My son was killed by a reckless driver. I left my job, used my savings, and faced the hidden costs of losing a child.
A grieving father shares his personal experience with the hidden financial burdens that follow the sudden loss of a child. The essay highlights the unexpected costs of funeral arrangements, legal fees, and long-term therapy.
Why it matters
It sheds light on the often-overlooked economic impact of personal tragedy and the predatory nature of certain end-of-life service industries.
Magnus White, who was a competitive cyclist, died in 2023. Jimena Peck for BI This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michael White, 49, from Boulder, Colorado. In 2023, a driver killed White's 17-year-old son, Magnus. The essay has been edited for length and clarity, and the details verified. Eight days after my son Magnus was killed, we held his memorial. By then, I had already learned that dying is a business . Quickly, my wife and I had to find an attorney, choose between burial and cremation, and decide what would hold our son’s ashes. A police victim advocate handed us a glossy catalog of urns, each costing thousands of dollars. It all felt ridiculous. Then the financial consequences began to mount: legal bills, lost income, and years of therapy.
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