In the upcoming episode of My Big Fat Fabulous Life, Whitney Thore pays a heartfelt tribute to a cherished family member whose life was cut tragically short. Throughout the years, fans have followed Whitney’s journey as she’s navigated the ups and downs of family, love, and loss. Together with her loved ones, she’s faced unimaginable heartache — and this time, viewers will see her honor their memory with the same raw honesty and vulnerability that’s made her story so relatable.
Season 13 of My Big Fat Fabulous Life follows Whitney Thore as she takes on one of the biggest challenges of her life — her dream of becoming a mother through artificial insemination. As she races against the clock to find the perfect sperm donor, Whitney’s journey is filled with hope, vulnerability, and determination.
But amidst this deeply personal mission, Whitney also faces a heartbreaking loss. Earlier this year, she said a tearful goodbye to a cherished member of her family — her beloved cat, Henchi, who passed away in January 2025.
In an emotional upcoming episode, Whitney honors Henchi’s memory with a sweet, lighthearted memorial that perfectly captures his quirky spirit — including his unforgettable obsession with chewing on plastic. Each of Whitney’s closest friends brings something special to celebrate Henchi’s life on Memorial Day.
Glenn Thore shows up with bubble wrap, Buddy Bell brings a peanut jar wrapper, and Tal Fish arrives with dry-cleaning plastics. In a touching moment, Jessica Powell offers plastic flowers, noting with a smile that Henchi always preferred them to the real thing. Through tears, she softly says, “Henchi, we’ll see you again someday, buddy.”
It’s a bittersweet reminder of how even the smallest companions leave the biggest marks on our hearts.
It’s truly heartbreaking to watch Whitney say goodbye to her beloved cat, Henchi — a loyal companion she had loved since she was young and watched grow old by her side. The loss of Henchi is sure to leave a lasting impact on Whitney and the entire Thore family. Grief takes time, and it may be a while before life feels normal again for them.
As painful as this goodbye is, Whitney’s new goals may help her find strength through the heartache. In My Big Fat Fabulous Life Season 13, viewers follow Whitney on her deeply personal journey as she searches for the perfect sperm donor in hopes of starting a family of her own. Fully aware that time is running out to find the right partner, Whitney is determined to make her dream of motherhood a reality — even in the face of life’s unexpected losses.
With the heartbreaking loss of Henchi still fresh, it’s possible that Whitney will feel even more motivated to move forward with her dream of becoming a mother. The loss may inspire her to complete the donor selection process sooner and focus on getting pregnant in the near future.
In the past, Whitney has openly admitted that she often leans on her loved ones to help guide her through life’s biggest decisions. When it comes to selecting a sperm donor, she’s no different. Although she’s considered a few potential candidates, Whitney has yet to make a final choice — instead, she’s turned to her close-knit circle of family and friends to help her pick the donor who feels right for her and her future child.