EDITOR’S NOTE: We received this email from Jacinta last night and were immediately moved by her situation. She has asked for advice, for support and for help, from the Mamamia community. We know the wonderful readers of this site will rise to the occasion and assist by leaving some kind words in the comments. Thank you in advance.
By JACINTA WOODS
Six weeks ago my husband went to the emergency room feeling unwell. Four weeks ago my husband died. He died on his 44th birthday.
He had been feeling okay, but had been diagnosed with an ulcer. It turned out the ulcer was actually stomach cancer which had metastasized to his liver.
I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to deal with everything. I have a 14 year old daughter and an 11 year old son.
Everyone tells us that time will make things better but how does the world get better when the most important part of our world is gone?
But we can’t just grieve for him. I have to worry about paying the bills, the schools I’m going to send my kids to, paying the mortgage, who is going to teach my son to shave, who will scare off potential boyfriends for my daughter, who is going to teach my son to be the man his father was and what am I going to do in 20 years time when he’s not here.
I don’t know why I am sending this to you. I do know that my husband was one of the best people I know. He loved being a dad and that’s what his life was about. His family. We were the most important thing to him. And now he doesn’t get to be here.
And maybe talking to a stranger will help me.
Jacinta is a regular Mamamia reader.
Do you have any advice for Jacinta? How do you deal with grief, when you have a family to take care of?
Top Comments
I feel your pain ... I lost my partner who was 36 .. few weeks ago 4th December 2015 .. to stomach cancer ... The emptiness.. the completely lost feeling .. the shock .. feeling every single emotion all at once ... Talking is good that's what I been told .. I'm in limbo myself ...I'm Here if you wanna talk .. we both going through same thing and so many others it's a cruel illness .. I need to talk too so we can help each other .. I don't know how we carry on its all so devistating .. if cancer had a house I knock the door and destroy it just like it destroyed us xxx so sorry for your loss
I wish I knew. I came across this article because my husband of two months died on his birthday on Boxing Day and I am left pregnant with our first child and petrified of what the future holds. Everyday seems worse than the one before but I need to connect with people who understand my pain. Everyone around me is so wonderful, bringing food & flowers and having tea but mostly people don't know what to say. I can't understand why life continues to go on around me when I'm so stuck here. I just want to scream at strangers "Don't you know what's happened? My husband is dead and you're buying groceries". There's this altered sense of normality that isn't normal. I feel everything and nothing all at once. He died 19 days ago and it feels like forever, I just want to be where he is. This pain is unbearable.
Sarah sorry for your loss xx
I feel exactly exactly spot on Like you . I lost my partner who was 36 .. few weeks ago to stomach cancer ... The emptiness.. the completely lost feeling .. the shock .. feeling every single emotion all at once ... The wanting just to be with him again ... People saying to talk to people in same situation so I'm here for you to talk as I need it to too xx sending. Love and light