S3 - EP38 - A Love Cut Short: Amy Brunt on Joy, Shock and Parenting Through Grief

In this episode, Rosie Moss speaks with teacher and young widow Amy Brunt, whose life changed overnight when her husband Max died suddenly from meningococcal septicemia in December 2023. Amy shares their story with candour and affection, beginning with the playful first date where they unknowingly arrived in matching outfits, through marriage, motherhood, and the everyday quirks that made Max unforgettable.

She recounts the joy of their life together, home renovation chaos, and a sunrise proposal, before guiding us through the unbearable shock of Max’s rapid illness. Amy describes navigating emergency care while holding their newborn son, the guilt, the fear, and the moment she held Max’s hand through his final hours. She takes us into the early days of grief with a baby in her arms and a toddler beside her, naming the numbness, the survival, and the night time ritual she still keeps for Lane: “Mommy loves you, Daddy loves you. Daddy is always watching.”

This is an episode about sudden loss, but also about endurance, ritual and community. Amy reflects on solo parenting, loneliness, the unlikely friendships that have buoyed her, and the brutal tension of Christmas after bereavement. It sits with the pain while honouring the love that remains.

Episode Highlights / Show Notes

• Meeting Max after giving up on online dating

• Their first date, matching outfits and immediate connection

• Eccentric quirks and everyday love

• A wedding, pregnancy and a dream trip to Australia

• Max’s sudden illness and rapid decline

• Amy’s caregiving experience and his final hours

• Parenting young children through loss

• Rituals that keep Max close

• New friendships, support and surviving Christmas

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