10-year memorial walk held for Kaidynce Small at Rocky Boy

A memorial walk was held at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation Thursday evening for Kaidynce Evan Small, who died in 2013 at the age of 1 due to injuries inflicted by caregivers watching him at the time.

Kaidynce's mother, Jasmine Small, said she wanted this to be an event where everyone can remember her son's life positively and to show that those left behind are doing all right despite their sorrow.

"He should be here," Small said. " ... We all miss him."

Nearly 40 people released balloons into the gray drizzling skies that evening to celebrate what would have been Kaidynce's 11th birthday.The group then walked from the old Stone Child College building to Our Saviour's Lutheran Church just down the road carrying lighted balloons.

At the church Small gave an emotional speech about her son and the people left behind.

She said she is a believer and she knows there is a plan, but sometimes she struggles to believe that when something so horrible happens.

She said she tries to remember her son in a positive way, but sometimes when she thinks of the son who should be by her side the pain often takes over.

However, Small said, there are people in her life who continue to help her carry on, including Terrie Stump, who she said did so much to help her during the worst of her grief and has encouraged her to embrace positivity when remembering her son.

Small also thanked her sister Jayde for being there for her.

She said she knows that the loss of Kaidynce caused her tremendous pain, that she often tried to hide for Small's sake, and that support is what made it possible for her to work through the darkest times.

"Without you I would never have made it out of that hole," she said.

After the speech, memorial walkers embraced each other and shared a meal in the church.