In this episode, Rosie Gill-Moss speaks with Colleen Clarke, a widow from Australia who shares her deeply personal story of losing her husband Steve to motor neurone disease (MND). Through a candid and honest conversation, they explore the realities of caregiving, the emotional toll of terminal illness, and the resilience required to parent a young child while facing unimaginable loss. This powerful episode touches on motor neurone disease, grief, widowhood, parenting through terminal illness, and the long arc of healing.

Colleen and Steve met as teenagers and spent over three decades together. Their love story, which began with a pub dance and grew through years of shared life, took a devastating turn when Steve was diagnosed with MND—also known as ALS. Colleen recounts how the illness slowly robbed Steve of his ability to speak and move, and how she shifted from being his partner to his primary carer. She explains the uncertainty that surrounds MND diagnosis, the slow progression of symptoms, and how the family held on to normality for their daughter, Sarah, for as long as possible.

Listeners hear how Sarah was conceived after years of IVF and a surprising encounter with Brazilian jungle herbs—an unexpected yet joyful part of Colleen’s story. But the joy of becoming a mother was followed just five years later by the slow, cruel advance of MND. Colleen explains the emotional and logistical challenges that came with managing a terminal illness at home: palliative care planning, home adaptations, medical equipment, and navigating grief in real-time. Her experience highlights just how fragmented the support system can be, but also shows the difference strong community networks and dedicated carers can make.

As Steve’s health declined over three years, Colleen found strength in peer support, online communities, and palliative care teams who helped maintain his comfort and dignity. She also reflects on the communication barriers that emerged as Steve lost his ability to speak and how they found new ways to stay emotionally connected—including using an alphabet board and pre-recorded messages. Her story underscores the emotional complexity of being both wife and caregiver and the internal conflict that arises when love and duty become indistinguishable.

Colleen also shares the impact Steve’s death had on Sarah, who was just eight at the time. They discuss the delicate balance of protecting a child while being honest, and how Sarah eventually returned to education after years of disengagement. Now 18, Sarah is pursuing a degree in film and media—testament to her strength and the care her mother put into helping her navigate grief on her own terms.

This conversation offers rare insight into life with MND and the long road of widowhood that follows. Colleen’s story is a vivid account of emotional survival, practical adaptation, and the enduring strength of mother-daughter connection. Her openness about depression, the challenges of solo parenting, and her cautious optimism for the future provides real-world understanding for anyone dealing with terminal illness, bereavement, or solo motherhood.

Key takeaways from this episode include the unpredictable progression of motor neurone disease, the importance of early palliative care involvement, the hidden toll on carers, and how children experience grief differently. It’s also a testament to how human connection—through peer support groups, counselling, and shared experience—can anchor someone through the darkest seasons of life.

Whether you’re supporting someone through illness, grieving a partner, or parenting alone, Colleen’s story will stay with you long after the episode ends.

In this episode, Rosie Gill-Moss speaks with Charlotte Cannell about losing her fiancé Craig to a brain aneurysm when she was just 27 years old.

Their conversation explores the devastating impact of sudden loss on a young woman who had been with her partner since she was 16, and how she rebuilt her life through travel, family support, and finding new purpose.

Charlotte shares the harrowing twelve days she spent by Craig's bedside in intensive care after he collapsed during a council meeting in November 2020. Despite initial hope when he regained consciousness and recognised her, complications including sepsis ultimately led to his death.

The discussion delves into the unique challenges facing young widows, particularly those without children. Charlotte candidly explores grieving not just Craig, but the future they had planned together - their wedding booked for July 2023, the children they hoped to have, and the life they were building in Essex. Her decision to legally take Craig's surname through deed poll, despite never marrying, demonstrates the depth of their bond and her determination to honour their relationship.

In this episode, Rosie Gill-Moss speaks with Adriana De Jesus, a young widow from New York state who lost her husband Jason to a fatal asthma attack when their son was just 14 months old. This powerful conversation explores the devastating reality of sudden widowhood, the challenges of single parenting after loss, and the unexpected journey of finding meaning through grief.

Adriana shares her love story with Jason, beginning at a soundstage studio in 2018 where their 15-year age gap didn't prevent an instant connection. Their relationship accelerated during the 2020 lockdown, leading to parenthood and what seemed like a bright future together. However, in June 2023, Jason's routine seasonal asthma took a fatal turn, possibly exacerbated by poor air quality from Canadian wildfires. Despite having managed his condition his entire life, Jason died from an asthma attack at home, leaving Adriana to navigate sudden widowhood at just 28 years old.

The conversation delves into the immediate aftermath of loss, including the trauma of performing CPR, arriving at the hospital with her infant son, and learning her partner hadn't survived. Adriana candidly discusses the guilt she felt about finally getting sleep after months of exhaustion with a newborn, only to lose Jason just as life was settling into a rhythm. She reveals the financial and legal complications of being engaged but not married in New York state, where common law marriages aren't recognised, creating additional stress during an already overwhelming time.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is Adriana's honest exploration of grief's complexities. She discusses discovering both her and Jason likely had undiagnosed ADHD, which affected their relationship dynamics and her postpartum experience. The episode also touches on her unique healing journey, including her decision to train as a medium after a transformative reading that helped her process Jason's death. This unexpected path has allowed her to support other grieving individuals while maintaining her connection to Jason.

For parents concerned about asthma, Adriana offers perspective on managing fear after loss. When her son Parker was diagnosed with asthma, she drew strength from Jason's attitude about not letting the condition limit his life. She emphasises the importance of proper diagnosis, medication management, and understanding environmental triggers like air quality alerts. Her approach to explaining death to her toddler, teaching him that "Daddy is in our hearts," provides a touching example of age-appropriate grief conversations.

Adriana De Jesus works in the film industry while raising her son Parker in upstate New York. Following Jason's death, she trained as an evidential medium, offering readings professionally alongside her day job. Her story demonstrates how young widows navigate practical challenges like childcare, work-life balance, and financial planning while processing profound grief. She credits finding the Widowed AF podcast with helping her feel less alone in her journey, highlighting the importance of community and shared experiences in healing from loss.