Today show co-host Shaneille Jones is opening up about her struggles following her return to work after losing her husband.
Back in January, Jones took to Instagram to announce that she would be “taking time to deal with a family health matter.” Just five months later, in May, Jones’ husband, Uche Ojeh, died following his battle with aggressive brain cancer.
On a new episode of Jenna & Friends, Jones has opened up to Jenna Bush Hager about the difficulties of adjusting to her new normal.
She revealed that in the first week following her husband’s diagnosis, she was, of course, focused on getting him the best care in hopes of him recovering. Then, when they realized his cancer was extremely aggressive, she focused on making the time he had left with them the best it could be.
Shenielle Jones Shares Heartfelt Message After Returning to TODAY Show
Once he passed, she then focused on organizing a beautiful funeral and then spending the summer connecting with her kids, grieving and starting their healing process. However, once the children returned to school and Jones returned to work, knowing what to do became more difficult.
“We get through the first week of school, first week I’m back at work. Friday, when we got home, it was tough. Because, there was nothing to, like, rally ourselves for. It was just like ‘oh, this is it. This is… this is life. It kinda sucks,’” Jones shared in the interview.
She then shared that she found herself missing the time on Saturday mornings that she would spend with her husband discussing the ups and downs of their week together.
“My coach was gone, right? My life partner. And so the days after my first week were tough, right? Because it’s, like, my new normal,” Jones continued.
Sheinelle Jones Gives 1st Interview About Husband Uche Ojeh’s Death
Jones has been extremely vulnerable about her experience coping with the loss of her husband, opening up on the Today show during her September 5 return to the show.
“Cancer doesn’t have to steal our joy. We can get up, we can get out of bed, and we can go to work, we can go to school. We can squeeze the most out of the days that we have. And honestly, I feel like Uche’s heartbeat lives on in mine,” Jones shared during her first episode back on the show.
