Chris Barnett's Resilient Return: Fighting Through Losses

It's been over two years since the Georgia product last fought, a time filled with injuries, tornadoes and dealing with the loss of his wife in May 2022 while still caring for his two children. But Barnett isn't the type to dwell on difficult times. In fact, he may be one of the most positive people you will meet. So suffice it to say he's just happy to be back.

“It's not that I've become lazy or anything, but after everything that happened with my wife, everyone's like, 'Oh yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine.' But I wasn't feeling well. I had to take the time to get to where I actually was, I wouldn't say believing in myself, but actually taking the time for my mental health and making sure the kids were straight. My big goal is the babies. So I just took some time out for her.”

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Understandably, the loss of his wife to encephalitis still hurts, but he has found strength in his 11-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son.

“We went to this company called Kate's Club and they do grief counseling and stuff like that,” Barnett said. “And this is where children and adults, if they've lost a partner, mother or father, can go there and meet and talk and be with people who understand, because so many people come and say, 'Oh man, I know “how you feel,” and it’s like that, really? But my children were definitely the rock for me. That was supposed to be my job, but at one point I got worried because my daughter was like, 'Hey, you know what? You can get through this.' And I thought I should tell you that. (Laughs) But me and my son, especially in the first few months, were just goofballs, man. It was just a strange wave and I feel like she (my wife) is still projecting it onto us through my daughter. This makes it easier to carry on as before. I asked her directly, 'How do you do that?' She said, 'All I can do is think of all the positive things my mother and I have done.'”