First Lady Jill Biden recently opened up about the qualities that attracted her to President Joe Biden, highlighting his strength and resilience in the face of personal tragedy. Jill, who married Joe in 1977, five years after the fatal car accident that claimed the lives of his first wife, Neilia, and their 13-month-old daughter, Naomi, expressed her admiration for Joe's ability to find joy again despite such a devastating loss.
"I was drawn to his strength," Jill shared. "I was drawn to what kind of strength was in this man that allowed him to find joy again." The accident, which occurred while Neilia and Naomi were shopping for a Christmas tree, also severely injured Joe's young sons, Beau and Hunter, who required extensive medical treatment.
Unfortunately, the Bidens faced another heartbreak when Beau passed away in 2015 following a brain cancer diagnosis. Jill admitted that Beau's death shook her faith. "I didn’t think he was going to die," she said. "I just kept praying he was going to live. And then when he did [die], I found I could no longer pray."
Reflecting on the car accident, President Biden acknowledged how it forever altered his life. He credited his close-knit family for providing him with the support he needed during that challenging time. "I had an overwhelming advantage in the loss, and that was, I had a really close family that was there," he said.
Joe's family stepped in to help him raise his sons in the aftermath of the accident. His sister and her husband moved into his home, while his brother converted a barn loft into an apartment for himself. "They were there for me all the time. That was a gigantic difference," he said. "My best friends in my life are my sister and my brothers."
The President also emphasized the importance of reaching out to those going through tough times. "It's not always easy, but it just matters to just reach out, let people know you see them," he said. This sentiment resonates with the Bidens' personal experiences, underscoring the power of family and community support in navigating life's most difficult moments.