A mother has issued a heartbreaking tribute to her husband who took his own life not long after losing their stillborn twins.
FIFO worker from Perth Adam Edwards, 32, and his wife Lucy, 30, were struggling to conceive and have been on a seven-year IVF journey.
However, after finally falling pregnant through IVF, the couple were left devastated when their precious twins Penny Christine and James Robert were delivered stillborn in July at just 21 weeks old.
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As they grieved, Adam hid how he struggled to cope with the loss of James and Penny, with his mental health battle only amplified by the long periods he’d spend away from home working in a remote BHP mine.
The heartbroken dad went on to take his own life shortly after.
"Adam can be described as being larger than life, literally at 6.4ft and the biggest hands anyone has ever seen, he gave the best bear hugs and hugged everyone, even people he just met, with the love and kindness of a long-term friend," family friend Roumelia Carroll wrote in a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses and family support.
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"His laughter carried afar, his joyful presence filled the room, and the love he has for Lucy is what poems are made from.
"Adam's family and friends are shocked and deeply saddened by his loss. There are no words to describe the feelings we are experiencing as we wake up to a world without him."
At the time of writing, $40,495 AUD has been raised of the $50,000 target.
Taking to social media, the grieving mum uploaded a photograph of the father with his beloved twins and called their marriage ‘the privilege and joy’ of her life.
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She wrote: "I would do anything for one last kiss, one last hug or one last day. Please take care of our babies."
“Everyone who knew and loved Adam is devastated,” she added. “His legacy brings to the fore the importance of mental health for men, particularly those who work fly-in, fly-out. I hope no other family goes through this.”
Lucy has since encouraged other men to seek mental health support after losing a child.
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“When a fit and healthy young man like Adam dies suddenly and unexpectedly, it is natural for people to assume it was the result of a long battle with mental illness," she told Daily Mail Australia.
She added: "But this wasn’t the case with my beloved husband of four years. Over these past few unimaginable months of grief and loss, Adam was my rock.
"While all I can do is face my unbearable sadness one day at a time, my hope is that other families can be spared the heartache and pain that I and Adam’s family are now experiencing."
If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone
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If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123
If you need support and advice following a pregnancy loss, you can contact the Tommy’s team at [email protected]. You can also call them for free on 0800 014 7800 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Topics: Health, Parenting, Mental Health, Australia
Anish Vij