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Carla always knew she would be a widow but didn’t have any idea how it would actually feel. When Carla met her late husband Jared, he was waiting for a lung transplant due to Cystic Fibrosis, a chronic disease affecting the lungs and pancreas. So she knew that most likely someday she would say goodbye to her husband. But she never dreamt it would be exactly one week before their 14th wedding anniversary. In August 2014, Jared was diagnosed with a rare bacterial infection in his transplanted lung and was expected to survive at least 6 months if not a year. Instead, he died just 6 weeks later. And in the blink of an eye, Carla became a solo mom to their 10-year-old son. And even though her life was forever marked before and after, she was determined to live life to the fullest because her husband would expect no less.

She founded Breathing for Jared, a Foundation to provide college scholarships to those suffering from lung disease in honor of her late husband. Became a supporter of the CF Foundation and Donate Life. And discovered that writing out her emotions and fears on her blog Transplant Wife and Widow helped her to process her grief

Carla recently remarried and is now blending a family with her new husband, bonus daughter, and son.

Recent Posts by this Author

Author Carla Duff

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Still Grieving

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Widowhood Journey
January 17, 2021
I read a news article yesterday, and the reporter stated that the widow was “still“ struggling with her grief one year later. And that word, still bothered me so very much. Upset me greatly. Of course she is “still“ struggling ...
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Christmas as a widow

by Carla Duff in Coping Mechanisms, Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Solo Parenting, Widowhood Journey
December 19, 2020
The holiday season can be one of great joy. But for widows and their grieving children, it can also be one of great sorrow. Reminders of who is missing. Traditions that can no longer be kept. Gifts that no longer ...
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Surviving The Holidays

by Carla Duff in Coping Mechanisms, Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Widowhood Journey
November 25, 2020
This morning, I asked my 16-year-old son for any thoughts or wisdom on how to handle holiday grief. He was 10 when his dad died. And since his dad died in September this will be our seventh holiday season without ...
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Children's Grief Awareness Day: Say Yes

Children’s Grief Awareness Day: Grief Changes Over Time

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope for Widows Foundation, Solo Parenting
November 18, 2020November 18, 2020
Children grieve in their own way. In their own time. And we need to support them in their grief.  Today, Children’s Grief Awareness Day is a day to remember that children grieve differently.  That children hurt too.  That children need ...
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Team Jon

by Carla Duff in Coping Mechanisms, Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
November 14, 2020
When the love of your life dies in front of you, your life is forever changed. You swear never to love again. That your heart will never heal. That you will never let yourself feel again. Do your best to ...
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Holidays Are Hard

by Carla Duff in Coping Mechanisms, Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
November 2, 2020
The holidays are such a hard time of year. During this time of year, I always miss Jared even more. I wish he was here to go to the pumpkin patch. To help Steven carve his pumpkin. To help scare ...
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Halloween Without You

by Carla Duff in Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Widowhood Journey
October 28, 2020
Halloween is my second favorite holiday. It’s a holiday my late husband and I always enjoyed celebrating. After our son was born, Jared could not wait for Steven to get old enough to do “scary Halloween.“   Steven was nine ...
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Lessons Learned In Grief

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Widowhood Journey
October 19, 2020
It has been six years since my husband passed away. It feels like yesterday and today all the same time. My grief has definitely changed over the years. In the beginning, I could not imagine surviving the day, the week, ...
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20 Years Ago We Said I Do

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Widowhood Journey
September 23, 2020
Twenty years ago today my late husband and I stood at the altar and said I Do.    I do in sickness and in health.  I do for richer, for poorer.  I do in good times and in bad.  I ...
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Angelversary Guilt

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope for Widows Foundation, Widowhood Journey
September 15, 2020
Tomorrow will be 6 years since Jared died. 6 long years.  Yesterday. And forever.    Typically for me the day before is the hardest day.  The day before his borthday The grief hits like a tsunami.  Sucker punches me in ...
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