Gone too soon
I completed my morning routine, sat down to break my fast while browsing YouTube.
I scrolled through the recommended thumbnails, got ready to open the daily prayer link, and noticed that the Trent & Allie thumbnail beside it read, “Saying goodbye to my mom.”
I became a frequent viewer of Trent and Allie’s vlogs since stumbling upon them during the pandemic. My curiosity overshadowed and I decided to delay viewing the prayer link and watch their vlog first.
I felt a daunting shudder as I optimistically clicked on the link and was greeted by a July 2023 clip of Allie’s parents, Leslie, and Russell, on the beach walking toward the water with Leo, Trent, and Allie’s toddler son, next to them. Leslie was walking with the aid of Russell’s arm and a cane, which I concluded was part of her recovery since Allie had mentioned that her mother was ill in a previous vlog.
Relieved, I continued to watch as Allie pitched their Better Help sponsor and the August 2023 transition to Trent’s typical enthusiastic opening and statement that they were “going somewhere very, very fun.” They were heading back to the east coast.
For further assurance that all was well, and goodbye meant that Leslie was leaving Utah and going back with Russell to the northeast for the new year to recover at their family home, I clicked on the comment section and saw the condolences.
My heart sank and my eyes welled with tears upon reading the comments and hearing Allie say that Leslie had succumbed to an aggressive form of ALS on 12/29/23, six months after her diagnosis, “Although the mean survival time with ALS is two to five years, some people live five years, 10 years or even longer. Symptoms can begin in the muscles that control speech and swallowing or in the hands, arms, legs, or feet.”
Like the viewers who have commented on the vlog thus far, I was shocked and heartbroken by the news. Allie had recently mentioned that her mother was having health issues and would not be a part of their vlogs again. I thought that was an understandable choice for privacy and that she would reconsider her decision about future vlogs when her health had improved, not that the life of this warm woman, with her big, joyful smile and endearing personality would end shortly after she happily welcomed her first grandchild and made life changes with Russell to be closer to her growing family.
Leslie’s story is a reminder that the trajectory of our lives can change in an instant. That we should seize and cherish the moments. Although it was brief, it is great that Leslie was able to experience two memorable milestones that most mother’s look forward to, Allie’s marriage and Leo’s birth.
It is amazing how one can find value, feel connected and personally invested in the lives of people we become familiar with through social media. Viewing Trent and Allie’s vlog along with a handful of other discoveries during the pandemic has become an appreciative, and reflective part of my journey.
My heart goes out to Trent, Allie, Leo, Russell, and their extended family.
Learn more about ALS by visiting these links: https://www.als.org/understanding-als
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis-als
Watch Trent & Allie’s YouTube vlogs here.