About

Eileen Bellew lives in Pearl River, New York, in the same home she and her firefighter husband, John, purchased after their 1995 marriage, She raised their four children there- alongside their dad, who continues to watch over them from heaven. Inspired by her daughter Katreana's screenplay, Black Sunday: Trial By Fire (currently in development), Eileen wrote After John Jumped to share her journey through loss, healing, and hope. She continues John's legacy through the John Bellew Memorial Fund, has returned to teaching, and lives with her husband, Kevin, and their dog, Blue.

Eileen Bellew

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Black Sunday?

Black Sunday, January 23, 2005, is the infamous day in FDNY history when there were multiple line-of-duty deaths in two separate fires on the same day. The deadliest day for the FDNY since the World Trade Center attack on Sept 11, 2001, and the first time since 1918 that firefighters had died at two separate incidents on the same day.

What is the reasoning for the timing of the book?

It is a reflection and growth of all that I have learned over the last twenty years since John was taken from me. Time can help with healing, but it can also allow you to reflect on my growth from tragedy.

How long did it take you to write the manuscript?

Though I have journaled on and off, I have spent the last two years developing the story and the last six months developing the arc with my editor.

Your four children with John are a big part of the book. How did they feel when you decided to tell the story to a wide audience?

I originally wrote this book only for my four children to read about their own history. After completing the first draft, I came to realize that our story could help others in their journey of grief and resilience. All of my kids have been super supportive of getting my message out to others and hopefully helping someone in the process.

Is there a hope of bringing this to a bigger audience in a different form in the future?

Yes, my daughter wrote the screenplay called Black Sunday: Trial by Fire

Who do you feel the audience for this type of book is?

Families of first responders, widows, widowers, families coping with grief, anxiety, PTSD, and firefighters.

What was the biggest personal surprise you had when bringing the story to the page?

Orginally I began to write this after Katreana interviewed me for her screenplay. I was surprised by how much she did not know about her own history. Since my kids were so young, I soon realized it was my job to write down their past.

How have you honored John over the years?

We have held golf outings and 5K runs in John’s name to create the John Bellew Memorial Fund, which has been awarded for the past 20 years to keep his legacy alive.

What are five key takeaways from the book?

1 - Though life can bring sudden trauma, we can heal and experience the positivity of tragedy.

2 - Finding the courage to risk love again, knowing what it cost to lose it.

3 - Parenting with anxiety and learning to seek help, and trusting yourself to raise children as a single, widowed mom.

4 - In times of grief, our relationship to God is challenged, and learning how to redefine our relationship with the loved ones who are lost.

5 - This book gives an intimate look into the human side of the loss of an FDNY firefighter, surviors and their line-of-duty families on an infamous day called Black Sunday.

After John Jumped

The True Story of a Family's Rise from the Ashes

About

Eileen Bellew

Frequently Asked Questions

This website uses cookies.