Tricia Somers was given a terrible diagnosis: she had terminal liver cancer. The dreadful news left her with one main worry: who would take care of her 8-year-old son, Wesley?
Tricia was a single mother, and had no family that could take care of Wesley. Her own parents had already died. The only person she could turn to was her favourite nurse, who also shared her first name, Tricia Seaman. She trusted Seaman with all her heart.
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She felt a strong connection with her carer
Somers described her oncology nurse at PinnacleHealth Hospital in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania as "an angel." The two had developed a bond, as the late Tricia was undergoing her numerous tests. Somers always felt safe under her care.
I just felt comfort. It was almost like someone just put a warm blanket on me. I’ve never felt anything like that before.
Tricia Somers in CBS News
When she learned that her cancer was terminal, Nurse Seaman was the one person she felt she could trust with the care of her son. The dying woman decided she would make her special request on the last day at the hospital, before she was discharged.
On that day, when the nurse visited Somers, she asked the fateful question.
Tricia looked at me and said, ‘When I die, will you and your husband raise my son?’
Tricia Seaman in US Weekly
At first, the nurse was taken aback
Seaman was understandingly shocked by the request and urged Somers to think more carefully about the plan. After all, they had only known each other for about 10 days.
"I didn't know what to say in that moment," said Seaman. "I told her I was flattered enough [that she] asked me. I said to her, 'Why don't you take a little time with this.' ... I was trying to be very diplomatic, everything in me said was saying 'Yes I'll do it.'"
But Somers was convinced in her heart that Seaman was the one person she could trust.
She later told me, ‘I knew from the very first moment that I met you that you were going to help me. I didn’t know how. I just knew you were going to help me.’
Tricia Seaman
She opened her home and her heart
When Seaman told her husband Daniel about the idea of adopting Wesley, he simply responded with "We need to do something to help this lady."
As Somers' condition deteriorated, the nurse knew she had to do more than just adopt her child.
“Tricia was having trouble walking, she could barely move, and that was when we made arrangements to bring her here to our house,” Seaman tells Us. “That way she didn’t have to worry about trying to get food for Wesley, or worry about what medicine was due for herself. We took care of all of that.”
So Tricia Somers moved into Seaman's house. Seaman and her husband were already parents to three teenage girls and a 10-year-old son. They had been in the process of becoming foster parents and had just been approved to be adoptive parents.
On December 7, 2014, Somers passed away at the age of 45. At the same time, the Seamans became Wesley's legal guardians. The little boy found himself a new family, with the Seamans’ kids Anna, 20, Jenna, 18, Emma, 15, and Noah, 12, as his siblings.
“He’s so fun. He’s so his mom. I mean, she was just so larger than life,” says Seaman, 43. “She and I had opposite personalities. I remember one time we were talking about our dating histories. Hers was very colorful, and mine was very boring. I was like, ‘I dated this person and that person and then I met Dan and we got married and had a family.’ She goes, ‘Is that it!? Well, that’s about as exciting as paint drying.’”
She will never forget Tricia
Seaman eventually wrote a book titled God Gave Me You about the patient who changed her life forever. Even if she is gone, her patient will always be with them.
“Tricia’s a part of our lives and always will be,” Seaman tells Us.
Even though she’s not here with us anymore, we sure didn’t lose, because knowing her and having the privilege to raise her son, what a gift. We’re just so much better for knowing them both.
Tricia Seaman
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Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.