My beautiful firstborn son, Liam Patrick McPartland was taken from us on June 5, 2025.
There are no words that can fully express the pain. No parent ever imagines having to say goodbye to their child, especially not so soon. Seventeen years feels impossibly short—but somehow, in those seventeen years, Liam filled our lives with more light, laughter, and love than some people do in a lifetime.
Liam had a spirit that couldn’t be contained. His outlook on life was contagious. His smile lit up every room he entered. He loved being outside, loved adventure, and had a way of touching everyone he met. Friends, teachers, family—even strangers—remember how Liam made them feel: important, valued, and loved.
With Liam, it was love at first sight. I never truly understood unconditional love until I held him in my arms for the first time. In fact after him Graham and I decided we wanted 4 kids. Liam and I had a special bond. We told each other “I love you” every single day. He knew there was nothing he could do that would ever make me stop loving him—and knowing that brings me peace.
We had such an open relationship. We would laugh together, cry together, and goof off constantly. He loved to make people laugh—especially me. He’d walk around the house singing opera, dancing, and doing whatever he could to make us all smile. Sometimes he’d try to kiss me on the mouth in front of his friends—and we’d all burst out laughing. That was Liam. He was a born entertainer, always making life brighter.
From his first steps to his future dreams, I was endlessly proud of who he was becoming. His curiosity, his courage, his kindness—these weren’t just traits. They were gifts he gave to the world, even when he didn’t know he was giving them.
What hurts the most is not just losing who Liam was, but losing who he was going to be. All the plans, the adventures, the milestones—high school graduation, college, travel, careers, falling in love, becoming a parent himself and my future grandchildre. That empty space is vast, and I feel it deeply. I lost my first love, my protector, and the glue that held our family together.
But I also know this: Liam lived a life of meaning. In just 17 years, he created memories that will never fade. He built bonds that will never break. And he gave us moments—precious, unforgettable moments—that I will carry with me forever.
To those of you who loved Liam—please continue to speak his name. Tell his stories. Laugh at the memories. Let his light live on through the way you love others, the way you stand up for what matters, and the way you choose to live your own life—fully and fearlessly.
And to you, my sweet Liam—thank you. Thank you for being my child. I love being your mom! Thank you for every hug, every laugh, every kiss. I will miss you every single day for the rest of my life, but I will love you even longer than that.
You were my heart. You still are. And you always will be.
Rest in peace, my darling boy. I love you more than anything. 🩷
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