Heartstrong: Chumpy, Minnie & Me

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In the days that followed Alex "Chumpy" Pullin's death, tributes flowed for one of Australia's most recognisable winter athletes. Get this audiobook free then 1 credit each month, good for any title you like - yours to keep, even if you cancel Friends and family were saying sperm retrieval was an option. But within hours it would be too late. Ellidy had to decide.

Heartstrong by Ellidy Pullin | Goodreads

Six months later, Ellidy tried IVF treatment. The second round worked and, nine months later, Minnie was born healthy and strong. Speaking to The Morning Show on Wednesday, Ellidy said Minnie’s first year had been a “rollercoaster.” In that moment, the "crazy, weird decision" of sperm retrieval was simply about the option of having Chumpy's baby in the future. Heartstrong is an unforgettable book about love, joy, grief, hope and finding a way to keep going in the darkest of times.From that moment, Ellidy's world stopped. There was deep grief, disbelief and then the gradual realisation that this was real. Ellidy's partner of eight years, a World Champion snowboarder, a man of energy and music, was gone. And so was the life they had built together and the dream of the child they had been trying for. In the hours that followed a suggestion was made: did Ellidy want to harvest Chumpy's sperm and try for the baby they both wanted so deeply? Ellidy is amazing. What she has been through I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy. Although such heartache, she still manages to bring so much light and laughter into the world around her.

Heart strong: Ellidy Pullin on the life-shifting loss of her

As it turned out, Ellidy wasn't pregnant, but 15 months after Chumpy's death she gave birth to his baby. Ellidy said her first year with Minnie had been “busy, she’s been such a little legend, just like her dad.” Listen all you want to the Plus Catalogue—a selection of thousands of Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts, including exclusive series All I have left is this story. This stupid story I wish I didn’t have to tell.” Ellidy with Minnie. Credit: SevenShe 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. Ellidy hopes that by sharing her story, other women who may one day lose their partners through accident or chronic illness will not necessarily lose the chance of having their partner's baby. They'd recently lost their partner in an accident, and, having followed Ellidy's story, had asked for sperm retrieval. This book is full of both and so much more as well. Life. Death. Everything in-between and afterwards. Your heart and soul will run the full gauntlet of emotions by reading this book. You’ll lose a little bit of yourself to it. It’s an incredibly moving read and I dare you to not feel something while reading this. This was new for me, I don’t read memoirs nor am I usually interested in them. Although the writing style was definitely different for me, the experiences, trauma and growth throughout this book, are memorable. This was both heartbreaking and inspirational.

Ellidy Pullin | 9780733649226 | Booktopia Heartstrong eBook by Ellidy Pullin | 9780733649226 | Booktopia

Our life was just going on this trajectory where we had the house, had the dog, and had the grand plans. It blew my mind how much he’s still here and making sure El knows it. (The van playing his music 🥹😲) Sorrow meant it took Ellidy a number of months to be strong enough to start IVF. The first round didn't work. But the second did.

I was swept up in El’s and Chumps story, i had loosely followed it in the media but wasn’t fully across it. I felt so so many emotions and listening to El and Chris speak so eloquently about Chumpy and his passing was truely beaut Heartstrong is just such an unforgettable book about love, joy, loss, grief, hope and finding a way to keep going in the darkest of times. (Literally every emotion and feeling you could think of was in here) Nope. I started and finished this book in one sitting I was captivated by this incredible memoir that shared the story of Ellidy, Minnie and ofcourse the story of Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin in life and in death, I’ve never felt this before about someone I’ve never met but I’m in awe of the human he was and the lives he touched and just the way he lived his life. Two years ago, Ellidy Pullin lost her soulmate, Olympic snowboarder Alex “Chumpy” Pullin, in a devastating diving accident. Time really does help to heal a little bit.” Ellidy said the grief of losing Alex came and went in waves. Credit: Seven