James Green had a big goal that had a big impact on his life: he wanted to be a father. People who knew him as a teenager remember him saying how much he wanted to have kids. He saw not just one or two, but a big, happy family full of love. People who knew him as a teenager remember him saying how excited he was 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 having their first kid when Cloe was only 17, they were surprised but not too upset. James wasn’t terrified or unsure; he was happy about it. He was ready to make his fantasies come true.
Their first son, Leo, was born not long after that. James acted like he had been getting ready to be a father his whole life. Two years later, they had a second son, Levi. The young couple quickly realized that their desire of having a large family was coming true, and they welcomed it. Their love was strong, and they were having more kids.
James was not an inactive father. He was involved from the start, feeding, changing, playing with, teaching, and comforting. He was a steady presence in the often chaotic world of raising tiny children. He was a big man, but his heart was much bigger. People would remark he was a big, lovely man. 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 particular help and care. Cloe, who is now a full-time mom, obtained an implant to keep her from getting pregnant again.
But fate had other intentions. 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 was so happy to receive the news that he didn’t worry about it. He saw every child as a blessing. The family soon welcomed two children, Lacey and Lexi, who were twins. Like their sister Miley, both daughters were born with cerebral palsy. James didn’t move, though. He confronted every challenge head-on, determined to give each of his kids the love, care, and attention they needed.
James was entirely committed 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 be ready to pick them up and play with them in the afternoon. He helped with homework, read bedtime stories, and always made time for hugs and laughs. James never ran out of energy or lost his sense of humor, even though he had to care for eight kids, three of whom had special needs. People stated he was a great dad whose kids loved him and whose wife depended on him as a faithful spouse.
Then they had their eighth and youngest child, Elijah. James and Cloe both agreed that their family was whole when he joined. Finally, they had what James had always wanted: a house full of kids and a life full of love.
But that joy didn’t last long.
James and Cloe went to bed like they always did on December 4, 2015, twelve weeks after Elijah was born. Around 4:30 a.m., James woke up. He was being foolish and laughing with Cloe in the middle of the night, which was typical of him. But then, all of a sudden, everything changed. James sat up in bed and said he didn’t feel anything. He had a seizure after that.
Cloe was frightened to witness her husband, her partner, and the father of her children having problems breathing. She called 911 right away and performed CPR to attempt to save his life. She said later, “I wanted to scream and cry,” but she knew she had to stay calm for him and their kids. Even though she tried to save him and paramedics came, James died in their bed. He was only 31 years old.
He died from hypertensive heart disease, a condition that is linked to high blood pressure but had not been diagnosed. James, like a lot of other young men, hadn’t been getting checkups from the doctor. He looked healthy and strong. There were no evident signs that something was awry. But the silent pressure on his heart had been getting worse, and when it finally burst, it didn’t give him a second chance. Cloe was stunned and heartbroken when her husband died abruptly, leaving her alone with eight children, three of whom needed extra care.
The loss affected both the family and the community. People from all walks of life, such as friends, neighbors, and strangers, came to help. People brought meals, drove people around, and sat with the kids so Cloe could get some rest, even if it was only for a little while. They established a GoFundMe campaign and got more than $10,000, which helped them make their backyard a safe and welcoming place for the kids. James had always planned to finish the garden for them.
Cloe was really sad for weeks after that. It was hard for her to keep going some days, 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 raised her kids with the same love and care that James did every day. She recalls him in small 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.” “Now it’s my job to keep that love alive.” She will always feel like something is missing, but it helps her to know that James had the life he wanted. He built the family he 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 lasts. It reminds us that life is brief and that we should pay attention to our bodies, see the doctor often, and appreciate every time we have. It’s also the story of an incredible woman who, despite going through a terrible heartbreak, found the strength to preserve the memory of a man who lived and loved fully alive.
Please pass this tale on to honor James’s memory and aid Cloe and the wonderful family he left behind. Let it be a tribute to his life and the strength of love, family, and resilience.