Heartstrong: Chumpy, Minnie & Me

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Ellidy has now written a book, Heartstrong, about dealing with grief, being a young widow, and the "plot twist" of her daughter's birth. In it, she shares her story of grief, joy and how she’s carrying on Chumpy’s legacy with Minnie. Ellidy Pullin with baby Minnie. Credit: Seven

Ellidy lost her soulmate, Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin - 7NEWS Ellidy lost her soulmate, Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin - 7NEWS

She says she also hears from "countless widows" about what they've been going through. Her message is always to hang in there and be patient. You will feel better with time, she tells them. I hated hearing that ‘time does heal’ line at first, but it is true, the waves get longer apart and further apart each time,” she said. One of my favourite parts of this story was when Chumpy's dad Chris wrote a few chapters on Chumpy's upbringing and their life as a family. It is just so clear that they are such a beautiful family and I think it was really special that they shared some intimate family memories - I feel honored to have read them. I can't imagine from Ellidy's perspective how it would have felt from losing the love of her life and beginning her pregancy journey alone. I have so much respect for her for sharing her story which I'm sure will help so many people - Grief & IVF are no joke, especially paired together. Born in Victoria, at the foot of Mt Buller, he had loved to compete from a young age, and scaled the heights of his chosen sport to become Australia's first-ever snowboard world champion. It was hard, there were obviously really difficult moments, but I think when you tell a story, you kind of have to tell the whole story.”

Shortly afterwards, a neighbour says a body has been pulled from the ocean. An unconscious diver. The man asks: Hadn't Chumpy gone diving? I had seen this book everywhere and I had it on my list to read for ages, but I wasn’t at a place in my grief journey where i felt i could read this. I think it is just so apparent that Chumpy was an incredible and other-wordly human being that touched so many lives and has left an incredible legacy.

Heartstrong - Hachette

I feel like I can’t give a star rating because it feels like I’m judging someone’s life and experiences. I don’t think too hard, I just take every day as it comes.” Ellidy Pullin has released a book called Heartstrong. Credit: Seven

It's just changed my life. It's changed all of our lives. And [Chumpy] will just be so stoked. " From rural Victoria to the Olympics Six months later, Ellidy tried IVF treatment. The second round worked and, nine months later, Minnie was born healthy and strong.