Today, November 10th, marks the 15th anniversary of the death of former Bundesliga and national goalkeeper Robert Enke (†32). His widow, Teresa Enke (48), speaks in an interview with broadcaster RTL about how she lives with the loss of her husband today.
“I used to often think about what I was doing at this point in time that day,” explains Enke. Today she can say: “Birthdays are more important and more beautiful to me.” The anniversary of his death, on the other hand, has “no importance” for her. That was the case before, but now I’ve perhaps given up on it out of self-protection.
Teresa Enke: Everyone grieves differently and deals with the loss of someone differently.”
This simply developed over the many years while she tried to “live a normal life again”. Sometimes she is asked why this day is not important to her. This has “nothing to do with the fact that I wouldn’t miss Robbie. Everyone grieves differently and deals with the loss of someone differently.”
Robert Enke had suffered from severe depression before his death in 2009. The Robert Enke Foundation was founded at the beginning of 2010. Teresa Enke is the chairwoman of the foundation, which aims to raise awareness about depression and advocates for the removal of taboos surrounding the disease. The foundation is also committed to children with heart disease and their parents. In 2006, the Enkes lost their two-year-old daughter Lara, who was born with a serious heart defect.
“Robert, you are missed. With your foundation, we have almost kept our lives alive for 15 years,” says a post on Instagram. And further: “You’ve been looking down on us for 15 years. And millions looking up at you.”
(wue/spot)
Swiss
