Last Updated on May 19, 2026 by Cliche
It’s very fitting to be writing this on Mother’s Day. My mom and I went everywhere together. We were always side-by-side. We traveled the world. Every adventure was symbiotic.
When I had the opportunity to attend the Steve Irwin Gala in Las Vegas last year, my mom suggested that I bring my friend in her place so that we could have a fun girls’ trip. I thought nothing of it, unaware that she had an upcoming neurology appointment. She was diagnosed with ALS 11 days later.
This year, I returned to the Gala. My mom passed away in February, less than nine months after her diagnosis.
It’s still impossible for me to fathom how one year can change everything. My mom was my primary caregiver for nearly the entirety of my life. We shared a body. I struggle to conceptualize any form of identity without her. Who am I in singularity, and how can I possibly remain recognizable in her absence?
No one can understand the profundity of such a loss like Robert and Terri Irwin. This upcoming September will mark 20 years since Steve Irwin’s untimely death. With two young children to raise and a conservation movement to shepherd, Steve’s wife Terri became her own kind of warrior – both for wildlife and for her family.
Robert flourished in the warm glow of Terri’s steadfast and loving philosophy. “My whole life, my biggest role models have been women, particularly my mom and my sister Bindi. And I think growing up, all of the biggest life lessons I’ve learned from them. To lead with determination, to know when to say no, to know when to seize opportunity, but also to have compassion as well for every living being. Treat every living being how you want to be treated. Those lessons are so important to me.”
Bindi, who did not attend the event in person, has also established herself as a voice for women in the face of ongoing medical misfortunes. “It’s a very important thing for men to stand up for women’s health. Bindi went through endometriosis, which she still struggles with to this day. She gave me inspiration to look at her and go, ‘Okay, I’m going to follow her lead.’ If there’s any way that I can make the conversation of endo and women’s health more widely recognized and more universal, I’m up for that.”
Robert is cementing his identity and claiming his place in the zeitgeist as an independent cultural juggernaut. The endorphin high of his recent Dancing With The Stars win clearly hasn’t worn off. Characteristically, the Irwins were in unison with every step. “Dance is the ultimate artistic expression because you’re literally using your body to create a story and to tell a story. I particularly look at the dedication dance that I did on Dancing with the Stars for my mom.That was so special, so emotional, so much fun as well at the same time. It feels like it’s just an extension of self and an extension of what’s most important to you. I felt so lucky to go on that journey. And my mom was there the whole way. She was there for those three months, from coming to every single show to being there for the rehearsals.”
Even though she wasn’t on the dance floor and has definitively insisted that she has no plans to be, Terri was moved by her son’s experience and ultimate triumph. We can all be transformed by different aspects of art. “It’s not just dance, it’s music. Music touches your soul and music can be inspiring, it can be happy, it can be tragic, it can be meaningful…it’s kind of like a perfume. When you hear a song, it takes you to a place. However you dance, you can revel in that music and celebrate.”
Steve’s memory is an engine of evergreen momentum for Robert’s sense of purpose. Saving our precious creatures is no easy feat. “A journey of grief is something that so many of us share and it’s such an individual experience,” he points out. “I think it’s important to remember that there are so many people in the same boat that feel and understand that. And I think that for me, in the most difficult parts of my life, I really turn to a message and what it is that gets me out of bed every day. I think about me being an advocate for the environment, I think of it as every day when I spread this message of wildlife conservation, I think of my dad. You think about losing someone very important to you, but you also think, ‘Wow, what an honor it is that I get to represent something that he loved, that he experienced and that he felt so deeply, and I get to keep that going. What a privilege.’ It’s always important to remember, particularly in the face of loss, there’s a community, a family, and there are people who are always behind you no matter what.”
Legacy is love in action. Although Steve was here for a devastatingly short time, he managed to pack the most into every second. “Larger than life“ is perhaps an overused expression, but it’s been fitting for the man who brought the world face-to-face with crocodiles. True impact extends far beyond death.
As the Irwins build a future with Steve as its omnipresent foundation, I too contemplate my next act. I played Robert’s words through my mind over and over again. Steve is proof that loss is an emptiness, but it can also galvanize an unbreakable coalition. The strength in community cannot be overstated. You can never truly be without those who have passed. You will be a continuing reflection of them. There’s no more obvious illustration than Robert, whose eyes light up with the same wonder and enthusiasm when he speaks of his beloved animals and the vital habitats they call home.
By the end of the night, hundreds of thousands of dollars had been raised for Wildlife Warriors and their numerous global conservation initiatives. Steve would doubtless be proud. I walked back to my hotel with priceless wisdom – the realization that I have the power and commitment to keeping my mom‘s spirit and passions alive.
They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but I left that gleaming metropolis with a piece of myself that I never expected to find.
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The Irwins Reflect on Life, Loss, and Legacy at the Steve Irwin Gala. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Wildlife Warriors.
