Janelle Brown had a reason to celebrate on Sunday.
And also a reason to mourn.
Ahead of her 55th birthday (today, May 6! Happy birthday to the Sister Wives cast member!), Brown posted a photo on her Instagram Story of her outdoor garden space in North Carolina… where she spends some of her time when she there is away from her home in Flagstaff, Arizona.
“The NC gardening adventure begins (technically I’m at the end of planning season but that’s life lol),” Janelle wrote as the caption.
After sharing a variety of birthday messages from her loved ones, the mother of six uploaded a picture of herself smiling while sitting in front of what looked like a (delicious!) German chocolate cake.
“A little red in the face from working in the garden,” the TLC personality wrote, noting that the dessert her daughter Madison Brush made was delicious. (We’re paraphrasing there.)
Of course, the 55-year-old had to enjoy her special occasion with her late son Garrison by her side.
As you probably know by now, Garrison died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on March 4th.
Last month, Janelle also took to Instagram to mark Garrison’s 26th birthday with an emotional tribute video.
“Happy birthday darling,” she wrote at the time. “We miss you terribly today. It’s hard to believe you’re not here anymore…
“Sometimes I still feel you around. And I’m grateful that we’ll see each other again when my journey is over.”
In the many weeks since Garrison’s loss, we have learned through text messages obtained by In Touch Weekly that Garrison sent to family and friends before his final moment that Garrison had suicidal thoughts toward the end of his life.
In a group chat with people who worked with the Browns, Garrison responded to a photo of a friendly paintball fight by writing:
“I want to hate you for sharing the good times. But I can not. I miss those days.”
In the most heartbreaking exchange leaked online, Janelle told her son she saw the “text message you sent to the force” and said she was concerned about Garrison as a “whole person.”
Garrison once replied:
“I know, I gave Gabe my ignition pistons a while ago You’re worried about my suicidal tendencies.“
It’s all so very, very tragic.
Previously, local authorities confirmed that one of Garrison’s roommates said she and Garrison had recently discussed Garrison’s deteriorating mental state.
The Flagstaff police report goes on to say that this friend “stated that he knew.” [Garrison] that he had problems with his ex-girlfriend and that he was not a very happy person.”
On a related note, Janelle expressed concern about her sons’ lack of connection with their father due to Kody Brown’s strict COVID-19 family rules in a 2022 confessional interview.
“I was worried about my boys’ mental health. Gabriel feels everything very, very deeply. But he’s also the kid who doesn’t say anything,” Janelle said at the time.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741 -741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org