Emilie Kiser, 27, marked what would have been her eldest son Trigg's fifth birthday on July 14 with an emotional message shared on Instagram. Trigg died in a drowning accident at the family's Arizona home in May 2025.
Kiser, who recently announced she is expecting her third child with husband Brady, posted a photo of herself holding Trigg's hand. "I miss you all day every day," Kiser wrote. "Happy fifth birthday to the boy who made me a mom. I wish more than anything I could squeeze you, hear your laugh and spend another day with you."
She concluded the message with "I love you forever and ever, Trigg," adding a blue heart emoji. The tribute comes weeks after Kiser discussed her son's death on Jay Shetty's podcast "On Purpose."
During the podcast, Kiser spoke about the profound impact of losing a child. "Losing a child really shows you in the scariest, most real way possible just how quickly life can change, and how quickly life can be literally taken away," she said. She emphasized her commitment to being present for her younger son, Teddy, stating, "I can either let this completely derail me more than it already has, and not really feel like I'm fit or able to take care of my younger son, or I can do everything in my power to be the best mom I possibly can for him, and give him the same love that Trigg had and has."
Trigg, who was three years old, was found unresponsive in the family's backyard pool on May 18, 2025, six days before his death. Kiser's husband was reportedly watching Trigg and their then-newborn son Teddy when the incident occurred. Police stated that video evidence showed Trigg was unsupervised for over nine minutes and in the water for approximately seven of those minutes. Her husband admitted to watching an NBA playoff game and placing a bet at the time.
Following a two-month investigation, Kiser's husband was not charged, despite the police department's recommendation for a felony child abuse charge. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office stated on July 25 that there was "no likelihood of conviction."
Earlier in July, Kiser announced her pregnancy, sharing a photo on Instagram of herself cradling her baby bump. "We are so grateful and excited to share that we will be welcoming another baby into our family," she wrote. "This news feels very surreal and has already been such a bright light to us during some of our darkest days." Kiser indicated that she may limit sharing details about this pregnancy due to privacy concerns but expressed gratitude for the anticipated love and support as her family navigates this new chapter.