Losing a loved one is always difficult and their absence is always felt, but the loss is especially poignant around the holidays.
There are so many memories associated with the holidays, and so many new ones being made, and it is painful knowing that a certain family member or friend will not be there anymore.
Mariana and Sarahy Ramos know this pain all too well. Their grandfather, Florencio Jimenez, tragically passed away last year after suffering a stroke during a robbery at a car wash.
“We’re used to having my grandpa around for the holidays,” the girls’ older sister, Jennifer, said. “It’s been really sad for us not having him.”
This year for Christmas, though, their aunt Andrea had a special surprise in store for the girls. As the family gathered together for Christmas Eve she gave them each a box to open.
Inside the boxes were teddy bears, but these weren’t any ordinary teddy bears. When the girls squeezed the bears they heard a familiar voice come out…
so my grandpa passed away tragically about a year ago and my aunt got my sisters a teddy bear that has a recording of my grandpas voice?❤️ pic.twitter.com/zdjUaghISr
— yenn (@y_jennifer2974) December 25, 2016
Andrea had the bears specially made so when they were squeezed Florencio’s voice came out. Each message was an “inside joke” for the girls that ended with their grandfather’s hearty laugh.
“I think that’s what got them, his laugh at the end,” Jennifer said.
Andrea had cut the messages from video clips the girls had filmed with their grandfather before he passed away.
Their sweet reactions when they hear his voice and his laugh again say it all. We know these presents are ones the girls will treasure forever.
Were you touched by the girls’ reactions to hearing their grandfather’s voice again? So share this!