This news just hurts the heart. Country music star Granger Smith’s son, River, has passed away at 3-years-old. In a statement provided to People, a rep for the star confirmed River’s cause of death as a “tragic drowning accident at home.”
“I have to deliver unthinkable news. We’ve lost our youngest son, River Kelly Smith. Following a tragic accident, and despite doctor’s best efforts, he was unable to be revived. Amber and I made the decision to say our last goodbyes and donate his organs so that other children will be given a second chance at life. Our family is devastated and heartbroken, but we take solace in knowing he is with his Heavenly Father. Riv was special. Everyone that met him knew that immediately. The joy he brought to our lives cannot be expressed and his light will be forever in our hearts. If there are words to say more, I cannot find them in this moment. Love the ones close to you. There has never been a more difficult moment for us than this,” Granger shared via social media.
In honor of River, the family is asking that donations be made to central Texas’ Dell Children’s Medical Center in his name. Granger and Amber are also the parents of 7-year-old daughter, London, and 5-year-old son, Lincoln.
Our hearts go out to the Smith family.
“Heaven Bound Balloons”
I saw them sitting with their legs crossed in their backyard
The kids had magic markers writing on balloons
They let one go and watched it sail above the treetops
So I went outside to see what they were doing
They said daddy we’ve been sending notes to grandpa
I just smiled, sat down and said, “Mind if I join y’all?”
We wrote “We miss you and we love you”
Told him things are great down here
We spelled it out and sent it up
And we watched it disappear
Sometimes I guess you gotta see it to believe it
‘Cause right then I knew those blue sky prayers were getting through
When we let go of those heaven bound balloons
Before we knew it I swear we’d made at least a dozen
One for everyone we wished were here but wasn’t
There was a red one for our labrador named Rio
And a blue one too, miss Ruth who used to live just down the road
We wrote “We miss you and we love you”
Told ’em things are great down here
We spelled it out and sent it up
And we watched it disappear
Sometimes I guess you gotta see it to believe it
‘Cause right then I knew those blue sky prayers were getting through
When we let go of those heaven bound balloons
Whoa-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Yeah I know that I’ll be sitting up there someday
Don’t forget to send a couple of ’em my way
Say miss you and we love you”
Tell me things are great down here
Just spell it out and send it up
And we watch it disappear
Sometimes I guess you gotta see it to believe it
‘Cause right then I knew those blue sky prayers were getting through
When we let go of those heaven bound balloons
Let go of those heaven bound balloons
Whoa-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
