Loving Husband and Father of Eight Dies Suddenly—His Hidden Illness Went Undetected
James Green always dreamed of being a father. When he and his wife Cloe welcomed their first child, his joy knew no bounds. With every new addition to their growing family, James’s pride and love only deepened.
“Just One More, Clo”
After their second child, James and Cloe began building their bustling family. Each time Cloe thought they were finished, James would flash a hopeful smile and say, “Just one more, Clo.” Fatherhood was James’s greatest passion.
Though Cloe stayed home full-time, James worked remotely to stay close to his children. He was there for every school drop-off, every pick-up, and every evening filled with laughter and play. Full of energy and love, James was the super dad his kids adored.
Life with Eight Children
When their fifth child, Miley, was born with cerebral palsy, James and Cloe faced tough decisions. Cloe got a contraceptive implant, thinking their family was complete. But when she unexpectedly became pregnant again, James saw it as fate.
They welcomed three more precious children—Lacey, Lexi, and Elijah—finally agreeing that eight was the perfect number.
A Sudden, Heartbreaking Morning
Just 12 weeks after baby Elijah’s arrival, tragedy shattered the Green family’s world. On the quiet night of December 4, 2015, James and Cloe went to bed like any other night. But around 4:30 a.m., James abruptly sat up, his face pale and eyes wide. He couldn’t move — his body was numb. Then, without warning, he began convulsing and stopped breathing.
With no time to hesitate, Cloe sprang into action, performing CPR as she waited desperately for the paramedics. “I wanted to scream and cry,” she recalls, “but I had to stay calm—for the kids.” Despite her efforts, James passed away in their own bed. He was just 31.
The Hidden Threat: Hypertensive Heart Disease
The diagnosis that followed stunned everyone. James had suffered from hypertensive heart disease—a silent killer born from years of untreated high blood pressure. The worst part? There were no warning signs, no obvious symptoms until it was too late.
Without regular medical checkups, James’s condition went unnoticed, turning their perfect life upside down. His sudden loss left Cloe devastated—suddenly a single mother to eight young children.
“I Had to Be Strong for Them”
“In the darkest moments, I questioned how I could possibly carry on without James,” Cloe admits. “But then I looked at those eight beautiful faces and knew I had no choice.”
Determined to honor James’s memory, Cloe poured her heart into raising their children. “He loved being a dad more than anything,” she says softly. “He gave me the strength to keep going, even alone.”
The family finds solace in small but meaningful traditions—like releasing balloons into the sky, sending their love and memories to James above.
A Community That Cares
In the face of heartbreak, the Greens’ community rallied around them. Friends and strangers raised over $10,000 to renovate the family’s garden, creating a safe and joyful place for the children to play and heal.
Though Cloe’s journey has been marked by loss, her courage and love shine as a beacon of hope. Through every challenge, James’s spirit lives on in their hearts—and in the family he adored.