His late daughter’s message sat on his office whiteboard for years — when he had to leave it behind, his colleagues’ response moved him deeply
Even the smallest, most random memories of late loved ones become priceless to those grieving. Threads user and mom Kerri Abel, who goes by @knkabel, shared a post on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, explaining how a simple note her daughter had written on her dad’s office whiteboard became a memory that was never erased. The girl passed away in 2022, and ever since, colleagues kept her message as a sign of respect. When the man had to move departments and go into another building, they refused to let go of the precious gesture, prompting them to surprise him.
“Love you, Daddy,” along with a heart, was scribbled on the whiteboard by Kerri’s daughter, Juliana, before she passed away. This message was never removed, as a sign of respect and out of solidarity for their coworker. The dad, Kenny, who works at a hospital, recently had to switch departments and move into another building. The colleagues didn’t want to remove the words she wrote, but they also couldn’t move an entire whiteboard. As a result, “they took it to facilities and had them cut the message out of the whiteboard and had it framed for him!” Sitting proudly on his table at his new office was the small square piece of whiteboard with the treasured words.
In a way, it was his team’s way of supporting him and keeping his daughter’s memory alive even after years had passed. It was a very simple gesture, but one that took much thought and empathy from several people. Support and respect go beyond policies, especially during such challenging times. Just a sympathy card or bereavement leave is not enough when someone you see day in and day out has lost a loved one.
According to data shared by the Loss Foundation, how grief is handled can affect an employee’s productivity and loyalty. 57% of workers noted that they would leave their company if their bereavement was handled poorly. Younger professionals are even more likely to leave, with a solid 77% saying they would quit in such instances. It’s not just ignorance, but even improper support that makes people feel disappointed.
45% of workers said they wished to leave their organizations because they were treated differently after a loss. The findings reinforce this, as fewer than 1 in 5 managers said they were confident about supporting their grieving employees. The group's thoughtful gesture to preserve their colleague's daughter's memory said a lot about how much they cared. Commenters applauded the team for the kindness and profound respect they had for their coworker and his late child. @ektvol wrote, “They love him.” @tankmp4 added, “Proud to see brethren make cutting that out, securing it, and preserving it a priority!” @sharon_65119523 remarked, “Now that is the kind of workplace we all need.”
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