Tricia, my dear sweet cousin, your words are both devastating and beautiful. Your words hold the weight of unimaginable loss, yet they also shine with the deep love Benn brought into this world. He was a bright light—one that burned so brightly for others, and it breaks my heart that he couldn't see how much everyone needed his warmth.
It's hard to make sense of how someone so full of life, adventure, and kindness could carry such unbearable pain. But I know that pain doesn’t erase who he was. It doesn’t define him. He was more than his struggles—he was love, laughter, and an irreplaceable part of the family.
I wish I had the right words to take even a fraction of your pain away. What I can offer you is my love and my prayers. Benn’s life mattered, and he will never be forgotten. I will always be here for you, holding space for your grief, your memories, and your love for him.🫶🏼
Thank you for sharing your heart so openly. You are not alone in this. I love you sooo much.💜🕊
Tricia, I can't even imagine how hard it must have been to write this. Then again, you're so good with words, it's natural they would help you now to somehow begin the process of experiencing this. I wish you so much peace and I thank you for sharing your grief with all of us, with the world. I hope that will help you. I hope the help you need comes to you 100-fold. I hope your relationship with the natural world will bring comfort in the hardest moments. 💜
Just breathing with this. Feeling the suddenness of that life-shifting moment. Receiving the rawness and courage of you crossing a threshold to share it with us. Appreciating your trust in this, in us, in vulnerability. I’m sure you’re being held and nourished by those around you in your local community; this wider, ephemeral circle beyond the screen is now here too, holding your closer circle in our hearts and souls.
When I was about Ben’s age I stumbled down a similar dark path. I came very close to the end of that trail. I wish I could have talked to Ben. It is impossible to know another person’s deepest private thoughts. We must simply keep living and loving and believing.
Oh Tricia, my heart aches for you. During Idalia in 2023, my cousin (who is more like a sister) lost her son (who was close in age to my son) to suicide. I immediately drove to my son who has been struggling since a work accident in 2021 that has completely changed the course of his life and view of himself. I held him so tight and we talked about his feelings of hopelessness. It’s such a hard situation because I feel so helpless. All I can do is be there for him and keep the light burning.
The difficult realization is that we cannot save our kids. As mothers, we think we should be able to. We can only love them with all of our heart every moment we get with them and then hold them loosely. The fact that your son is talking is wonderful. Benn never spoke of wanting to end his life. He never seemed to struggle. We never had a chance to give him the extra lifelines.
I am do sorry for your loss. I feel like I wrote those words. I never knew my son was struggling so much. He never let on to anyone. Not his brother, his closest friends. He was the champion for all of us. I took would trade places with him or at least given a do over to see what I missed.
Tricia, I lost my daughter last week to suicide. I wrote my first post tonight and went out to find others stories. Your’s was perfect, sorry for your loss.
I am so sorry. I wish I could take this kind of loss away from any of us who have to experience it. Praying you are surrounded by people who can carry you through these dark days until you can see the light yourself.
I am terribly sorry to hear of the loss of your amazing son Benn. Thank you Tricia for giving a voice to grief and suicide. I too lost my son Daniel to suicide. He would have been 30 now but died at 21. My heart is with you and your family and all of those that love Benn.
Tricia, the fact that you could write something so beautiful in the midst of such devastating grief, speaks volumes about you and your love for Benn. Your are so right that suicide needs to be discussed- it is something that has broken so many families! Thank you so much for opening your heart like this. 🙏
Tricia, my dear sweet cousin, your words are both devastating and beautiful. Your words hold the weight of unimaginable loss, yet they also shine with the deep love Benn brought into this world. He was a bright light—one that burned so brightly for others, and it breaks my heart that he couldn't see how much everyone needed his warmth.
It's hard to make sense of how someone so full of life, adventure, and kindness could carry such unbearable pain. But I know that pain doesn’t erase who he was. It doesn’t define him. He was more than his struggles—he was love, laughter, and an irreplaceable part of the family.
I wish I had the right words to take even a fraction of your pain away. What I can offer you is my love and my prayers. Benn’s life mattered, and he will never be forgotten. I will always be here for you, holding space for your grief, your memories, and your love for him.🫶🏼
Thank you for sharing your heart so openly. You are not alone in this. I love you sooo much.💜🕊
Tricia, I can't even imagine how hard it must have been to write this. Then again, you're so good with words, it's natural they would help you now to somehow begin the process of experiencing this. I wish you so much peace and I thank you for sharing your grief with all of us, with the world. I hope that will help you. I hope the help you need comes to you 100-fold. I hope your relationship with the natural world will bring comfort in the hardest moments. 💜
Heartfelt words.Think thankful thoughts. Keep looking up!
Grieving beside you for the beautiful boy who once sat at my dining room table. I love you so much.
Just breathing with this. Feeling the suddenness of that life-shifting moment. Receiving the rawness and courage of you crossing a threshold to share it with us. Appreciating your trust in this, in us, in vulnerability. I’m sure you’re being held and nourished by those around you in your local community; this wider, ephemeral circle beyond the screen is now here too, holding your closer circle in our hearts and souls.
I am sending love and care to you.
Love and prayers to you, sweet friend, for a long time to come. If there's anything I can do to assist you on this journey, consider it done. 💕
When I was about Ben’s age I stumbled down a similar dark path. I came very close to the end of that trail. I wish I could have talked to Ben. It is impossible to know another person’s deepest private thoughts. We must simply keep living and loving and believing.
Oh Tricia, my heart aches for you. During Idalia in 2023, my cousin (who is more like a sister) lost her son (who was close in age to my son) to suicide. I immediately drove to my son who has been struggling since a work accident in 2021 that has completely changed the course of his life and view of himself. I held him so tight and we talked about his feelings of hopelessness. It’s such a hard situation because I feel so helpless. All I can do is be there for him and keep the light burning.
Your son is so very lucky to have you Becki ❤️
The difficult realization is that we cannot save our kids. As mothers, we think we should be able to. We can only love them with all of our heart every moment we get with them and then hold them loosely. The fact that your son is talking is wonderful. Benn never spoke of wanting to end his life. He never seemed to struggle. We never had a chance to give him the extra lifelines.
I am do sorry for your loss. I feel like I wrote those words. I never knew my son was struggling so much. He never let on to anyone. Not his brother, his closest friends. He was the champion for all of us. I took would trade places with him or at least given a do over to see what I missed.
Tricia, I lost my daughter last week to suicide. I wrote my first post tonight and went out to find others stories. Your’s was perfect, sorry for your loss.
I am so sorry. I wish I could take this kind of loss away from any of us who have to experience it. Praying you are surrounded by people who can carry you through these dark days until you can see the light yourself.
I am terribly sorry to hear of the loss of your amazing son Benn. Thank you Tricia for giving a voice to grief and suicide. I too lost my son Daniel to suicide. He would have been 30 now but died at 21. My heart is with you and your family and all of those that love Benn.
Sending so much love to you. ❤️
❤️
Tricia, the fact that you could write something so beautiful in the midst of such devastating grief, speaks volumes about you and your love for Benn. Your are so right that suicide needs to be discussed- it is something that has broken so many families! Thank you so much for opening your heart like this. 🙏
Deepest sympathy, I do not know you or your son, but I do know your pain. I lost my son to suicide also. Your words are very meaningful.
We are here for you, to listen and grieve alongside you.
Tricia, my heart aches for you and your family.