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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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Life Lessons

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope for Widows Foundation, Solo Parenting
June 3, 2020June 19, 2020
Tonight my heart aches. Aches in a way words cannot describe. Aches for a man who’s been gone for far too long. And lived for far too short a time.   On Sunday, my late husband would be celebrating his ...
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What I Have Learned

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
May 25, 2020June 19, 2020
In my 2077 days since I started this widow journey, I have learned so much.  Death, grief, and survival have taught me more than I can write about.    I have learned I am blessed to have those who are ...
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Another Milestone He Missed

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation, Solo Parenting
May 18, 2020June 19, 2020
Recently, my son celebrated his 16th birthday. The sixth one without his father. Birthdays are now so bittersweet.    I hated that he had to celebrate his birthday in quarantine.  So we arranged for friends to line our sidewalk and ...
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Mother’s Day

by Carla Duff in Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
May 9, 2020
Mother’s Day.     It’s a special day that can be a grief trigger.  One where I count my blessings and at the same time feel sorrow for what’s missing.  A bittersweet day.  As most holidays are now.     This year ...
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National Widow’s Day

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
May 3, 2020June 19, 2020
Today is National Widow's Day.  And unfortunately, I am a member of that club.  A club I never wanted to join. But I am surrounded by some of the strongest men and women I know.  We support each other. Lift ...
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Solo Parenting Sucks

by Carla Duff in Coping Mechanisms, Grief, Solo Parenting
April 20, 2020June 19, 2020
I’m going to share something that every widowed parent knows. Solo parenting sucks. Being the only one twenty-four hours a day seven days a week without an end in sight. And yes, I have amazing friends who would do anything ...
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Widowhood Prepared Me For A Pandemic

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
April 16, 2020June 19, 2020
    Who knew that widowhood would prepare me for a pandemic?    Many are wondering how will I survive? Is it OK to eat cereal for dinner? What am I going to do with all this time to myself?  ...
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Hope of Holy Week

by Carla Duff in Coping Mechanisms, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
April 10, 2020June 19, 2020
For me, Holy Week is bittersweet. This time of year always makes me miss my late husband even more. Easter has always been a special time in my family. And not having him here to celebrate this holiday is difficult.  ...
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Journey of Survival

by Carla Duff in Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
March 31, 2020June 19, 2020
The last 6 years have been a journey for me.  A journey into grief. A journey of survival. A journey to living.  And on this journey of widowhood there has been much to learn.    I've learned that I'm stronger ...
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Forced Downtime

by Carla Duff in Coping Mechanisms, Grief, Hope and Healing, Hope for Widows Foundation
March 26, 2020June 19, 2020
When my late husband died, being busy became one of my coping mechanisms. Always somewhere to go, something to do. Downtime meant time to think.  And I definitely didn’t want that.    For the last 6 years, I have kept ...
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