James Green had a big dream that had a big impact on his life: he wanted to be a father. People who knew him when he was a teenager remember him saying how much he wanted to have kids. He didn’t simply want one or two kids; he wanted a big, happy family full of love. People who knew him as a teenager remember him talking about how much he wanted to be a dad. He didn’t just want one or two kids; he wanted a big, loud family that was full of love. When he and Cloe, his teenage sweetheart, found out they were going to be parents for the first time when Cloe was only 17, it was a surprise but not a bad one. James didn’t feel terrified or unsure; he was happy about it. He was ready to make his fantasies come true.
Soon after that, they had their first son, Leo. James acted like he had been getting ready to be a dad his whole life. They had another son, Levi, two years later. The young couple quickly realized that their desire of having a huge family was coming true, and they were happy about it. Their love was strong, and their family was growing.
James was not a father who sat back and let things happen. From the beginning, he was involved, feeding, changing, playing with, instructing, and comforting. He was a steady presence in the often chaotic world of raising young children. He was a big guy, but his heart was much bigger. People who knew him would say he was a big, gentle guy.
After Miley was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as their fifth child, Oliver and Megan started to think about what to do next. They both worked full-time to take care of five kids, one of whom needed additional care and attention. Cloe got an implant to keep her from getting pregnant again. She is now a full-time mother.
But fate had other ideas. Cloe got pregnant again, even though she was careful. “It’s meant to be, Clo,” James remarked, like a kind and hopeful person would. He didn’t worry; he was happy to receive the news and saw every child as a blessing. The family soon welcomed two kids, Lacey and Lexi. Both daughters were born with cerebral palsy, just like Miley, their sister. But James didn’t move. He dealt with every situation directly, determined to give each of his kids the love, care, and attention they needed.
James was completely devoted to them the whole time, both emotionally and physically. He worked at a coffee shop, but he wanted to work from home as often as possible. He would take the kids to school, go to work, and then pick them up in the afternoon and play with them. He helped with homework, read bedtime stories, and always had time for hugs and laughs. James never ran out of energy or sense of humor, even though he had to take care of eight kids, three of whom had special needs. Everyone said he was a great dad whose kids loved him and whose wife could count on him to be a good partner.
Then they had Elijah, their eighth and last child. Cloe and James both agreed that their family was whole when he joined. Finally, they had what James had always wanted: a home full of kids and a life full of love.
But that happiness didn’t last long.
On December 4, 2015, twelve weeks after Elijah was born, James and Cloe went to bed like they always did. James got up at about 4:30 a.m. He was being funny and laughing with Cloe in the middle of the night, which is just how he was. But suddenly, out of the blue, everything changed. James sat up in bed and said he didn’t feel anything. He had a seizure after that.
Cloe was shocked to find her spouse, partner, and the father of her children having problems breathing. She called 911 right away and began CPR in an effort to save his life. She later said, “I wanted to scream and cry,” but she knew she had to stay calm for him and their kids. James died in their bed even though she tried to save him and paramedics came. He was only 31 years old.
He died from hypertensive heart disease, a condition that is related to excessive blood pressure and had gone undiagnosed. James, like a lot of young men, hadn’t been going to the doctor for checkups. He seemed muscular and healthy. There weren’t any evident signs that something was awry. But the silent weight on his heart had been building up, and when it finally cracked, it didn’t give him a second chance. Cloe was astonished and heartbroken when she abruptly lost her husband and became the lone parent of eight children, three of whom needed particular help.
The family and the community were affected by the loss. People from all over, including friends, neighbors, and strangers, came to help. People brought meals, donated rides, and sat with the kids so Cloe could have a break, even if it was only for a little while. They set up a GoFundMe page and got more than $10,000, which they used to make their backyard a safe and welcoming area for the kids. James had always planned to finish the garden for them.
For weeks after that, Cloe was quite sad. “There were days when I didn’t know how I could go on,” she added. “But then I would look at our kids, those eight little faces that James loved so much, and I knew I had to keep going—for them and for him.”
That love gave her strength. She has taken care of her kids the same way James did every day. She recalls him in little ways, like writing him letters, letting balloons go into the sky, and telling the kids stories about their dad so they will always know who he was and how much he loved them.
Cloe says, “He loved being a dad more than anything else.” “Now it’s my job to keep that love going.” She will always feel like something is missing, but it makes her feel better to know that James had the life he wanted. He made the family he had always wanted, with kids who loved him and a lot of fun and affection.
James Green’s story isn’t just about losing someone; it’s also about love and loyalty that last. It reminds us that life is brief and we should pay attention to our bodies, see the doctor often, and appreciate every moment we have. It’s also the story of an incredible woman who, despite going through a painful breakup, found the strength to preserve the memory of a gentleman who lived and loved fully alive.
Please share this story to honor James’s memory and aid Cloe and the wonderful family he left behind. Let it honor his life and the strength of love, family, and determination.
