The Empty Side of Our Bed: Love, Caregiving, and Life After Loss

In this deeply moving episode of the Solo Dad Podcast, Matt Bradley sits down with Bill to explore a love story that spans nearly three decades—and the heartbreaking journey of caring for his wife Bonnie through cancer before learning how to rebuild life after her passing. What begins as a conversation about grief quickly becomes a powerful reflection on love, marriage, caregiving, fatherhood, and the lasting impact of a life shared together.

Bill shares how he and Bonnie met long before online dating became commonplace, building their relationship through months of conversation before ever meeting in person. Together they blended a family, navigated the joys and heartbreaks of parenthood—including multiple miscarriages—and ultimately raised three sons while creating a marriage rooted in communication, partnership, and unwavering devotion.

When Bonnie was later diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic and liver cancer after previously battling thyroid cancer, life shifted dramatically. Bill candidly discusses the emotional and physical realities of becoming his wife’s primary caregiver, balancing hope with the knowledge that their time together was limited, and the profound honor of caring for the person he loved through every stage of her illness.

The conversation also explores the loneliness of widowhood, the difficult firsts after loss, the importance of therapy, and why grief cannot be rushed or “fixed.” Bill reflects on the unexpected emotions that still surface years later, the comfort found in old videos and memories, and the lessons that inspired him to write The Empty Side of Our Bed—a book written to help other widows and widowers realize that what they’re feeling is normal and that they are not alone.

Throughout the episode, Matt and Bill remind listeners that healing doesn’t mean leaving a loved one behind. Instead, it means learning to carry their memory forward while slowly building a new life. It’s an honest conversation about enduring love, finding purpose after unimaginable loss, and discovering that while grief never truly disappears, hope can still return.

Key Takeaways

• Love doesn’t end when a spouse dies—it changes how we carry it forward.
• Caregiving is one of the deepest expressions of love and commitment.
• Grief is different for everyone, and there is no timeline for healing.
• Therapy, conversation, and expressing emotions are essential parts of recovery.
• It’s okay to cry, grieve, and have difficult days—even years after a loss.
• Memories can be both comforting and painful, and it’s normal to experience both at the same time.
• Widows and widowers are not alone, even when grief feels isolating.
• Life after loss isn’t about moving on—it’s about building a meaningful future while continuing to love the person who is gone.