On the 31st January 2020, the unimaginable happened and my world changed forever. My husband, Daniel Guy, died. He was only 29. I felt alone, numb, confused and heartbroken. I did not know what to do or where to start. Our two children only had me now, and I didn’t have my best friend and soul mate of 13 years to help me through, I felt completely overwhelmed. The darkest days of my life followed, there was no light, everything I ever thought I knew had turned to dark and felt as if I was just aimlessly seeing day turn to night, and then came the day I received the unforgettable phone call, Daniel’s employer, Mount Gibson Iron, engaged Miners’ Promise to support me. Miners’ Promise cradled us with their compassion whilst they arranged everything we needed to feel safe in the world again. It’s a day by day journey but with Miners’ Promise now guiding us, they have given me hope for tomorrow, knowing we are not alone as I rebuild our lives.

After Daniel died, I stumbled along for a few weeks, feeling directionless and lost. I had to move out of our family home and having no secure base for myself and our kids made everything so much harder. I was struggling financially, and I did not know how to move forward. I am forever grateful to Mount Gibson Iron for contacting Miners’ Promise at this point, as I can not imagine where I would be now without their support.

Miners’ Promise immediately took us under their wing and have been there with us since, every step of the way. Miners’ Promise listened and I felt heard, protected and respected. They quickly located an appropriate family home for us to move into, lodging a successful rental application on my behalf. Our rent was also covered for the first couple of months until my financial situation was stable, ensuring I was not left with any financial strain. Miners’ Promise engaged their amazing partnering law firm, Vitalis Legal, to work through the overwhelming amount of legal work that I was required to do to ensure everything was done correctly on every front. I do not know what I would have done without their guidance and support.

When you lose a loved one, people often do not know what to say or how to help. So for me, knowing I have my Family Support Advisor that I can call and talk to about anything playing on my mind offers a huge amount of solace. Miners’ Promise understand how to support people dealing with hardship like no other organisation. The compassion, wisdom and clarity that I have received is the reason we are now in our own home again, that the kids are back at school, and that I am able to tackle each new day, as I slowly rebuild and discover who I am all over again.

I honestly cannot imagine where I would have been at this point if I did not have Miners’ Promise by my side. When they took the reins, it alleviated a huge burden and allowed me to focus on my children when they needed me the most and to be together as we grieved the loss of Daniel. It breaks my heart to think of other families who have had to survive this kind of loss on their own. It should be mandatory that all families receive this support when they go through such an overwhelming tragedy and restructuring of their lives.

I am now a member of the Miners’ Promise Standing Together Bereavement Group and when I look to the future, I know that I have others on this journey with me.

Mount Gibson Iron – thank you for looking after me and our two young children when Daniel passed and our world was turned upside down. If only all employers were like you. The care and support you provided enabled our journey towards healing and rebuilding and for this I will be forever grateful.

Miners’ Promise, I cannot thank you enough. Words fail to truly express the gratitude I feel, the compassion and support you provide is immense and priceless and I truly believe Daniel would be so grateful to know his family is being cared for in the way Miners’ Promise do.