Teresa Enke is the wife of the late German professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper Robert Enke.
Advertisement
Enke was married to former modern pentathlete Teresa Reim and had a daughter, Lara, who was born with a heart birth defect (hypoplastic left heart syndrome).
She was rendered deaf by the drugs used to treat her heart problems. Her cochlear implant surgery was successful but she died in 2006 due to complications of her heart defects. In May 2009, they adopted a baby girl, Leila.
Enke and his wife were involved in several animal rights campaigns, and they owned many pets.
Advertisement
After the death of Teresa’s husband Robert, she set up the Robert Enke Foundation in 2010 and told FIFA that awareness of mental health conditions has greatly improved, since the tragedy. “There is scientific proof that all my efforts have achieved something since my husband’s suicide in 2009. The acceptance of this illness is there. The team now includes psychologists and psychiatrists, and psychological training is offered to young athletes involved in competitive sports,” she explained.
“I think that’s great, and I think Robbie will be proud as he looks down from up there – proud of what has been achieved, not just by the Robert Enke Foundation but in general. People are addressing the issue and finally acknowledging just how important mental health is. And yes, it can happen to anyone.”
Leave a Reply