The Love Of My Life: a day in the life of Terri Irwin

The urgent phone call awaited me when I got to the room. it was John, my brother-in-law. "Terri, there has been an accident." he said, his voice breaking. 'Don't say it, don't say it.' I think to myself, even though I know what is to come.1

"Steve is dead Terri." As John's words ran through my ears I looked out the window. Bindi was skipping on the sidewalk outside. 'She seems so happy.' I thought as the shock started setting in. 'Oh, my children, he would have not wanted to leave the children.'2

I glanced at a picture of Steve on the nightstand and thought of the last time I saw him. It was two days ago, I was packing up the kids for the trekking expedition we are on now. Steve had to go check on a zoo meeting so he had given me a quick peck on the cheek and wished me a good trip. He then said goodbye to the children and left our home.3

I reached up and rubbed the spot on my cheek where he had kissed it so many times before. I will never feel that touch again. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I thought of this cruel fact. I will never work on the park with him, never face the media together, never play with our children again.4

Growing up I would have never thought that I would have lived this life, in the public eye helping conservation on a world wide scale, all with the love of my life. I had always hoped to help animals ever since my father first brought home an injured animal from the highways that was struck by one of his many construction trucks. When my two sisters played with Barbies I was out finding hurt animals and helping them heal. Even when I grew older I opened a rehabilitation facility called Cougar Country, I could not have dreamed of this life.5

I heard John talking again and focused my attention on the voice. He informed me that Steve had been out on the reef shooting some footage for Bindi's new television show. He swam over a Bull Ray just as it was coming out of hiding. The stinger had gone through his chest and hit his heart. My silent tears turned to sobs as John told me that Steve had pulled the stinger out, and swam back to the surface before passing out and finally dying on board the boat.6

I sat in the kitchen and let the tears flow long after the line had gone dead. My life was coming down around me, the one man I had ever truly loved was dead and I had to stay strong for the children. The children, how am I supposed to tell Bindi? I dried my tears quickly as she came into the room.7

"Bindi, I need to talk to you." I said as I prepared myself for the heartache I was about to give her. I wanted to shield her from it, take away the pain, and make it all a dream but I had to tell her. She had a right to know. 8

"Hun, sometimes you steel yourself for things that could go wrong." Her eyes widened as she sensed something was horribly wrong. I felt so horrible; she should not be made to suffer like this. "When something goes wrong you have to have faith, and you have to believe that it can be a new chapter, and that we can go on."9

I proceeded to tell her everything about his death and she cried, and cried, and cried. "Daddy still loves you. We need to stay together and get each other through this." I tried to comfort her as my sobs joined her's. My heart retched open a little more with every sob she gave. She will never be held by her father again. Death is so cruel.10

I choked back the pain as I thought too much on the future. I realized I would have to take it one hour at a time, maybe one moment at a time. As I glanced at Bindi I realized that my children are my strength, their willing, happy attitudes could get me through anything.11

I will get through anything and Steve will live on in my heart. My children's love, Steve's love and my love for them will get us through. Even without the love of my life.