A tragic accident claimed the life of a newlywed just weeks after welcoming his first child, leaving a family in mourning and shock.
Port Talbot: Everything was looking up for Holly Williams. She had just married the love of her life, welcomed a baby, and was gearing up to return to Swansea University for her nursing studies. Then, out of nowhere, she got a devastating phone call.
Holly, 32, shared that she met Jordan Powell, 29, online. They hit it off right away. “He wouldn’t leave me alone,” she laughed, recalling their first coffee date where he unexpectedly showed up. From that moment, they were inseparable.
They had dreams of a beautiful life together. But tragedy struck when Jordan, a motorbike enthusiast, was hit by a car right outside their home on January 5, 2024. This happened just five weeks after they tied the knot.
Holly said she felt numb after the accident. “I just threw myself into university and work,” she explained. Her kids became her motivation. She wanted to show them that challenges can inspire you to push through.
They had six kids together, and their newborn, Ivy-Rose, was only 11 weeks old when Jordan passed. Holly mentioned how the loss affected the children, especially Ivy-Rose, who often gets tearful and asks about her dad.
Despite the heartache, Holly remained focused on what mattered most: her kids. She had faced challenges before, working as a frontline worker during the pandemic while studying nursing at Swansea University.
Looking back, she recalled the tough times during her placements, not knowing if she’d catch Covid. “Each day was different, and I’d come home and cry,” she said. But she knew she was making a difference, even if it was just being there for someone in need.
Jordan was her rock during those tough days, taking care of the kids when she couldn’t. “I struggled with online lectures and worried about catching Covid,” she shared. But during her maternity leave, she could focus on her studies with help from her husband and mom.
After becoming a single mom to three kids, Holly leaned on her family for support. “They were amazing, letting me take time off when I needed it,” she said, grateful for their help with the children.
She kept up with her studies and even found support at her placement in Neath Port Talbot Hospital. “The staff were so understanding. They made it easy for me to talk about what I was going through,” she said.
For anyone facing similar struggles, Holly had some wise words: “Keep going, and don’t hesitate to lean on someone. Talk to someone and seek support. Amazing things can happen, even after great loss.”
And amazing things did happen for Holly. She graduated with a BSc in Nursing (Mental Health) at Swansea University, with her mom proudly watching from the audience.