It's been a year since actor Nick Cordero died of COVID-19. The Broadway star fought for his life for months with his doting wife, Amanda Kloots, by his side.
In the year following Nick's death, Amanda has shared her journey on social media, and there's a lot to share. Not only has she been raising her toddler, Elvis, as a now-single mother and navigating an earth-shattering grief, she's been working tremendously hard in a number of other ways, too.
The fitness instructor has maintained her health business while also becoming somewhat of a rising TV star. She snagged a cohosting spot on The Talk and even managed to write a book about losing the love of her life.
Still, no matter how tough Amanda truly is, she couldn't escape how badly the one-year anniversary of Nick's death hurt. On Sunday, she shared her heartbreak in a moving video on Instagram to mark the occasion.
It's hard to believe it's already been a year since Nick Cordero lost his battle with COVID-19. His death rattled his Broadway community of actors. But no one felt it more intensely than his loving wife, Amanda.
Amanda has shared so much about what it's like to go through such a staggering loss. It's endeared people to her because she's been so open and vulnerable through it all. But she's also been the image of strength. While she's been through so much, she's never stopped moving forward. It's truly remarkable how much she's accomplished in what has been, undoubtedly, the hardest year of her life.
Amanda spent the anniversary of Nick's death vacationing with those closest to her. But she didn't miss the opportunity to celebrate Nick. She posted photos in her Instagram stories of a celebratory toast with Nick's favorite drink, an Aperol spritz. She also shared an incredibly touching video post.
In the footage, Amanda shared many beautiful images of her and Nick. She also included pictures of him as a new dad, dancing playfully with a sleeping Elvis in his arms. When watching the sweet tribute, it's hard not to see just how wonderful of a man he was. You can see their joy as a couple in each and every photo.
"Today hurts, there is no other way around it," she wrote. "One year ago you left us and became our angel in heaven. You were surrounded by so much love and Led Zeppelin playing on Spotify-no doubt that was your doing, not mine."
The post continued, "What happened was unthinkable, losing you was my biggest fear. I used to tell you all the time, 'Don’t you dare go anywhere. If I lost you, I don’t know what I’d do.'"
"There hasn’t been a day this year where you weren’t missed, thought about and talked about. Thank you for being our guardian angel, for sending me signs, for being my DJ in heaven. I know you’re just 2” away."
She concluded the post with her signature gratitude that the world has come to know her for: "We only had a few short years together but they were filled with so much love, laughter, adventure, dreams, change and growth. It was my 'Nick era' and I’ll have it forever."
Amanda Kloots has taught us so much this year. Mostly, with her openness, she's shown us the importance of loving our people while we can. She's also shown us that it's possible to keep going, even when the unimaginable happens.
But perhaps more than anything, she's also let us in on what an amazing person Nick Cordero truly was. For those of us who didn't know of him, now we certainly do, and we're better off for it.
Amanda and Nick's incredible love story shows us just how beautiful, yet fragile, life can be. It's something none of us should take for granted. If there's anyone who really knows that, it's Amanda Kloots. But she's absolutely been an amazing teacher to the rest of us.
