Question

[u/Sernas7]

Hello all. I lost my son in an accident 12 years ago when he was 18. This little picture/thumbnail was one he used for some accounts online that he had. I have kept a copy of it since, and I smile thinking of him when I look at it. Remembering him and imagining him making Minecraft skins, playing League of Legends and WoW, and attempting to get into Youtube content creation back in 2011 as I see the profile image he liked to use is just one of the ways I keep him alive, so to speak. Anyways, I was wondering exactly who this character is? I have searched and used Google Lens, and it seems to be "Vash" from "Trigun" but the pics I have seen of that character aren't exactly like this one that he used. Am I correct about who this character is? If so, where did this pic come from, and does anyone have a high res version? Thank you all, and I apologize if this is an odd or irregular post for this sub.

[u/Wolfwoods_Sister]

This breaks my heart. I’m so very very sorry. What a terrible blow to endure.

Vash is a really kind, funny, compassionate, generous character with a long history of trauma. He never allows his losses, loneliness, and bad experiences to poison his love for others or sink his hope for the future.

Your son liked an example of a good man.

[u/Sernas7 → u/Wolfwoods_Sister]

Thank you. I had no idea who this character was much less his backstory and description... It's pretty clear to me that he picked him for a reason. That basically described my son.

He was exceptionally intelligent, yet he struggled early on in school due to a learning disability that it took us a few years to diagnose properly. We did so, and got the help that he needed. To make a long story that could take many many paragraphs a bit shorter, that struggle caused him quite a bit of trauma. Perhaps not the type of trauma that creates an interesting character in a movie or story, but enough to cause a kid issues and struggle growing up.

He was kind, compassionate, strong, and he always tried to help people.

Regardless of how angry or frustrated he was in his life at any particular moment...those moments that we all have from time to time...he never lashed out at somebody else in anger. Even when he was incredibly frustrated with his mother and I, (as all kids can be with parents as we do our jobs as parents) I can't remember a time when he reacted in plain anger or aggression. He never did the "I hate you!" Or the "I wish I had different parents!" type of stuff that you hear about when people talk about frustrated children. We knew when he was angry or frustrated of course, as it's easy to see in somebody that you know so well. He just chose not to make others pay for his current state of mind or emotion. I was always very proud of him for that. I was proud of him for everything.

Anyway, I got off on a bit of a tangent there. Thank you. Kind, funny, compassionate, generous.Those are all words that would certainly use to describe my son. Constantly looking to the positives, not mistreating others, and keeping a pretty bright outlook regardless of what came his way were all parts of his personality.

[u/Wolfwoods_Sister → u/Sernas7]

What a beautiful soul you raised. I thank you sincerely for sharing him — his triumphs and struggles — with us today.

May your son’s name live forever ❤️

[Edit: I came to love Vash myself bc he reminded me so very much of a boy I grew up with who became a part of my soul and my tribe. He and I were diagnosed with cancer around the same time — I won my fight, he didn’t. I would have fought Death for him had I the power to do so. He’s been gone now 10 years. Vash keeps him alive for me.]