Extended: Meredith Gaudreau marks son Carter’s first birthday after Johnny Gaudreau’s death

April 1st is typically a day meant for laughs, but for Meredith Gaudreau—wife of the late Johnny Gaudreau—it's a day filled with every emotion under the sun. "Because on this April 1st, Meredith's youngest son, Carter, is celebrating his first birthday." "He's my angel," Meredith said. "He looks just like his father." Johnny Gaudreau passed away on August 29th, 2024, but one week before his death, he found out Meredith was pregnant with the couple's third child. "He was shocked," Meredith said. "If I can remember that moment, it was pure shock, then pure excitement. He was very cute about it." Seven months after losing her husband, Meredith gained a son. Even though Carter will never meet his father, Meredith is going to make sure he son KNOWS his father. "I think about that a lot," Meredith said. "I'm going to tell him you look just like your father. I'm going to tell him he was very excited about you." Meredith continues to live in Central Ohio, where she is raising her three children. In addition to Carter, she also has a daughter, Noa (3), and another son, John (2). She credits the memory of her husband as the driving force behind her strength. “Being in a funeral home with your husband gives you a drive that you can't describe,” Meredith said. “Holding his hand and whispering to him is what I think about a lot. My life is not at all what it’s supposed to be, but what other choice is there to wake up and be so grateful that I’m here and so grateful I have my kids?" Meredith Gaudreau continues to lean on the Columbus Blue Jackets community, attending most home games, staying close with players’ wives, and spending time in the team’s family lounge. She said her kids call the players their “hockey uncles.” She has also found purpose through her charity work as one of the co-founders of the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation. This winter, the foundation made its first major charitable donation to Ohio Sled Hockey, an organization that helps kids with physical limitations play the sport her husband loved. "With our foundation, we wanted to help other families going through hard times," Meredith said. "Some of these kiddos are here because of tragedies they've been through. So they couldn't have been a more deserving group." And while Meredith has a heart for all children, her main purpose continues to be the three that she has at home. “John didn’t pick me as a wife because I can’t handle this," she said. "These kids are already growing up without a father. They’re not going to have a weak mother, too." _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: WSYX on Facebook:   / wsyxabc6   WSYX on Twitter:   / wsyx6   WSYX on Instagram:   / wsyx6   Subscribe to WSYX on YouTube:    / @wsyxabc6   Daily News Playlist:    • 6 On Your Side   For more information, visit https://abc6onyourside.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 614.481.6659 WSYX and WTTE are OH based stations owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. #WSYX #ABC6 #News #WSYX6 #6OnYourSide