My wife died of a stroke four days before her 40th birthday. 

My name is Glenn and I am a single father of two boys – I lost my wife to a stroke.

I still remember the day Maria had her stroke. it was four days before her 40th birthday. The day before she should have been celebrating her birthday – we held a funeral. Here we are five years on from her tragic death and I can’t believe how quickly time goes by. I’m busy bringing up my two young boys and trying to make sure that we get to school and work on time, I often don’t get a moment to myself to reflect. When I do - I still feel angry and frustrated that a stroke took her away.

Nicholas is now five and Ben is ten years old. Ben has always been a bright boy and he continues to do well at school. This year Nicholas is repeating kindergarten as his teachers and I felt that he wasn’t mature enough to start school. He is a tall boy for his age and towers over the other kids in his kindergarten room. But I know that I have done the right thing in giving him more time before he starts school. Who knows what the kids will start to say about his mum as he gets older. I just hope that he doesn’t get teased about his mother. But I know that Ben is protective of his little brother and will watch out for him.

Every Mother’s Day I make sure that we do something special to remember Maria. Ben remembers his mum but obviously the concept of a mum is difficult for Nicholas to understand. I lost my own mother last year. She was in her sixties and this was too young to die. But at least I grew up with a mum looking after me.

Some people ask me why I continue to help promote the work of the National Stroke Foundation. I’m proud and pleased that by sharing Maria’s story we raise awareness and dollars. If something good can happen from Maria’s awful death, then I’m happy.

For now it is a day at a time for me and the boys. I want them to do well at school and have happy lives. It is wonderful to see them develop their own interests and hobbies.

Please continue to support the National Stroke Foundation. Their work is vital. We all need to help stop the second biggest killer in our country. Hopefully fewer children will have to grow up without parents who are struck by stroke too early in life. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Glenn (single father of Nicholas and Ben)

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