Desert Island Discs Dr Nicola Fox on the tragedy that changed her life
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Oct 3, 2025 Dr. Nicola Fox shares her journey from a promising career at NASA to personal tragedy when her husband died unexpectedly. She recalls the chaotic moments of trying to reach him while away on business and coordinating emergency help with her young son. Grief transformed her perspective on life and work, revealing the incredible resilience of her children. In a heartfelt tribute, she honors her husband by placing a message engraved in his memory on a spacecraft, connecting her family's legacy to the stars.
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Sudden Loss While On A Work Trip
- Dr Nicola Fox was traveling in San Francisco when she felt compelled to call home and found her young son answered the phone instead of her husband.
- She guided her terrified three-and-a-half-year-old to unlock the door for police, who discovered her husband had died from an aortic aneurysm.
Support Helps Survival After Tragedy
- Dr Nicola Fox realised that tragedy can happen to anyone and that surviving it was possible.
- The Parker Solar Probe team’s support helped her feel cared for during her grief and recovery.
A Child’s Way Of Processing Grief
- Dr Nicola Fox describes her children’s resilience and her son’s simple, poignant way of processing grief.
- Her son suggested ordering a pizza to send to heaven and following the pizza truck as a way to cope.