MUSKEGON, Mich. — Following the tragic loss of their son, Michael McCabe, at the age of 18, Stacey and Alan McCabe have created a poignant tribute that allows them to maintain a connection with him. Michael passed away in October 2022, an event that transformed the couple’s lives overnight. “He was a happy kid. He was a free spirit,” Stacey recalled as she and her husband visited a trail in Muskegon where they often reminisce about their son.
As the couple navigates their grief, they remember Michael’s vibrant personality. He was just beginning his journey into adulthood, having started his first year on scholarship at Muskegon Community College. “People complain about being empty nesters. We never got to have to go through that,” Stacey noted, reflecting on the abruptness of their loss.
A Special Place of Remembrance
The McCabes frequently walk the trail by the lakeshore, a place that held significant meaning for Michael. “He loved riding his bike on the bike path,” Alan shared, noting how he would often stop along the route. Their connection to this area deepened with the installation of a unique tribute: the first wind phone in Muskegon County.
“We had put this wind phone in for Michael and had the bench put in for Michael,” Alan explained. This phone, which is connected to nothing but the air, serves as a way for the couple to communicate spiritually with their son. “It is a phone that is a real phone, but is disconnected,” Stacey elaborated. “And it is a spiritual call that you would make to your loved one, that the wind carries your voice away to them.”
Finding Solace in Grief
The McCabes have embraced this method of connection, despite the fact that they can no longer reach Michael in a conventional sense. Alan stepped into the booth one day, took a deep breath, and spoke into the receiver. “Hey buddy,” he began, his voice filled with emotion. “Getting ready to go a year and a half without you. I miss you. I miss you a lot, kid.” His words conveyed a heartfelt longing that many can relate to in times of loss.
Stacey followed, stepping into the booth with the weight of her sorrow. “Hi Michael Anthony, it’s Mom. I miss you so much,” she said, her voice trembling. She shared moments from her life, mentioning an upcoming indoor soccer game that she wished Michael could attend. “I love you forever. I’ll talk to you again soon, okay? Bye sweetheart,” she concluded, placing the receiver down with a heavy heart.
“When someone’s gone that you really don’t expect to be gone and you need them, you’ll do anything to probably feel that connection,” Stacey expressed, emphasizing the importance of this tribute for both herself and her husband.
The wind phone serves a broader purpose beyond the McCabes’ personal grief. “We didn’t put it in just for us,” Stacey stated. “We put it in for everybody.” Their hope is that this unique installation provides comfort to others who have experienced loss. “I just hope that it gives people a little better sleep at night, knowing that they could have that last moment to be able to say something, or even just to tell somebody about their day.”
Located at 1700 Lakeshore Drive in Muskegon, the wind phone stands as a testament to love and remembrance. The McCabes invite others to walk along the path and think of Michael when they place their calls. In their own way, they have built a sanctuary where memories can be cherished and connections can endure, even in the face of unimaginable grief.
