A man who is grieving the loss of his young wife is also ensuring his five-year-old son knows he’s loved and supported even when dad isn’t by his side.
Haley Odlozil became a beloved social media influencer after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015. For eight years, she shared her life stories as she battled the disease, but Haley lost her battle in 2023 at only 30 years old. When she passed, Haley left behind her husband and high school sweetheart, Taylor, and her son, Weston.
Taylor has been documenting his journey of healing since losing his wife, and he recently took his first trip without Weston. The day Taylor said “goodbye” to his son, he handed him a touching letter to remind him how loved he is, and he recorded the tearful moment for TikTok.
In the video, Taylor hands Weston the letter and gives him a giant hug outside the airport. In the caption, the dad explained that he was going to spend a week in Italy to celebrate his friend’s wedding. While he was excited about the trip, he was feeling uneasy about leaving his son.
“I’ve never left Weston this long,” he wrote. “He is definitely a security blanket for me. I’ve also never done a trip like this without Haley. But you have to go live your life in order to get through grief.”
Taylor explained that he promised his wife he would continue living “life to the fullest” after she died. So, taking the flight was an important step.
The video quickly went viral with over 1.5 million views to date. And while he didn’t share the contents of the note on TikTok, he later gave Newsweek an exclusive look at what he wrote.
“I want you to know how much I love you,” he began. “You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I miss you so much and can’t wait until I get back to see you. I am so proud of the boy you are and the man you will eventually become. You make me want to be a better man and better father.”
“There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing and being with you,” he continued. “You are the best son a father could ask for. I hope you are having a great time with your grandparents. I know for a fact they love you as much as I do.”
Taylor went on to remind Weston to say his prayers each night before saying “I love you” once more.
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