People USA – September 02, 2019

66 September 2, 2019 PEOPLE

ONE YEAR AFTER SENATOR JOHN McCAIN’S DEATH, HIS WIDOW

REFLECTS ON LIFE WITHOUT HER HUSBAND OF 38 YEARS

In the year since Republican senator

John McCain died after a grueling fight

with glioblastoma, a form of brain can-

cer, his widow, Cindy, has mostly stayed

out of the spotlight. But the memories

of John—and all that he represented—

continue to play a large role in her

life. Each day, Cindy and his seven chil-

dren (Douglas, Andrew and Sidney,

from his first marriage, and Meghan,

Jack, James and Bridget with Cindy) try

to “remember him with joy, not sorrow,”

Cindy says. Here she shares what she

has experienced, how she’s changed and

what has brought her comfort in the

wake of her loss.

On Aug. 25 a year will have passed

since my husband’s death. Our heavi-

est grief has subsided, which I’m sure

would have prompted John to wise-

crack, “It’s about time.” He could nev-

er stand still, and he didn’t want us to

languish in our loss. Neither did he

want us to mark the anniversary of

his passing with solemn commemora-

tions and tears, but to celebrate the life

we shared with him.

It was a struggle at times to reach this

point. I was so accustomed to sharing life

with John, there were days when I felt

overwhelmed by his absence, and the

habits and little problems of ordinary

life seemed a challenge. But you learn

IN MY OWN

WORDS

‘You Learn to Live

with a Broken Heart’

By CINDY McCAIN

Cindy Lou

Hensley married

John McCain on

May 17, 1980.