When life comes full circle - Kelli McCombe

There’s something profound about a life ending on the same date it began, and in the same place it started. In this deeply raw conversation, Kelli McCombe shares the story of losing her husband suddenly on his birthday in 2024 and in Papua New Guinea, the place he was born. A devoted husband, father, and well-known member of his community, his death left Kelli navigating shock, trauma, and an overwhelming new reality. As a registered psychiatric nurse, Kelli understands trauma from a clinical perspective — but here she speaks as a widow living it. She reflects on the disorientation of early grief, the weight of responsibility that followed, and the complexity of trying to function while everything inside her was unravelling. This is an episode about sudden loss, trauma responses, and the fragile early months of grief — and the small anchors of love and support that can sometimes keep you going. Together, Caroline and Kelli chat about: • The day everything changed and the shock of sudden loss • The significance of his death occurring in his birthplace • Experiencing grief while also understanding trauma clinically • Memory, confusion, and early grief decision-making • Carrying responsibility for business and life admin in shock • Isolation, support, and finding small anchors to survive each day Quote that resonates with Kelli: “After everything I’ve lost, I still believe there’s beauty in the world and choosing to notice it, is part of how I keep going” About The Widow Diaries A podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support.  This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters. Links • Learn more about First Light Widowed Support (https://firstlight.org.au) • Follow First Light on Instagram (  / firstlightwidowedsupport  ) • Like First Light on Facebook (  / firstlightwidowedsupport  ) • Connect with First Light on LinkedIn (  / first-light-widowed-support  ) • Connect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn (  / caroline-winter-5a19369b  )