Today, we are seeing friends who lost their 18 yo daughter 21 years ago. They are one of seven couples we know who have lost a child so although we have never lost a child (thank goodness), I think we have a good understanding of what it means for parents.
You will grieve, you will cry, you will heal. Eventually, your lives will return to a new kind of normal but you will never forget. Everybody in your family will lean on the others for support and so it should be.
Please accept my deepest condolences.