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Glee's Heather Morris Says "It Still Hurts" 4 Years After Naya Rivera's Death
Ryan Dorsey is still navigating life without Naya Rivera.
Nearly five years after the Glee star died in a drowning accident while out boating with their son Josey at California's Lake Piru, Ryan shared that he's doing "the best" he can for their 9-year-old.
"Happy Heavenly Birthday," the actor, who tied the knot with Naya in 2014, wrote in a Jan. 12 Instagram tribute to Naya. "Thoughts everyday about how it went wrong. The memories attached to places, Still see all the things, see all our faces."
"Visions of happiness and sadness, 15 years flash by when I hear a certain song," he continued. "I shake my head often still in disbelief, They say time heals all, but all is not grief."
Alongside his note, Ryan shared a photo of him and Naya at a Golden Globes party in Jan. 2016. The event would be one of their last formal outings together before Naya filed for divorce. And although their breakup was briefly called off the following year, Naya ultimately decided to refile in Dec. 2017 and their divorce was finalized in June 2018.
Despite their breakup, the duo remained on the same page when it came to co-parenting their son.
"Doing the best I can for our JoJo Binx," Ryan noted in his message to Naya, who would've turned 38 on Jan. 12. "As the time goes by, Im often alone and sit and think. I think more of our better times, Like this picture from the past, but it still f--king stings."
"Be kind to the one’s you love," Ryan concluded. "You’ll never know when you give your last hug."
C Flanigan/WireImage
In July, to mark the fourth anniversary of Naya's death, her Glee costar Heather Morris shared an update on her grief journey.
"I can't believe it's been 4 years," Heather, who portrayed Brittany Pierce on the beloved series alongside Naya's Santana Lopez, wrote on Instagram July 8. "Boy how time flies. Yet every year I'm taken by surprise how much it still hurts."
"We grow up together, fell apart, and came back together in such a beautiful way," she continued. "God you’re missed so much…except I can’t shake the feeling you never left…you’re still here with us..guiding us to our highest potential. I miss you Nay Nay."
Keep reading to look back at Naya's life in photos...
Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
Family Matters
Naya appears on Family Matters' Feb. 12, 1993 episode alongside star Jaleel White in one of her early acting jobs.
FOX Image Collection via Getty Images
Big Break
Rivera became a household name when she got her big break starring as cheerleader Santana on the award-winning Fox series Glee, which premiered in 2009.
Image Collection via Getty Images
"Sectionals"
Naya appears in the season one fall finale episode "Sectionals" alongside co-stars Dijon Talton, Cory Monteith, Harry Shum Jr., Mark Salling, Heather Morris, Amber Riley, Matthew Morrison, Jenna Ushkowitz, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Chris Colfer and Dianna Agron.
Fox-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock
Shining Starlets
Agron as Quinn Fabray and Rivera as Santana in an early episode of Glee.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Fashionista
The young star arrives to the American Idol Top 12 Party in a colorful mini dress.
Michael Buckner/Getty Images for InStyle
Party Pals
Rivera and Morris reunite at a 2010 Golden Globes party.
Wireimage
SAG Award Winners
The Glee cast poses backstage at the 2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards after winning Best TV Comedy Ensemble.
Michael Buckner/Getty Images for InStyle
BFFs
Rivera and Agron are all smiles at the Fox and InStyle Golden Globes party in 2010.
Justin Lubin/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
Golden Girls
Naya and Jenna share a giant hug as they attend the 2011 Golden Globes Awards with their cast in Beverly Hills.
Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
Red Carpet Reunion
Naya is equally excited to share the special moment with Glee creator Ryan Murphy the same year at the Globes.
John Medina/WireImage
Tour Buddie
Rivera and Monteith stop for a photo op at a Glee! Live event in San Jose in 2011.
Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
Glam Goddesses
Riley and Rivera are glam goddesses at the 2012 SAG Awards in L.A.
JC Olivera/WireImage
Latin Pride
Rivera accepts the Favorite TV Actress Comedy award during the 2012 NCLR ALMA Awards in Pasadena.
Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images
New Couple Alert
Rivera and Big Sean made their red carpet debut as a couple at the 42 premiere on April 9, 2013 and dated for about two years before eventually calling off their engagement in April 2014.
Johnny Nunez/WireImage
Former Flame
Here, the duo celebrates the rapper's birthday at Wolfgang Puck in Beverly Hills in 2013 several months before he popped the question.
Annette Brown/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
Telenovela Times
Rivera plays Blanca Alvarez during her 2015 guest-starring arc on Lifetime's Devious Maids.
Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Timeless Beauty
Rivera poses for a portrait while promoting her book Sorry Not Sorry in 2016.
Crackle/Kobal/Shutterstock
"Mad" Talented
Naya co-stars with Chanel Iman in the 2017 film Mad Families.
Brian To/Variety/Shutterstock
Surprise Wedding
Rivera secretly tied the knot with Ryan Dorsey in a small and intimate ceremony in Cabo San Lucas in July 2014. They filed for divorce just two years later.
Matt Baron/Shutterstock
Mommy Moments
Rivera and Dorsey welcomed son Josey Hollis Dorsey in September 2015. Here, the mother-son duo are all smiles at The Lego Movie 2 premiere in L.A. in 2019.
Happy Family
Naya and Josey pose for an Instagram pic in March 2020. "Always bringing the [sunshine]," actress wrote.
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