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On this episode of We Can’t Believe They Gave Us a Show, hosts Nick Magoteaux and Jim Burneka welcome guests Eileen and her daughter Kat Bellew. Eileen shares the raw and moving story of how their lives were changed by the tragic loss of Eileen’s husband John, a New York City firefighter who died in the Bronx Black Sunday Fire, 21 years ago.
They recount the harrowing moments of that January day, the agonizing uncertainty, and the crushing aftermath of grief compounded by a long and complex criminal trial. The conversation explores the lasting impact on their family—children grappling with PTSD, a mother’s hypervigilance, and the struggle to find peace amid relentless pain. Eileen discusses her upcoming memoir, offering insight into widowhood and raising four children after tragedy.