Hatboro Police Officer Allen's Widow Writes Book On Grief

HATBORO, PA —Whitney Allen is trying to move on with her life. But the widow of Hatboro Police Officer Ryan Allen is also trying to share her grief with others so they possibly can move on too.

Speaking with Patch in a phone call Thursday, the 36-year-old mother of two is facing the upcoming one-year anniversary of Ryan's death. The K9 officer died on April 7, nearly six months after having a heart attack following a freak bee sting incident.

At the time, Whitney Allen was 26 weeks pregnant with the family's second child. She was working as a medical malpractice defense attorney in Princeton, N.J., and also raising a young son. She didn't even know how to balance a checkbook and pay the household bills.

These days, Allen —who lives in Furlong, Bucks County —does grief counseling for women and widows and has launched a website to offer support. She also has had a boyfriend for the past nine months.

"Widows are afraid to have joy in their life," she said. "There's so much hatred. I want to encourage people to find joy."

So she decided to write a book.

The 154-page book, "Running in Trauma Stilettos: A Raw Glimpse at Grief and Life After Loss," was released last week. Allen will hold her first book signing at Warwick Farm Brewing from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 4.

"It poured out of me like it needed to be written," said Allen, who pieced the book together in eight weeks. She wrote it on her phone and sometimes she even pulled over on the side of the road to jot down thoughts. "My intention with writing it is to help people not feel alone with grief and trauma."

Ryan Allen joined the Hatboro Police Department in 2013. Allen then spent time during his later years on the force developing a plan to create Hatboro's first-ever K9 unit, which he served with his canine Louie for three years, his wife said.

Allen never had allergic reactions to bees and had been stung before. But in October 2021, he experienced an anaphylactic shock from a bee sting and suffered a heart attack. He never recovered.

"I was blindsided and shocked with all emotions," Whitney said. "You become someone else. I was not educated and prepared for such a traumatic event. Even though I was surrounded by people, it was an isolating, personal experience. I felt alone in it."

Her whole life changed in an instant.

Allen left her job once her maternity leave ended to care for Ryan in hospice. She found in her husband's phone where bills needed to be sent. Since her husband was "old school," she also started balancing his checkbook and still does to this day "since it was such a part of him."

Allen said she didn't necessarily know how to get a book published once she had written the pages. But she had the title concept.

"I saw imagery from me running down the hallway of a hospital from this horrible event in stilettos, which is very difficult and pretty much impossible," she said.

Allen goes to the gym and said she lives an active lifestyle. Her son Jackson is now 5. And Leo just celebrated his first birthday on Jan. 8. She said the book is getting "overwhelmingly positive" feedback.

"I just want to be happy. I just want my children to be happy," Allen said. "I know the intentions in my heart. That's all I care about."