Grateful for the little things via /r/gratitude

Long story short, last year my (40f) son (19m), let's call him S, passed away unexpectedly. He had a rare genetic condition that made life harder but not impossible when managed with medications. There were secondary effects we were dealing with but overall he was doing alright. He graduated high school, had a part time job at a restaurant, he had hopes and dreams and aspirations in life.

I was the one to find him unresponsive and start CPR while my husband called the ambulance. In the end, he was gone. I'd talked to him before I left that morning and my husband talked to him just an hour before I came home. The coroner determined it was natural causes due to comorbities- his medical condition and secondary conditions, there was no foul play involved.

It's been a rough year and a half since and not a day goes by that I don't think about him, miss him, cry, repeat. How can I not? He was my firstborn child. Grief is heavy, even moreso if it's your own child.

Fast forward to now, I work in registration… Not new, I've been doing registration in various medical settings for 10+ years. However, normal day, I am the only one in my department on this day so I see all clients for the day, no big deal. Where this gets interesting is where I register this one client. I notice she's wearing a shirt advertising the restaurant where my son worked at the time of his passing but I don't say anything. I go through the motions, verify info, ask about insurance, ask about employment. She tells me she's been a manager at the restaurant named on her shirt for a couple of years.

Recently this restaurant had a kitchen fire and was closed for a few months. I didn't realize they'd reopened. I knew a lot of the employees that worked with S had attended his funeral. They'd contacted me and expressed condolences, asked if they could attend and do something for us after the funeral and I'd said yes. They'd provided a catered meal, free of charge for S's entire family after the funeral and even dedicated a shelf to S's memory in between the kitchen and dining area… I didn't realize that not everyone had moved on to different employment. I wouldn't have survived months without pay and I don't think a lot of others could afford it either so it makes sense that they may be operating with a brand new crew.

I said, "Oh you probably worked with my son, S. He worked there before he passed away." Mind you, I have no idea why I said this, I don't normally share personal info like this. Her whole face literally lights up and said "Oh S!!! Yes! I knew you looked familiar! A couple of us go to visit S's grave sometimes or think about him as we pass by the cemetery. I will have to tell my co-manager that also worked with S (and arranged all the wonderful things they did for us after the funeral) that I saw you and that you're doing okay."

Then she proceeds to whip out her phone, and tells me I'm going to love this while opening an app (which is for their scheduling) and shows me that S is scheduled, Monday through Friday, 9-5, position "Big Boss". I am not kidding when I say I BARELY made it back to my office before breaking down.

My son was so loved and is so missed by so many more people than just his family. His memory lives on in all the lives he touched.

Not only am I grateful for the years I got with my son, who touched my life in unimaginable ways, I am also grateful for the reminders that his memory lives on. I raised a good kid and that goodness still echoes on this side of the veil. I'm heartbroken but still a very proud mom for raising such a wonderful young man.