Widowed dad writing a book to teach children about grief

Ric Hart has written books after being left to raise Hugo (Image: SWNS)Ric Hart wants to teach Hugo, now four, and other children about grief. Ric Hart and his son Hugo (Image: SWNS)The full-time dad, from Doncaster, who was left to raise their boy after Jade’s death, said: “At first, I wanted to fall apart. She was my best friend and soul mate – and I didn’t know how to live without her.”The grief was crazy. I wasn’t even on this planet but I had to look after a baby that was only a few hours old.”I was getting only two or three hours of sleep a night and was visited by frequent traumatic nightmares.”Jade, 33, died in July 2018 due to mistakes by medics – with an inquest ruling a doctor at Bassetlaw Hospital in Worksop, Notts, made “serious errors”.Ric, 38, was faced with overwhelming grief – but the responsibility of raising a new-born kept him on track. Ric Hart with his late wife Jade (Image: SWNS)Ric, who married Jade in Thailand in 2015, said: “Jade was so excited to be a mum. She had an easy pregnancy.”But she passed away only a few hours after delivering her son.The inquest this year heard the umbilical cord had been “pulled at least four times when the placenta had not separated” and Jade suffered multiple cardiac arrests and brain damage.Ric turned to marathon running as well as putting his thoughts down on paper by writing several thousand words a day before Hugo woke.This inspired him to publish a series of children’s books to explain bereavement. His latest – Hugo and Daddy’s School Adventures – was released in September to mark his son going to school.Ric added: “During my darkest moments, I never imagined we would be where we are now. Hugo is amazing – he’s such a joker. I wanted to write the books to keep Jade’s memory alive, and help Hugo and families navigate grief.”Losing Jade was the most horrific thing, but she left the most beautiful gift behind. “He has her smile, it’s just phenomenal.”