Reality star opens up about grief, fond memories, and healing after the loss of her son.
Janelle Brown, star of Sister Wives, has shared a touching tribute to her late son, Garrison, nearly seven months after his heartbreaking death. The 55-year-old took to Instagram to reflect on cherished moments with her son, who tragically passed away at the age of 25 in March.
In her post, Brown shared a family photo from 2022, featuring Garrison with his siblings Gabriel, 22, and Savanah, 19, enjoying an outdoor adventure together. “My phone serves me up memories every day,” she wrote, expressing the mix of emotions that come with remembering Garrison. “Often they are pictures with Garrison. On good days (and today is a good day!) they make me smile because I remember the event and that it was a fun day.”
Although the memories bring joy, Brown acknowledged the emotional complexity of these moments. “There is always a bittersweet afterglow but it’s still a good thing to see these time capsules,” she added.
Earlier this month, Brown opened up in an interview with PEOPLE about the devastating loss of her son, who died by suicide. She revealed how blindsided the family was by his sudden death, sharing that Garrison had been struggling with substance abuse.
“We just had no idea that he was in that place,” Brown said, reflecting on her son’s battle with addiction. She and her family had tried to support him by having “real conversations” about his struggles and offering him resources to help, but ultimately, Garrison was unable to overcome his demons.
“We were always talking to him, we were loving him,” she explained. “It really just was something he couldn’t… like the demon he couldn’t get on top of… It wasn’t for lack of love or lack of anything.”
Brown admitted that grief often leads her to question whether she could have done more to help her son, but she recognizes the difficult reality. “I think that’s a grief trap because… ultimately everybody is responsible for their own actions and their own decisions. We did everything. We really did everything that we could have done. And unfortunately, sometimes that still isn’t enough.”
On March 5, Garrison was found deceased in his home in Arizona by his brother Gabriel. The Flagstaff Police Department later confirmed that Garrison’s death was ruled a suicide.
Following the tragic loss, Janelle and her ex-husband Kody Brown, Garrison’s father, issued a joint statement on social media expressing their sorrow. “Kody and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown,” Janelle wrote in the post. “He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him. His loss will leave such a big hole in our lives that it takes our breath away.”
Janelle has since paid tribute to Garrison on several occasions, including a heartfelt message on what would have been his 26th birthday. “We are missing you terribly today,” she wrote in April. “It’s hard to believe you aren’t here anymore… I still feel you nearby sometimes. And I’m grateful we will see each other again when my journey is completed.”
As Janelle continues to navigate her grief, her reflections show the enduring love of a mother grappling with unimaginable loss while honoring the joyful memories of her son.
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