Michael Allio is giving credit to his faith for helping him grieve the death of his late wife, Laura Ritter-Allio.
“One thing that I’ve talked to other grievers and widowers and people is visualization helps,” Michael, 41, exclusively shared with Us Weekly while celebrating his debut children’s book, Where the Wild Heart Grows. “Whether it’s God or whether it’s the belief in a higher being. I know for a fact I’m going to see Laura again, like, I know that. And so that brings me relief.”
Laura died in January 2019 at the age of 33 after a courageous battle with breast cancer. Following her passing, Michael vowed to care for their then 2–year-old son, James, and make sure he had plenty of positive memories.
“It’s all about what kind of stories am I going to collect to be able to tell her? Because if she is sitting there and I wasted my way on the couch mourning her loss, I know she’d be so upset,” Michael shared. “One thing cancer has taught me … is that we don’t have time to pretend that we have more time. You don’t have to be fully healed to begin living again. Now is the time to go out there and seek the kind of life that you want.”
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Over time, Michael has been able to grieve, but also find hope about the future.
His debut children’s book is an emotionally rich story that explores courage, loss and the journey of growing through life’s hardest moments. The stories also focus on embracing the different seasons of life on the path of becoming.
“One thing I wanted to make sure I did was to not teach my son how to avoid pain, but learn how to walk through it and walk with it,” Michael shared with Us. “I’ve humanized myself as a parent to him, understanding that I struggle too, and I think that’s created a very strong bond and kind of a safe place for us.”
Raised in the Catholic church, Michael — who recently became the Godfather to his niece — said he goes to church with his son.
“My own personal faith has gone up and down, and it’s a journey. But what I know for a fact, is that if I am showing up for [my son], and we’re having the conversations about Laura,” Michael shared. “I’m not pushing my grief on to him … He was two when she passed away, so I don’t want him to feel guilty that he doesn’t remember those things, but he does know that he’s going to see her again, that she is looking over us, just like all the people we’ve lost.”
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Michael – who appeared on season 17 of The Bachelorette with Katie Thurston in 2021 before competing on Bachelor in Paradise one year later — is proud to say his son is now in the 3rd grade and keeps dad busy with karate, baseball and basketball activities.
“He got his mom’s brains,” Michael said. “He’s so witty, and he’s just a curious child, and that’s something I’ve always tried to instill in him. Remain kind and remain curious. Ask questions. Put yourself in somebody else’s shoes. Don’t rush to judgment and be kind and be gentle with people.”
Where the Wild Heart Grows is available online now.
