“I Felt Like Half A Person” – On Becoming A Widow Grief Out Loud

In an instant, Leslie went from sharing every aspect of life with her husband Ryan to feeling like half a person. Leslie, Ryan, their two young children, and their extended family were on vacation in California when Ryan told Leslie that something didn't feel right. He was rushed to the hospital where he died of a stroke and an aneurysym, leaving Leslie to figure out how to live their life without him. The people Leslie most wanted to talk to in her grief were other widows. This inspired her to start Vids for Wids - a project to capture the stories of widows in the hopes of helping others feel less alone. 
We discuss:
How Leslie and Ryan met as co-workers 
The day Ryan died while they were on vacation 
Suddenly feeling like half a person without Ryan 
Telling her very young children about his death 
The early days and weeks of widowhood 
How her kids’ grief is changing over time 
The power of talking to other widows 
What Leslie learned about grief from Ryan 
Dating and becoming a remarried widow 
Leslie’s Vids for Wids project to support other widows