Her husband killed himself and their two little children when he drove off a wharf in South Australia nine months ago. Understandably, Melissa Little is devastated. Her grieving will be forever. But she is revealing extraordinary courage and, amazingly, giving back.
In January, Damien Little got a coffee from McDonald’s then drove his car off a wharf in Port Lincoln, SA, with sons Koda, 4, and Hunter, nine months, inside. He had shot them first.
A family was devastated and a nation was shocked.
This week she has created a new Facebook page about the steps, quite literally, she is taking to help her move on but also to support and help others who suffer such unspeakable grief and loss.
She has created Kokoda for Koda – The Next Chapter 2017. On this page she outlines her plans to walk the Kokoda track next year raising money to publish a children’s book, aimed to help littlies “understand grief and promote discussion about the loss of their loved ones.
“I have watched my son Koda’s friends try to understand and come to terms with the fact that their friend is no longer here. This moved me to write a children’s picture book,” she writes on her Facebook page.
She has also delivered a moving and powerful letter to the local SA newspaper, The Advertiser, which shows her unending commitment and love for her family, including the husband that shattered it all forever.
“The tragic event that took place in January has left me broken hearted. The loss of my children … and my husband Damien, has left me with only precious memories to hold. No matter how I chose to deal with my grief, not a single day goes by without my boys in my thoughts.
“It would be really easy to be consumed with the tragic story and the questions of why and how. But these are questions that no one can answer nor understand.”
She adds: “As I tried to deal with each day, as well as try to understand that no one could have helped my husband with his private and personal battles, I had to face the world again.The more I tried to understand the ‘why’ behind the tragic events, the more I realised I couldn’t have changed things.
“So one day at a time, I tried to find strength to rebuild my life — always having my three boys in my heart.”
She said she had been searching for a challenge or something to honour them. And she has written the book.
Melissa has returned to her job as an early childhood teacher and also walked the Kokoda track for the first time in July. Her son Koda was named for the track.
Keep an eye on her Facebook page to find out how you can support her in publishing this book.
