Mom Vows to Be ‘Best Mom’ After Son’s Fatal Backyard Pool Incident
Emilie Kiser, a content creator, is speaking out for the first time since the devastating loss of her three-year-old son, Trigg, who died in a backyard pool accident last May. In a candid interview, Kiser, 27, shared her journey of grieving her young son while continuing to parent her one-year-old son, Teddy.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Trigg passed away on May 18, 2025, six days after he was discovered unresponsive in the family’s swimming pool in Chandler, Arizona. According to a police reports the Chandler Police Department, the young boy was left unsupervised in the backyard for over nine minutes on the day of the incident. During that time, he was submerged in the pool for approximately seven minutes.
Navigating Grief and Parenthood
Appearing on the podcast “On Purpose” with Jay Shetty, Kiser expressed 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 stated.
Focusing on her surviving son, Teddy, Kiser shared her commitment to moving forward. “I always try to remind myself that I have a choice to make,” she explained. “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.”
Public Reaction and Support
Listeners have responded positively to Kiser’s appearance on the podcast, with many commending her strength and articulation. Comments on platforms like Spotify have described her as “inspirational,” “strong,” and “gracious” in the face of immense heartbreak.
Openness About Loss and Family Love
Kiser has been open on social media about her grieving process. In late December 2025, she discussed how Trigg’s death has affected her relationship with her husband, Brady Kiser. Addressing questions about anger within the family, she stated, “My entire family loves him so so much. If anything, their unwavering love for him and Trigg is something that has helped us so much to come together as a family.”
She also described their first Christmas without Trigg as “terrible,” highlighting the profound void left by his absence. Kiser and her husband welcomed their son Teddy in March 2025.
A Plea for Pool Safety
Earlier this year, Kiser emphasized that her son’s death was “preventable” and issued a strong appeal to parents regarding pool safety. In a statement shared on Instagram, she wrote, “I continue to feel like I have no words in what to say when I’m asked how I feel because the only adequate word is ‘broken.’ I miss him so much. Everything about him. Especially the joy and light he brought to our home.”
Kiser urged parents to take crucial safety measures, including installing pool fencing, enrolling children in swimming lessons, and ensuring constant supervision around water, to prevent similar tragedies.
