The Lost Love Stories with Monika & Her Husband Gabe: Strength, Loss, and Living Forward for Her Children

Send us Fan Mail Some love stories don’t end the way we expect them to. In this episode of The Lost Love Stories, I sit down with Monika to talk about her husband, Gabe—and the life they built together. From the way they met (after months of her literally dodging his calls) to building a business side by side, raising children, and creating a life that was full, layered, and deeply connected… their story is one of partnership in every sense of the word. But this conversation takes a turn none of us are ever prepared for. On the morning of their anniversary, everything changed. What follows is a story of sudden loss—but also of clarity, strength, and the moments that shape how we move forward. Monika shares what it was like to: Make impossible decisions in real time Tell her young children that their father was gone Navigate grief while still needing to lead her family And carry out her husband’s final wish—to not let this define their lives There’s one moment in particular that stays with me. Just weeks before he passed, Gabe said to her: “If I die tomorrow… can you take care of all of this?” At the time, it felt like a passing comment. Now, it feels like something more. This episode isn’t just about loss. It’s about what strength actually looks like. It’s about motherhood, leadership, and the quiet decisions we make every day to keep going—even when everything in us wants to stop. And it’s about rewriting what it means to be a widow. Because as Monika so powerfully shares… strength isn’t found in falling apart. Sometimes, it’s found in choosing to keep living. Resources & Links: Connect with Monika: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monikameacham/ Monika's Authentic Leadership Engine: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/monikameacham_most-leadership-conversations-focus-on-outcomes-activity-7414297251826515968-rDo_?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAADgN0TIB0JHXxHXkfOvlrFAnDilpPNd25Yc Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/k7IxLcgFkls #podcast #resilience #widow #widowhood #grief #loss #interview #leadership #leadershipdevelopment Email [email protected] with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.