Our Story
When Life Turned Upside Down (And How I Found a Little Magic in the Mess)
Our world changed in the blink of an eye. August 25, 2023—it was supposed to be a day of celebration. Marcus had just turned 54, and we were gearing up for a night out, ready to toast his birthday with our dear friend, who happened to share the same special day. But instead of a fun evening of laughter and cake, Marcus found himself in the hospital with a headache that spiraled into something far more sinister—a stroke. The kind of plot twist no one sees coming.
Even in those final moments, Marcus being Marcus, was thinking of others. He looked at me and said, “Make sure our friend knows we’ll still make it to her birthday dinner.” That’s just who he was—equal parts introvert and extrovert, the guy who loved a good gathering but also treasured his quiet moments. It was his way of not missing out, and in that instant, I knew how much I’d miss him.
We missed that birthday dinner. And heartbreakingly, so much more. Marcus passed away on September 5, 2023. He never came home.
Telling our boys was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. No guidebook or well-meaning Google search could have prepped me for that. We cried together, held each other tighter than ever, and then cried some more. Those first months? Let’s just say I felt like a shadow of myself—like the background character in a movie I didn’t want to be in. But my boys needed me, and fading away wasn’t an option.
So, what did I do? Something I never saw coming: I found a personal fitness trainer and started moving my body—despite my heart being firmly planted in “nope” territory. Every day was a battle, but with the loving support of family, friends, and the steady presence of sports in the boys’ lives, we slowly started to function again.
We found a lifeline in Kate’s Club, a grief support group for children, where we began picking up the pieces. It took me six months (and a lot of stubbornness) before I finally sought out therapy for my own grief. I was lost in a fog, going through the motions, but feeling very little. Moving, yes, but moving through a cloud.
Yet, in that time, I discovered something surprising—pain and beauty can coexist. Life might break you, but somehow, you find the strength to start healing. And from that place of healing, something new blossomed: Marietta Magik.
