It was just about a month ago that Sondra Williams lost her Aunt Vivian. “Grief hits us all differently,” she wrote. “We can be smiling one minute and crying the next. It can be a memory, a scent, a song, or from touch that we feel a surge of deep sorrow.” If Vivian’s passing wasn’t difficult enough already, no one could’ve prepared Sondra and Trent Williams for what was to come exactly a month later.

Football took a backseat this week for the 49ers offensive tackle and his family… For Williams, the lead-up to the game against the Bills was only about shrugging the grief and mourning as he faced a far greater personal loss—the death of his newborn son, their Son-Shine, Trenton O’Brien Williams Jr.

Trent’s wife, Sondra, shared the aching update in the form of an Instagram Reel on December 1. And as expected, she did so a week later with a heart-wrenching caption that read: “My heart is broken, and my arms are empty.” A mother’s grief… None of us can truly feel what she’s going through, but we can try to understand. She carried her little one for 35 weeks, feeling him grow inside her. She was mentally preparing, wondering, “How will life be when…” But alas, he was born lifeless on November 24.

Though his little life never took its first breath, his impact on his family’s hearts was immeasurable. Especially on the Mama, and understandably so. After losing Trenton’s twin earlier in the pregnancy and receiving a diagnosis of Trisomy 13, Sondra clung to hope. As she wrote in the update: she prayed, prepared, and cherished every moment with him. No matter how brief.

“My Forever Angel, Trenton O’Brien Williams Jr.💙 It’s been extremely hard trying to process the saddest Hello and Goodbye that I’ve ever had to endure. Last Sunday night on 11/24/24; I welcomed your lifeless 4lb 8oz, 18.5in long little body at 11:38 pm. At only 35 weeks, your impactful and quick arrival didn’t even give mommy time to get an epidural.” 

The heartbreaking video captured the family’s last moments with Son-Shine. Some courageously smiled, some cried, and some cradled him in their arms, imagining little Trenton’s resonating cries. But the one theme that settled heavy in the small hospital room was that of Goodbye. 

The video and Sondra’s words painted a picture of love and sorrow intertwined. “I prayed and hoped that your diagnosis of Trisomy 13 wasn’t true and wouldn’t be the fate of my long-awaited beautiful Son-shine. My firstborn and only son, I’ve always wanted you. But God wanted and needed you more,” she wrote, reflecting on the pain of leaving the hospital without her baby boy in her arms… and a Thanksgiving of what could have been.

Trisomy 13 is a rare genetic condition where an extra copy of chromosome 13 attaches to a pair of chromosomes, leading to physical abnormalities and severe intellectual disability. Only 5-10% of infants born with this condition live past their first year, with many passing away within the first few days or weeks of their life. Knowing this only made it harder for Sondra Williams. “As much as I tried to prepare myself for our meeting, I wasn’t prepared, nor would I ever be.” Yet, amidst the sorrow, she found solace in knowing Trenton was now their guardian angel, watching over her and his sisters.

And just as Trenton will be watching over them, he’ll be with Aunt Vivian. “Knowing you are in Heaven with your great aunt Vivian and that you will always be our Guardian Angel brings me great comfort in the midst of all this sorrow.” It’s hard to fathom the strength it takes to share such a deeply personal loss. Sondra’s tribute captured both the weight of her grief and the gratitude for the 35 weeks she spent carrying her son.

“Being home without you in my arms has been quite an adjustment. Knowing I will never be able to watch you grow older alongside your sisters has my eyes filled with tears… My heart is broken, and my arms are empty. But I know you’ll always be near, watching over me and your sisters. And for that, my heart smiles with gratitude.

“Thank God for allowing us to bond for 35 weeks and for me to birth you so I could hold you in my arms. I’m at peace knowing you will never have to suffer… I am grateful to God for the time I shared with you. Trenton O’Brien Williams Jr., my sweet baby boy, we love you, our Forever Angel!” For Trent Williams and his family, this season isn’t defined by wins and losses on the field but by an unimaginable heartbreak off of it.

Trent Williams’ 2024 so far: When it rains, it pours…

If you think the 49ers’ 5-7 season has been tough, wait till you hear about their LT Trent Williams. We aren’t even focused on the scoreboard anymore—the man’s been through the wringer. Last week, Williams and his wife, Sondra, suffered the heartbreaking loss of their newborn son. And he tried… Give him his flowers for that. He tried to muster the strength to get back on the field, but his body said, “Not today.” That nagging ankle injury finally sidelined him for week 13 against the Bills.

For Trent, 2024 has been less of a season and more of a gauntlet. His struggles extend well beyond Sunday night’s inactive list. Injuries have kept him from being the dominant force we’re used to seeing. That ankle? It didn’t start in Buffalo. Nah! Far from it. It’s been a recurring villain all season, forcing him to miss critical games, like Week 12’s clash with Green Bay. Even when he suits up, it’s clear he’s not at 100%.

And then there’s the performance dip. Williams’ Pro Football Focus grade has dropped to 85.6, a noticeable slide from his elite 92.6 rating last season. For most players, 85.6 is still a solid number, but for Trent? It’s not what we’ve come to expect from one of the game’s best.

This season has been a grind for Williams. From battling injuries to coping with a personal loss that one could NEVER prepare for. Yet, even from the sidelines, Trent remains the backbone of this 49ers squad—both as a player and as a leader. Sometimes, the toughest battles aren’t the ones on the field.