Whole New Life
PODCAST: Having survived cancer in my 40s and the loss of my husband in my 50s, I deeply empathize with the challenges you may be facing. I share my coping strategies and the determination it takes to remain resilient. By following my journey, you'll discover practical techniques to manage grief, build emotional strength, and find hope even in the darkest times.
Throughout 30 episodes, I candidly share every moment of my falls and the strength I found to rise again each time. I chronicle my journey of learning and growth and include a surprising twist I never thought possible: falling in love again.
Widowhood has been far from easy, the effort I invested in five years following my husband's passing has, and will always remain, entirely worthwhile.
BOOK SERIES: In 2024 I wrote and self-published a 3-book series about my life, love, and loss. You may purchase on Amazon in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.
Book One:
46 Days: Just the beginning of my healing journey…
Approximately two months after my husband passed away from cancer, I needed to get away for a while. In 2020 I was not only his wife, but also his caregiver for the last year of his life. Watching my husband slowly die in front of my eyes took everything out of me.
Book Two:
140.6 sMILES: It was more than just crossing the finish line…
Both the physical and mental strength it took to train for, as well as complete, actually provided me with the physical and mental strength I needed when I found out I had cancer in 2013, as well as learning my husband’s cancer was terminal in 2020.
Book Three:
3 Words: Powerful words that changed my life forever…
The most gut-wrenching words I have ever heard were spoken to me in 2013 and then again to my husband in 2019: “You Have Cancer.”
WEBSITE: https://stacyryanauthor.com/
DISCLAIMER: My story should not be interpreted in any way as expert, health, or medical advice. I chose to share my story, in my voice, to assure people they are not alone and perhaps provide a bit of inspiration or a glimpse of hope, if needed.
Whole New Life
When Time Stops: How Caregiving and Sudden Loss Shape Different Grief Journeys
Grief arrives in many forms, and its timing is never what we expect. After losing my husband to cancer in 2020, I discovered that my grieving process had actually begun a year earlier with his diagnosis—a slow unraveling as I watched him slip away while trying to savor every remaining moment. The contrast with my sister-in-law Annie's experience couldn't be more stark: she lost her husband suddenly to a heart attack, performing CPR in their bedroom at 2:30 AM after they had casually said goodnight just hours before.
These parallel journeys through loss reveal profound truths about grief's unpredictable nature. While I had time for difficult conversations and goodbyes, Annie had none—yet both of us faced the same mountain of pain, just from different starting points. I share the raw reality of becoming a caregiver, watching my husband decline day by day, and the crushing weight of finally telling him it was okay to let go. Annie generously reveals her story through a letter describing the night that changed everything, from the ordinary moments of a playoff game and dinner to the surreal experience of hospital hallways and returning home alone.
What emerges from these shared experiences is a roadmap for both those grieving and those supporting someone through loss. I've learned not to judge another's grief journey, to listen more than speak, and to simply do what needs doing without asking. Most importantly, both Annie and I discovered that even with "half a heart missing," it's possible to build a meaningful life again—different, forever marked by loss, but also enriched by deeper appreciation for each day.
StacyRyanAuthor.com
