From Silence to Connection: Brett’s Journey Through Loss

Brett Harman, 37, from Lincolnshire, faced unimaginable heartbreak when his fiancée, Hannah,

passed away from cancer in October 2024, just 18 days before her 30th birthday. Hannah was

not only the love of Brett’s life but also the devoted mother of their daughter, Summer. Together,

they had shared a decade of life, navigating challenges that would have tested any couple, from Brett’s leukaemia diagnosis at 26, to the demands of Hannah’s nursing career, and her

courageous battle with rare cancer during pregnancy.

Their journey was marked by resilience, love, and determination. Brett recalls, “We had so many

plans for the future, building a family, celebrating milestones, just living life together. We thought

we had beaten the worst of it, and then everything changed.”

Losing Hannah left Brett not only grieving the love of his life but also confronting the immense

responsibility of raising Summer alone, while navigating profound grief and an overwhelming

sense of isolation, “The house was so quiet. I had no idea how to do everything, and the

loneliness was crushing.”

Searching for connection and support, Brett turned to social media, initially just to break the

silence. What began as casual TikTok Live sessions evolved into Brettflix, a platform that now

reaches thousands of followers with content focused on films, gaming, quizzes and community,

“It’s not about grief. It’s about finding moments of joy, connecting with others, and creating a

space where people can escape and feel part of a community.”

Through Brettflix, he discovered that even small steps toward connection could have a profound impact on mental and emotional wellbeing.

Brett’s personal experience with loss gave him a deep understanding of the challenges faced by widowed people. He knows firsthand how isolating widowhood can be and how important

support networks are, “No one should have to face that silence alone. That’s why I’m so proud

to support The Widowed Collective as they provide free, practical and emotional support to widowed people of all ages. It’s built by widowed people, for widowed people, and offers

connection, hope and reassurance that you’re not alone.”

Through his involvement, Brett continues to honour Hannah’s memory while helping others

navigate their grief journeys. He hopes that sharing his experience and supporting this network

can encourage widowed people to reach out, find community and take steps toward healing.

One day at a time.