Influencer Emilie Kiser Shares Her Struggle to ‘Feel Happy Again’ After the Tragic Drowning Death of Her Son Trigg
Emilie Kiser is learning how to breathe again after her world fell apart. The Arizona-based influencer, known for her warm personality and family-focused lifestyle videos, is now walking through the unimaginable grief of losing her 3-year-old son, Trigg. The tragedy happened in May 2024 when Trigg drowned in the family’s backyard pool — a moment that shattered her life and changed everything forever.
Authorities in Chandler, Arizona, confirmed that first responders arrived after receiving a drowning call from the Kiser home. Trigg was found unresponsive and was rushed to the hospital, where he passed away six days later. It was an accident that could happen in seconds — the kind parents fear but never truly think will touch their own lives. For Emilie, that fear became real, and now she is left trying to understand how to live in a world without her little boy.
In the months following Trigg’s death, Emilie shared how her days have been filled with grief, guilt, and the haunting question of “what if.” She has said publicly that a permanent pool fence might have saved her son’s life — an admission that took courage, honesty, and love. “One of the hardest lessons I carry is that a permanent pool fence could have saved his life,” she wrote. Her message wasn’t about blame, but about helping others avoid the same pain.
Through quiet posts and emotional reflections, Emilie has opened a window into the delicate balance between sorrow and healing. Recently, she spoke after a two-hour therapy session, calling it “heavy but also helpful.” She admitted that letting herself “feel happy again” has been one of the hardest parts of grief. To her, joy feels both necessary and impossible — a feeling that many grieving parents will recognize.
“It’s strange to smile when your heart is still broken,” she shared with followers. “But I’m learning that grief and happiness can exist together.” Those words capture the very heart of her journey. Emilie isn’t trying to move on — she’s trying to move forward, carrying Trigg with her every step of the way.
She’s also been candid about the moments of regret. Emilie revealed that she wasn’t home at the time of the accident, saying she will “forever second-guess” that decision. But instead of letting guilt consume her, she’s choosing to honor her son by speaking openly about child safety, grief, and the importance of mental health support for parents after tragedy.
In one of her most emotional posts, she said that she’s not afraid of grief — she’s afraid of forgetting. “If my sadness ever goes away completely,” she wrote, “that would scare me. Because it would mean losing him again.” Her words are a reminder that grief doesn’t disappear; it transforms. It becomes something we learn to live alongside.
Today, Emilie continues to post glimpses of her life — quieter, softer, more reflective. The iced coffee routines, the laughter, and the smiles still appear, but now they hold a deeper meaning. Every bit of light she shares feels like a small victory against the darkness that nearly swallowed her.
What makes her story so powerful is her willingness to be human in public — to show that even in the world of perfect images and happy reels, heartbreak can exist, and healing can begin. Emilie’s journey is not about moving on from loss; it’s about living with love in a different form.
As she slowly rebuilds her life, one day at a time, her story stands as both a warning and a beacon — a reminder to cherish safety, to hold our children close, and to know that even in grief, there is still room for hope.
