Janelle Brown just shared a truly heartbreaking Instagram post.
On Wednesday, the Sister Wives star’s son Garrison would have turned 26 years old — except, tragically, for taking his own life about six weeks ago.
As previously documented, Garrison died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on March 4th.
We have since learned, through text messages Garrison sent to family and friends before this moment, that Garrison had suicidal thoughts at the end of his life.
![Janelle Brown Pays Tribute to Late Son on Garrison's 26th Birthday 9 Garrison Brown and his mother, Janelle.](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/garrisonbrownsistewives-1024x652.jpg)
![Janelle Brown Pays Tribute to Late Son on Garrison's 26th Birthday 10 Garrison Brown and his mother, Janelle.](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/garrisonbrownsistewives-1024x652.jpg)
It’s all very sad.
Meanwhile, in her aforementioned tribute, the grieving mother-of-six sent photos and videos of her son on his birthday over the years, whilst also penning a beautiful message to mark the incredibly challenging occasion.
The video’s final image shows a young Garrison smiling at his mother as she holds what appears to be a spider-shaped cake.
Again: it’s all very sad.
![Janelle Brown Pays Tribute to Late Son on Garrison's 26th Birthday 11 Garrison Brown and mother on Sister Wives](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ca-times.brightspotcdn.jpg)
![Janelle Brown Pays Tribute to Late Son on Garrison's 26th Birthday 12 Garrison Brown and mother on Sister Wives](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ca-times.brightspotcdn.jpg)
“Happy birthday, sweetie. We missed you so much today. It’s hard to believe you’re not here anymore,” Janelle wrote in the caption, accompanied by a whistled version of “Happy Birthday.”
“We talked a lot about you today and even went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse (your favorite place),” Janelle continued.
“I still feel you around sometimes. And I am grateful that we will see each other again when my journey is over.”
This wasn’t the first time Janelle took to social media to thank supporters and/or pay tribute to Garrison.
Last month, for example, Brown said she was moved to tears by the public response to Garrison’s suicide.
“It’s been hard to get my brain to work properly again. I am so grateful for the outpouring of love and support I have received over the past three weeks. The support has been overwhelming. I’m honored,” Janelle also wrote a few weeks ago.
TLC’s personality continued as follows:
“Many of you shared stories of your loved ones. Many of you wrote about your thoughts and prayers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
“Garrison was honored by family and his National Guard Unit last Saturday in a celebration of life ceremony. He would have loved it.
![Janelle Brown Pays Tribute to Late Son on Garrison's 26th Birthday 13 Janelle Brown seems unhappy on Sister Wives.](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/0210_janellebrown-1024x576.png)
![Janelle Brown Pays Tribute to Late Son on Garrison's 26th Birthday 14 Janelle Brown seems unhappy on Sister Wives.](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/0210_janellebrown-1024x576.png)
According to friends of the reality star, Garrison fell into a depression before his death, drinking heavily most nights, at least partially related to a recent breakup.
He sent a worrying text message of the day before taking her own life… which led Janelle to reach out to her other children and ask them to check on Garrison.
His brother, Gabriel, volunteered to do it – and later discovered his brother’s dead body in his apartment in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Janelle and her ex-spouse, Kody, released a joint statement on March 5, alerting everyone to what had happened to their son.
![Janelle Brown Pays Tribute to Late Son on Garrison's 26th Birthday 15 Janelle Brown in TLC special](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/janelle-brown-life-after-kody-zz-230109-2c18be-1024x572.jpg)
![Janelle Brown Pays Tribute to Late Son on Garrison's 26th Birthday 16 Janelle Brown in TLC special](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/janelle-brown-life-after-kody-zz-230109-2c18be-1024x572.jpg)
“Kody and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown. He was a bright spot in the lives of everyone who knew him,” they wrote at the time.
“Your loss will leave a hole in our lives so big it will leave us breathless.
“We ask that you respect our privacy and join us in honoring his memory.”
May Garrison Brown rest in peace.