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Stolen Goodbyes

Love After Covid Loss: Finding Hope in the Wake of Covid Tragedy

Season 4, Ep. 2
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In this moving episode, we sit down with Charles Persinger, 59, from Swindon, who shares his powerful journey through loss, resilience, and rediscovery of love. Charles opens up about the unimaginable heartbreak of losing his mother, Susan (74), and his wife, Katie (51), both to Covid, within just six weeks of each other. He describes the depths of grief he faced, losing the two most important women in his life, and how he eventually made a choice that changed everything: to choose love over fear.

Through the Covid 19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, Charles found a community where he could channel his anger and determination for accountability and healing. It was here he met Lynda, who had also suffered a devastating loss—her father to Covid. Their shared experiences and mutual support blossomed into a new relationship, giving them both a chance at love and companionship amidst the tragedy.

Charles reflects on his journey from profound loss to love, saying that “the human capacity to love is endless, no matter what we’ve been through.” By joining forces with others who shared his grief, he not only found support but also helped lay the groundwork for the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, a significant step toward justice and remembrance for those lost.

His message to listeners is one of courage and hope: “Don't underestimate your capacity to love. Be brave.” Charles’s story reminds us that even in the darkest times, we can find strength, purpose, and the possibility of new beginnings.

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