On Episode 7 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, 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—and 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…there were early signs of something deeper. Brandon began using substances at a very young age—long 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—navigating 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… distance… hope… heartbreak.

In January 2022, Kara's life changed forever.

She didn't receive a phone call from family. She didn't hear it from authorities. She found out her brother had died… through Facebook. What followed was chaos, confusion, and a desperate search for answers—trying 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's official cause of death was emphysema—not overdose—despite 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… without being the final cause.

Kara opens up about the complexity of losing a sibling to addiction—the guilt, the boundaries, the "what if" questions—and what it means to love someone deeply while also protecting yourself.

She shares her journey through therapy, writing, and healing… 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) – Meet Kara + Remembering Brandon Kara introduces her family dynamic, growing up with her older brother and younger sister.

(0:02:00) – Early Addiction + Family Impact How Brandon's substance use began young and quickly affected the entire household.

(0:05:00) – Growing Up Around Instability Navigating fear, tension, and survival in a home impacted by addiction.

(0:07:00) – Taking on Responsibility Too Young Kara reflects on stepping into a caretaker role and protecting herself.

(0:10:00) – Adulthood + Cycles of Addiction The ongoing pattern of hope, relapse, and trying to maintain boundaries.

(0:15:00) – The Complexity of Loving an Addicted Sibling Balancing tough love, boundaries, and deep care.

(0:24:00) – The Night Everything Changed Kara shares the moment she learned of Brandon's death—through Facebook.

(0:30:00) – Waiting for the Autopsy The emotional toll of waiting nearly a year for official answers.

(0:33:00) – The Truth About Brandon's Death Learning his cause of death was emphysema—not overdose—and what that meant.

(0:42:00) – Remembering the Whole Person Why it's important to honor both the struggles and the goodness of someone's life.

(0:48:00) – Grief Isn't Linear Breaking down myths around grief and what it really looks like over time.

This episode is sponsored by The Surviving Siblings®

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