My Inner Strength
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In October 2016, the most important person in my life past away too soon. My incredible husband Greg, the most loving father to our two young boys was gone. On that October evening, I tried to call him to let him know we would be home in a couple of minutes. He did not pick up which was not unusual, since I knew he wanted to get some yard work done and clean the chimney so we could start the wood burning stove. The temperature had started to drop at night and he did not want to start the stove without cleaning the chimney. As I walked in the door that night to our home, he was lying on his back in front of the wood stove. At first I thought he was just joking with us but then I realized that he was not joking. I told the boys to run to the next door neighbors for help. They came back and told me that Iris was not home. I was already on the phone with 911 and starting CPR on my husband. The boys ran to the other neighbor’s house and stayed there until my parents came. When the paramedics arrived that night, I knew my life would change forever. I never thought in a million years that we would not see one another again.
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Through the course of the next two weeks, I was completely numb. With the help of our family and friends I was able to make all of the necessary arrangements for his wake and funeral. Everyone told me that I was so strong and I could to this. Over the next 6 months it got harder and harder for me. I realized that this journey wasn’t going to be easy for me and my two children. As I sat in our home every night, the home that I shared with my husband for over five years, it felt so empty. All I could do was cry…
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Over the course of the next 6 months, I realized that I needed to provide for my two young boys. I knew that this would be a difficult task for someone who had been out of the corporate life for over nine years. I needed help to get my finances, budget and future planning in place. The one thing that did help me was I had gotten my Real Estate License several years before to help pay off some bills, household expenses, family vacations, and the boys sports. Plus we wanted to do some renovating within the house. But the problem was my mindset was just not there. I was able to complete several transactions that year but I had no future business.
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So Greg’s one year anniversary was approaching, plus all of the holiday’s and all I could think of was just getting through this year. I decided that 2018 was my year to shine. January came and I became more focused on what I needed to do. One of my closest friends, a widow of nine years, her sister’s husband died unexpectedly. Tragedy, hit two sisters within ten years. We have lost so many loved ones in this small community.
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At that moment I realized I needed to create “The Greg Willmott Foundation” that would help other widows and widowers in our community. It would give them the resources, support and knowledge needed as they embark on this new and unknown journey.
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I have realized that my husband will always be a part of me and I will always love him but I needed to move forward with this Journey we call life. That is why I have created “The Greg Willmott Foundation” in honor of my husband to support and guide other widows and widowers to be successful in their own life Journey.
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Melissa Willmott
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