Coping with Loss of Wife,Best Friend and Soul Mate

Hi, 

I have been with my beautiful wife for 30 years, and we have 3 beautiful teenage daughters.

My wife has been fighting breast cancer since 2009, with numerous Chemotherapies, natural rememdies, surgery and radiotheraphy - after 4/5 years she was in reammission, and then 9 months later in 2015 it came back harder and faster - she has daily lung drains, and was put on various chemotheraphy drugs and in April 2017 she was deemed stage 4 as it had spread to her spine, liver, kidney, both breasts, neck etc - We thought the worse.

I took 9 months off from work to care for my wife, and in that time I studied Chemotherapy treatments, wrote to Pharmecetical firms, and went through weekly blood results in order to do anything I could to save my beloved wifes life.

With my research I was also able to push the Oncologists and talk to them on a 1-2-1 level (even my wife said it was like 2 Oncologists where in the room !) - and I was the one who discovered why my wife had rejected the Chemotherapy in the first place due to her Albumin levels where very low.

Armed with Blood results every week, checking white cells, B12, Albumin I was able to tailor my wifes diet and she was able to have the chemotheraphy week on week.

Working together we managed to keep her alive for another 9 months, however sadly it caught up with her and she died in December 2017 just after Christmas.

Althought this is still very raw, I miss her every day, and have 3-4 breakdowns a day, constant crying, longing, and yearning for my wife - I wear her perfume and jewellery and still sleep with her dressing gown and have kept the house exactly as she left it so ther are no changes "when she returns home"

In 30 years we were together, we were only away from each other for 2 weeks, and we were more than Husband and Wife, she was my soul mate, best friend, we were a unit, we held hands, told each other we loved each other everyday, and I wanted no one else - she was my everything and the only thing in my life I was ever afraid of losing.

I still cry in pain that this could happen to someone so beautiful, and I have had the phases of grief doubt, and anger.

I hate the cliches, "be strong for the children" but how can I when I am not strong for myself, and the girls are teenagers, they are in their rooms talking to their friends, or boyfriends, and I am left on my own - the girls will grow up and I will walk the rest of my time on this earth without my beloved.

I particularly like the "it will get better after the funeral" this I can tell you is ********* ! it has got worse - I have more crying breakdowns, even when I go to places that me and my wife visited I hyper ventilate and freeze on the spot.

Yes I have couselling, but everyday the pain intesifies as does the emptiness and hollowness inside.

I am told I did all I could for my beautiful wife, and I would give everything I own just to have her back with me again.

I wanted to share my story, with others and I read a statistic once that said "75 men a day under the age of 50 are made widowers" and now I am in that statistic.

I am finding it hard to cope everyday, and it feels like my head is caving in with all the tears and emotions - I assume I am not alone

Simon 

Parents
  • I read your post of February 2018 and wondered how you are now coping as Iam suffering like you.

    I lost my darling wife in May 2020 after 60 years together. Our 3 daughters give me constant love and attention but my loss causes  me daily sadness and the wish to end my life and be at peace. Whatever peace is.

     

  • Hello Grim and welcome to the forum. 

    I am so very sorry to hear that you lost your wife earlier on this year. I can't imagine how difficult it has been for you to be apart after all those years together.

    I know we have many members here on the forum who have lost wives or husbands and some who have expressed, like you, how deeply the sadness impacts them. 

    Sadly, Covid19 has taken away many things that people would use to help them cope during times like these so I'm glad to hear that your daughters have been able to offer you support through all of this. It sounds from your post as if you are a very close family. 

    You don't mention in your post if you've spoken to anyone about how you're feeling Grim and so I wanted to let you know about some organisations that may be able to offer you some help and support. 

    Cruse is a bereavement charity who offer a few different types of support to those who are dealing with the loss of a loved one. Please do have a look at their website which I've linked for you.

    Age UK offer a telephone befriending service which at a time when it's difficult to get out and meet people face to face could be a good way of connecting with others. And of course the Samaritans are available 24/7 if you want to talk to someone about how you're feeling. 

    You're very welcome to keep posting here on the forum as well Grim. Sometimes chatting to others here who have been through similar or simply writing down your thoughts and feelings in a safe space can also help.  

    Keep talking to your daughters and to those around you Grim. I'm sure they would want to offer you all the support they can. And if you choose to keep to posting here we'll do our best to try and support you too. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator

Reply
  • Hello Grim and welcome to the forum. 

    I am so very sorry to hear that you lost your wife earlier on this year. I can't imagine how difficult it has been for you to be apart after all those years together.

    I know we have many members here on the forum who have lost wives or husbands and some who have expressed, like you, how deeply the sadness impacts them. 

    Sadly, Covid19 has taken away many things that people would use to help them cope during times like these so I'm glad to hear that your daughters have been able to offer you support through all of this. It sounds from your post as if you are a very close family. 

    You don't mention in your post if you've spoken to anyone about how you're feeling Grim and so I wanted to let you know about some organisations that may be able to offer you some help and support. 

    Cruse is a bereavement charity who offer a few different types of support to those who are dealing with the loss of a loved one. Please do have a look at their website which I've linked for you.

    Age UK offer a telephone befriending service which at a time when it's difficult to get out and meet people face to face could be a good way of connecting with others. And of course the Samaritans are available 24/7 if you want to talk to someone about how you're feeling. 

    You're very welcome to keep posting here on the forum as well Grim. Sometimes chatting to others here who have been through similar or simply writing down your thoughts and feelings in a safe space can also help.  

    Keep talking to your daughters and to those around you Grim. I'm sure they would want to offer you all the support they can. And if you choose to keep to posting here we'll do our best to try and support you too. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator

Children