On Saturday, June 6th, Granger Smith’s wife Amber reflected on the one-year anniversary of the passing of their 3-year-old son, River, after a drowning accident at their home. She detailed the events of that tragic day in an Instagram post.
“One year ago today, we took our ‘honor walk’ as we walked behind our sweet son down the long hallway to the operating room,” she writes, referencing the operation that allowed River to become an organ donor. “River took his last breath in there, without his mommy and daddy. We know his spirit was with Jesus, but his earthly body was still present and it was so hard to let them close those doors without us.”
She went on to explain that the surgeons did something sweet to honor River during the surgery.
“I’ll never forget waiting for what felt like hours for them to come back and tell us everything went wonderful, they were taking the organs to the recipients and he was at peace,” she writes. “They later told me they played the Cars soundtrack as they operated.
Smith continued, saying how she and Granger wouldn’t let his tragedy break their family. They then returned home to see “Welcome Home, Riv” written in chalk on the driveway and had to tell their other children, London and Lincoln, the news.
“We grabbed our kiddos, I could tell by her face, London already knew what we were about to say, and took them out into the woods where Riv always played,” Amber wrote. “We sat together, held each other and had one of the hardest conversations I hope we ever have to have. Today, one year ago, began our trek down this rocky road of grief. There have been many turns, many bumpy spots and many just outright falls, but we are walking, we are moving, we are taking the next steps and I can say that one year later, we are different.”
Amber ended the message by saying they are ready to start year 2 of grieving and that she will continue trusting in God to help her.
