I never thought of this website as a matchmaking site. But apparently it is.
Once upon a time, I met a lady named Tamara who became my friend when I reached out to her after her son, Logan, died in a truck crash. Logan suffered from mental illness including a binge eating disorder and lived in the neighborhood Charles grew up in.
So she understood my frustration with the mental health system. And the expense. Even more coincidental, Logan went to the same boarding school in Utah as Charles.
We were instant friends
Tamara wrote this article about her only child, Logan, on my site a while after we met.
I met Lloyd later when he and I had lunch in town after he wrote his article about his son Mathew who died by suicide.
Tamara used to live in Richmond but had moved to Colorado. Lloyd lives in Virginia.
Moved by her article, Lloyd reached out to Tamara after she wrote a few articles because he needed to talk to someone who had been through loss of a child because he was struggling with some upcoming life events that triggered episodes of grief. He’s a minister and was used to giving support but found he needed it, too. They were friends by phone, offering each other bereavement support.
Tamara had lost her first husband, Ron, Logan’s dad, decades earlier to suicide and had remarried. But like many who lose a child, she was going through a divorce in Colorado. Lloyd had been divorced for many years.
Later, when Tamara was visiting me, the two met in person. And as my husband and I witnessed, live sparks flew. They were like magnets and I’ve never seen two people more suited for each other.
The two of them got engaged May 10, 2019.
It just goes to show that after loss of a child, it is possible to put your life back together and find joy again. There is still brokenness and sadness, of course. We never forget our children who died, no matter what the cause of death. But wouldn’t our children want us to be happy?
Yes, there is love after loss
Somehow I feel part of this love story. I hope you do, too. Because your sharing the articles sparked a union I never expected. And I don’t think they did either.
I love Tamara’s tears of joy in the video below. Hearing my friend so happy after losing her only son inspires a beaming smile. I have heard her at her lowest. And now I’ve heard her at her happiest.
May they live happily ever after. When they decide which state they will live in. Minor detail.
Dear Tamara & Lloyd,
Congratulations on your engagement! I am so happy for the both of you. I would like to share my “happiness” story with you.
My husband, Kevin, with whom I had been married for 43 years died by suicide in 2014. I was devastated and so worried about my two children who were in their early 30’s. They too have been fighting depression and anxiety for many years. I read Anne Moss Roger’s blog everyday and have learned so much from her.
But, determined not to be alone, after some time, I went on a dating site. I met someone who had lost his wife to esophageal cancer due to alcoholism. Like me, despite the mental health problems in our spouses, we both had good strong marriages and wanted a relationship again. Henry is a volunteer on the 800 suicide call service and was such a comfort to me. We both grew up in Northeastern Pennsylvania about 15 blocks from each other, and knew many of the same people but never knew each other. My two children have grown to love and respect him and Henry and I are now together for life.
I wish both of you much love and happiness.
Ann, I love that story. Thank you for sharing it. I’ll make sure they both see the comments.
This is the best! Congratulations Tamara and Lloyd! ❤️
<3
This story is touching! It’s a tribute to your great work. You helped connect two people through your blog. This is a testament to how your stories and other shared stories help others and your able to connect people. Tell the happy couple congratulations from us!
Thank you Chris.