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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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1st Christmas After Is A Blur But It Does Get Better

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
December 14, 2018June 19, 2020
That first Christmas after Jared died is a blur.  It had only been 3 months. I was so numb. Walking around in a fog. But I was determined Steven would have a Merry Christmas.  He deserved nothing less. I remember ...
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Being Remarried Doesn’t Make Christmas Easier

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
December 3, 2018
People assume because I’m remarried, the holidays are easier.  That I don’t miss Jared. That I’ve moved on. Nothing could be further from the truth.     Being a remarried widow doesn’t ease the pain of losing Jared.  Especially at ...
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Thanksgiving Memories: Old and New

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
November 21, 2018June 19, 2020
Thanksgiving is a time of so many great memories. So many Thanksgiving adventures for me to look back on and smile.     We have never been a traditional Thanksgiving kind of family.  For us, Thanksgiving equals travel. Adventure. Exploring ...
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No Longer Counting the Months

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
November 13, 2018June 19, 2020
When Jared died, I counted the months he had been gone.  I hated the 16th of every month. And if the 16th happened to be a Tuesday, it was a double whammy. Then at the end of October 2016, I ...
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Holidays Are Hard: Especially For Widows

by Carla Duff in Coping Mechanisms, Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
November 2, 2018June 19, 2020
The holiday season is officially upon us.  And the holidays are such a hard time of year.  Especially for widows. During this time of year, I always miss Jared even more.  I wish he was here to go to the ...
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Wedding Ring: A Symbol of Love

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
October 25, 2018June 19, 2020
Facebook reminded me of a memory that was a turning point in my grief.   In September 2016, I flew to Brazil for work. And I was advised to not wear any valuable jewelry. So for the first time since ...
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Working on year 5 of this widowed life

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
October 16, 2018June 19, 2020
I recently began my journey into year five of this widow life.  And so much has changed from that first year. And some things will always remain the same.     When I think of my late husband now, I ...
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They Will Never Know Him

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope for Widows Foundation
October 9, 2018June 19, 2020
As my life moves forward, I realize there will be an entire group of people that never knew Jared.  People who came into my life after his death. People who never had the pleasure of calling Jared friend. And I ...
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Deciding To Remarry: My Personal Choice

by Carla Duff in Grief
October 1, 2018
When my late husband, Jared died I swore I’d never date again.  Never fall in love. And would certainly never marry again. And if I did it would be after my son was grown.   Twenty six months after Jared ...
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Celebrating Wedding Anniversaries As A Remarried Widow

by Carla Duff in Grief
September 24, 2018
Sunday would have been my 18th wedding anniversary to my late husband. And for the first time, I celebrated it as remarried widow.  The fact that I am now remarried, did not stop me from celebrating my love story with ...
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