When Mili Hernandez, a budding soccer star in Omaha, plays, she likes to keep her hair short so it doesn’t distract her on the field. But the 8-year-old’s haircut is at the center of a controversy, as her club team, Azzuri Cachorros, was thrown out of tournament by organizers because they believed she was a boy.
The team had advanced through the first two days of the Springfield Soccer Invitational, only to find out the morning of the tournament’s final day that they had been disqualified for letting a boy play on a girls team. The team went to the media, and now the tournament is on the defensive.
The organizers of the tournament are blaming the disqualification—not on Hernandez’s haircut—but on a typo the registrar made. However, even when the team’s coach offered an insurance card that showed she was a girl, the president of the tournament upheld the disqualification and booted the whole team from the tournament.
“There’s no point in all of us getting kicked off, they could have let some us stay and play,” Hernandez said, disappointed her team wasn't’ allowed to keep competing in the tournament.
In response to the story, some of U.S. soccer’s biggest legends, Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach, have taken to social media to show support for Hernandez and encourage her not to let this incident discourage her.
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Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.