On his 30th birthday, CJ Infantino’s world shattered—his wife, Ariana, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. The couple, high school sweethearts and parents of three, moved back to New York to spend her final years surrounded by family. “We tried to pack 30 years into 10,” CJ said.

Ariana passed away in 2020, just 25 days after she and CJ told their kids she was dying. Their youngest was only eight. Despite the heartbreak, CJ focused on helping his children grieve, turning painful moments—like shaving Ariana’s head—into shared, healing experiences.

Determined not to let grief isolate him, CJ created Hopeless Mope, a clothing brand inspired by Ariana’s story, and launched Unvoiced, a platform supporting grief awareness. His advocacy even led Facebook to offer caregiver leave after he shared his story with its leadership.

Four years later, CJ says grief has transformed him. “I never thought I’d see my grief as a gift,” he shared. Now, he honors Ariana by showing others they’re not alone—and that healing, though painful, is possible.