A mother has shared a profoundly personal experience of loss online that every parent dreads.
In an Instagram reel, Meshea Ingram showed the world the small toy block tucked beneath her china cabinet that she refuses to move—a small memorial to her 2-year-old son who tragically drowned. Now, Ingram, 34, posts regularly about her grief journey and raises awareness about child water accidents, honoring her late son, Briggs.
“Why do you have a block that sits under your china cabinet?” Ingram captioned the reel. “Because it’s where he left it, and he’ll never get to play in this living room again.”
Ingram described her son Briggs as “a joyful, curious, and affectionate little boy with bright blonde hair, deep green eyes and a heart full of wonder.” He loved firetrucks, his camo Crocs and his beloved stuffed dalmatian, “Wee Woo Puppy.” For Ingram, the block under the cabinet is an everyday object imbued with deep meaning.
“The day that block ended up under our china cabinet was just a regular day of him playing, like any toddler would be,” she said. “I never would have thought something so small would become such a sacred reminder of his presence.”
A Tragic Accident
The family’s nightmare unfolded on July 17, 2022, when the family was vacationing at their lake house.
“We were…getting ready to pack up and leave for the day,” Ingram recounted. “In a brief moment, Briggs made his way to the water and drowned.”
She highlighted the terrifying speed at which such tragedies can occur. “Anyone who is a parent knows how quickly a child can slip away, whether it’s to color on the wall or dump out a box of cereal, and tragically, water accidents can happen just as fast,” she said. “[They] unfortunately are far too common among young children, making it a leading cause of death in children under five. Young children can drown in as little as 20 seconds, and it is often completely silent.”
Briggs’ father, a firefighter, performed CPR for an agonizing 30 minutes until Briggs’ heartbeat returned in the ambulance, granting them a few more precious days with their son.
However, he passed away five days later.
“Since that day, our lives have been forever changed,” Ingram said, adding that her family has “leaned heavily on our faith, our community and each other to walk through this grief.” In Briggs’ honor, they established a nonprofit called Love Can Build a Briggs, dedicated to water safety, drowning awareness and grief support.
A Wider Impact
Ingram initially hadn’t planned to share the poignant video, but a good friend pointed out the impact it could have.
“I found myself continually drawn to that little block still sitting under our china cabinet, and a close friend of mine encouraged me to share it in hopes it would not only encourage other loss families, but help them feel seen,” she explained. “It’s something so ordinary, yet now it holds deep meaning. Sharing it felt like giving a voice to the ache of grief that so many carry, and a way to let others know that even the smallest reminders can hold incredible weight when someone you love is gone.”
Her understanding of grief has evolved over time.
“Some days feel okay, and the next day can be completely overwhelming,” she said. “I can carry Briggs in joyful ways and still feel his presence even as the pain softens. I’m learning that it’s possible to hold both sorrow and celebration, often at the same time.”
Ultimately, Meshea hopes her vulnerability can help others navigating similar pain. If one person can feel less alone because of her grief story, then “I know it’s worth it,” she said. “I want others to know that there is no timeline for mourning and no single way to honor those we’ve lost. You can laugh again. You can find joy again. And you can still grieve deeply.”
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