He moved in with his grandma after losing his job. What followed changed his life forever

When something in your life falls apart, it's hard to see how it might be falling into place for something else. At the start of the year, Grant Magdanz lost his job and, with limited options, moved in with his grandmother. The decision felt heavy and disappointing at the time, but just weeks later, he realized the move had placed him exactly where he most needed to be. Magdanz shared his complete emotional journey in a video posted on his Instagram @grantmagdanz.

After a few weeks of moving in, Magdanz's father's health began to decline, and by March, he had been rushed to the emergency room. In June, the family learned that he had been diagnosed with leukemia. The son, still adjusting to life after his layoff, suddenly found himself walking into clinics, sitting through appointments, and witnessing treatments he never thought he’d see firsthand. "I learn what chemo looks like," one caption read. "He seems old for the first time," said another. From July through October, he watched as his father’s energy gradually faded, as procedures carried risks, and milestones suddenly grew uncertain. Still, they marked what they could. A transplant brought them a brief celebration with root beer floats. "I worry he won’t make it to his birthday," he noted. But his father did, and in those small victories, hope returned, if only momentarily.  

In November, his father was admitted to the ICU, and 24 hours later, he passed away. In December, the family celebrated their first Christmas without him. Through all this, Magdanz learned something important. "In many ways, this was the worst year, but it was also the most meaningful," he said. He had been able to spend real, uninterrupted time with his dad, recording his stories and asking questions about his life. He grew closer to his family and made new friends, and watched them get married. He also celebrated his 30th and his grandmother’s 90th birthday. 

Reflecting on how much of that wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t moved home when he did, he said, "Through it, I learned we are less alone than we think. We just need to tell our stories." For Magdanz, facing grief head-on gave him time, presence, and lovely moments that would form a core part of his dad's memory — a process echoed in findings from a 2020 study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry. It found that avoidant behaviors tend to worsen grief and depression, while supportive and active approaches, like spending time, talking, and reflecting, can increase personal growth after loss.

In his final message, he thanked those who supported him throughout the year. "People made this year meaningful. Thank you for showing up, supporting, and sharing your story," he said. He also thanked his family, saying, "To Mom, Reid, and Saagulik: You were rocks. I love you." His story moved a lot of viewers, and many of them shared their own experiences.  @aidabadji_ commented, "This makes me emotional and I’m sending you lots of love. I lost my Dad on June 20th, 2024, from cancer, one week after his 71st birthday. I wish I could’ve asked him to tell me his story more. I’m sure your Dad is so proud of you." @thelondonchatter wrote, "A really beautiful and powerful post, thank you. May your dad rest in peace, and you continue to heal and shine."

You can follow Grant Magdanz (@grantmagdanz) for more vlog-style content.