Alice Palmer, 68, was dealt a devastating blow when she lost both her husband and daughter within days of each other. However, fate smiled on her and gave her a new lease on life when she married Lee Palmer, a widower who had also lost his wife and son. Their shared experiences aided their recovery.Alice Palmer, 68, faced enormous tragedy when she lost both her husband and daughter within days of each other. However, fate provided her with a ray of hope when she met her future husband.
Alice met Lee, 58, three years after the tragedy at a support group for grieving widows and widowers. Lee, a painter and decorator, had seen his fair share of tragedy.Lee realized after meeting Alice online and conversing with her for a while, “I like this woman, I like her a lot,” and he wanted to meet her in person. He clarified that he didn’t join the group in search of love, but Alice was different. He went on to say:
“We just clicked when we met. We’re married now, and it’s great to feel alive again. I was alone for nine or ten months and now I have someone to look forward to when I get home from work.” They will finally meet in person in June 2020. “I was very wary going back into dating,” Alice explained, “but I didn’t want to be alone all the time.” She went on to say: “Having both lost spouses, it was a matter of trusting each other that you wouldn’t be hurt again.”
I’m a very needy person, and after everything, I just wanted to be loved again.”Lee lost his wife, Michelle, 59, in 2019 to an unexpected heart attack, and his son Joe, 17, died from sepsis in 2013. Alice faced similar difficulties after the deaths of her husband and daughter. Alice had a special bond with her daughter, Beth, who had been born without oxygen, resulting in quadriplegic cerebral palsy, scoliosis, blindness, and epilepsy.
Beth’s condition worsened by June 2019, and she was admitted to intensive care. John’s condition was also declared terminal at the same time. Alice spent weeks traveling between Beth’s intensive care unit and John’s hospice, being present for both of them.Alice received the tragic news of her daughter’s death on August 26, 2019, and John died just six days later. Alice was given the difficult task of organizing a joint funeral. “I think having to organize the double funeral was the worst, it was so sad,” she said, adding: “It was so sad.”
“Then, at the funeral, walking behind the two coffins in the church, it was devastating.” Alice emphasized the importance of rebuilding one’s life. She noticed that many people on the widows’ website seemed to have given up hope of ever finding happiness again. She believed that some people were simply biding their time until death, which she saw as tragic and wasteful.
Overwhelmed by the stark void in her own home, Alice sought refuge with her sisters. She sought assistance from a support platform for widows and widowers, where she met Lee. They found love after sharing their past traumas and supporting each other through them, which led to their marriage in March 2022.Alice reflected on her journey, saying she never expected to find love again.
She described her feelings as profound sadness and isolation, as if there was no one she could connect with. She admitted to being cautious because of her previous experiences, fearing another loss and the associated pain. However, when she met Lee, she realized: “We’ve both been there; we’ve both had doubts, but it’s a relief and a comfort to love and be loved again.”
Lee had similar thoughts. He realized after the deaths of Joe and Michelle that none of his close friends or family had suffered a similar loss. He found it difficult, and joining the support group helped him because it allowed him to talk with other people who had also lost loved ones. Lee moved to Liverpool in January 2021 to live with Alice, who lived in Anfield, and they married in March 2022. They carried tokens of Beth and Joe’s presence at their wedding, ensuring their presence on the happy occasion.