A Rite of Passage | Leave a comment

7 Thoughtful Holiday Gifts for Someone Grieving: 2025 Edition

Suggestions for some beautiful and thoughtful gifts for a loved one going through loss
Posted on December 5, 2025 by Ariana Barnes (Magazine Writer)
a thoughtful collection of holiday gift ideas for a loved one who is grieving

Small, meaningful gestures and thoughtful holiday gifts will let your grieving
loved ones know you care.
credit: SevenPonds

Grief affects everyone differently, but the holiday season is typically a difficult time for most people who have gone through the loss of a loved one. If you know someone (including yourself) who is grieving, there are a few gifts that can help with healing and comfort during difficult times.  Continue reading →

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Posted in Practical Tips | Leave a comment

Meaningful Things to Consider After the Sudden Death of a Loved One, Prior to Making Final Arrangements

An interview with Erica Hill, licensed funeral director and founder of Sparrow, a contemporary funeral home
Posted on November 30, 2025 by Caitlin Manner (Blog Writer) SevenPonds
Erica Hill of Sparrow Funeral Home in the US speaking about Meaningful things to consider after the sudden death of a loved one, before making final arrangements

Erica Hill at Sparrow, her luxury modern funeral home in New York City
Credit: Erica Hill

With a background in video production, merchandising, and philanthropy, Erica Hill’s passion for storytelling is evident when she helps families say goodbye to their loved ones. The funeral ceremonies she has helped conduct at Sparrow located in New York City — “a luxury modern funeral home” — have run the gamut from simple and sparse to intimately elaborate, but each one has been crafted to the individual needs and wants of her clients. 

Hill’s interest in providing more adaptable funeral services was born through her own experiences with loss over the years. After attending funerals for friends and feeling like the events weren’t what they would have chosen or even wanted, Hill came up with Sparrow as a place where she could help other families design a ceremony that truly honored their loved ones.

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Posted in Professional Advice | 1 Comment

Has Death Gone Disney? Former Disney Star Sparks Controversy Over New AI App — Or Grief Trap?

Calum Worthy advertised his new AI app, sparking fear and outrage with a video that showed a family using it to speak to an AI avatar of a grandma who had died
Posted on November 29, 2025 by Maria Mocerino Magazine Writer
smart phone depicting ad for 2wai app

The new era of AI chat is here. Should we be alarmed?
image: Maria Mocerino

In reflecting on the promo video for his new app that disturbed many on November 11, it’s fitting that Calum Worthy is a former Disney star.

The video, which went viral, triggered a flat-out rejection of the digital resurrection as “creepy” and “demonic,” according to video reportage by Inside Edition. Fascinating, considering the bright nature of the sentiment behind the app, as if it weren’t a problem rooted in darkness but lightness, or fantasy, a multi-billion dollar industry for Disney. In this case, it’s the precarious fantasy of pretending that someone is still alive. 

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Posted in Something Special | Leave a comment

Happy Thanksgiving from the SevenPonds Team

May your heart be nourished by meaningful connection, peaceful reflection, and an extra side of self-compassion
Posted on November 27, 2025 by Chelsea Kirtley

pumkin pie on a table ready for a grieving family to enjoy.

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Posted in Inside SevenPonds | Leave a comment

Recent Study Shows Physicians Choose Much Different Treatment Options for Themselves vs. Their Patients

Doctors often prefer to refuse invasive medical interventions if faced with their own terminal illnesses.
Posted on November 25, 2025 by Ariana Barnes (Magazine Writer)
person in scrubs inside exam room

While most physicians indicated that they would not prefer invasive treatments regarding end-of-life care, these same treatments are routinely administered to their patients.

Credit: sjobjio on Unsplash

A 2025 international study published in the Journal of Medical Ethics and reported by Medscape revealed a surprising disconnect in end-of-life care for physicians between what they offer patients and what they’d choose for themselves. While most physicians indicated that they would not prefer invasive treatments regarding end-of-life care, these same treatments are routinely administered to their patients.

In the recent study, researchers surveyed 1,157 physicians from countries including Belgium, Italy, Canada, the United States, and Australia about their personal preferences involving end-of-life healthcare and life-prolonging treatments. The findings may indicate what happens when advanced medical training meets mortality.

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Posted in Something Special | Leave a comment