Death is an unavoidable part of life, yet many people believe that young children should be shielded from such sensitive topics. They worry that discussing death might confuse or hurt their young minds.
However, children sometimes face the harsh realities of life sooner than expected.
This was the case for a 5-year-old boy named Khayne Kheia Naelgas Castro from the Philippines, who lost his mother during the birth of his younger brother.
Tragically, the boy did not fully understand what death meant and thought his mother was simply asleep, leading to a heartbreaking scene where he fell asleep hugging her coffin.
According to the foreign media outlet Tribun Pekanbaru, Khayne’s mother passed away due to complications during the birth of his younger brother, Cyril Khayzer Castro. The family was left grieving the loss of a young mother and caring for two little boys.
But young Khayne could not grasp the finality of death. He spent much of his time quietly sitting by his mother’s coffin, looking down at her, waiting for her to wake up. He would occasionally lay his head on the coffin, his innocent heart still hopeful that his mother was only temporarily asleep.
The boy’s grandmother, who was there to witness the tender moments, shared the painful scene on Facebook, expressing her heartache.
“This child asked me, ‘Why can’t mommy sleep with me anymore?’” the grandmother wrote in her post.
She explained that she had no way to explain the concept of death to the little boy. Heartbroken, she could only watch as Khayne continued to carry a small stool to the coffin, climbing up to gaze sadly at his mother’s still face. He tried to hug her, unaware that she would never wake up again.
The images shared by the grandmother showed how deeply Khayne longed for his mother. In one particularly touching photo, the young boy is seen leaning against a chair next to the coffin, his small body appearing exhausted.
He even pushed several chairs together, made a makeshift bed, and lay down beside the coffin as if he could meet his mother in his dreams. His devotion and innocence were evident in his actions, making the scene even more heart-wrenching.
The photos quickly spread on social media, prompting an outpouring of sympathy from netizens around the world. Many were deeply moved by the boy’s sorrow and left encouraging messages under the grandmother’s post.
They hoped that Khayne and his family could find strength to cope with the devastating loss. Some people even offered financial assistance to help the family during such a difficult time.
The grandmother responded with deep gratitude, saying: “May God bless everyone, and please continue to pray for Cyril, who was just born. We hope he can grow up steadily and healthily after coming into our lives.”
This story, while deeply sorrowful, also shows the importance of supporting grieving families, especially young children who might not fully understand the concept of death.
Through the kindness of strangers, Khayne and his family are receiving the help they need to navigate through this painful chapter of their lives. We are sending our thoughts their way.
