'He immediately sat down next to her. I think that was even more important than the hug,' a user wrote.
A woman from Wausau who had lost her beloved dog waited patiently for the mailman to deliver her ashes, but broke down the minute he handed them to her. It was, however, the mailman's comforting gesture that stands as a beautiful reminder of how powerful kindness can be in moments of grief. The story, posted in July 2025, has us choking on our tears.
After Krysten Klapatauskas lost her dog, Stoli, to cancer, she decided to have her remains mailed to her. Malachi Knox, the 22-year-old mailman who came to drop off Stoli's remains, clearly understood the vulnerable situation and responded with rare compassion. "I wanted to comfort her as much as I could," he told Inside Edition. As Klapatauskas sat on the staircase waiting for her dog's ashes, Knox came towards her with Stoli's remains. He immediately sat next to her while still holding the parcel, allowing Klapatauskas to calm herself. Recognizing the mailman's profound gesture, the woman pulled him into a hug. Knox let her shed tears, realizing the pain she was feeling in that moment. The heartfelt moment was recorded on the woman's security camera. Losing a pet isn't easy; in fact, a study by Rajaram et al. claims that people mourning the loss of a pet are three times more likely to report symptoms of depression than the general population.
Echoing the sentiments, @valeriebumblebee7607 commented, "He immediately sat down next to her. I think that was even more important than the hug. That says, 'I'm here for you, and we will mourn her together.'" A grieving pet parent, @roryrevolution2348, shared, "About a month ago, I got my cat Gracie's ashes in the mail the same way. I held it together until I opened the package and saw her footprint. I had her for 16 years; I watched her as she was born, and I watched her take her last breath. She used to snuggle up with me on my chair as I watched TV, played video games, etc. I can't even describe the pain of losing her. This absolutely made me break down again. Here is to all of the fur babies that we have lost in our lives. We will always love you."
A user who goes by @marjoriegranada5085 said, "My dog just passed away on Sunday, and her ashes will be delivered after 3 days. I don't know how I will handle it. It's so painful, yet I can't fully mourn her and process my sadness because I'm almost 8 months pregnant and at high risk for preeclampsia. I am trying hard to control my emotions so they won't affect my blood pressure and most importantly my baby, but I always think about her and let my tears fall quietly."
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