POULSBO — His life was short, but those who knew 2-year-old Kaden Lum say his impact will be longfelt.

“He was a very active and outgoing child,” said Don Jones, Kaden’s great-grandfather. “He loved life.”

Around 60 people gathered at Island Lake Park near Poulsbo to remember Kaden.

It was his favorite park, said Shon Otwell, Kaden’s great-uncle.

He was killed in his sleep early March 28 at Kariotis Mobile Home Park outside of Bremerton.

Family and friends released messages to heaven written on balloons.

Jalisa Lum cried in her mother’s arms as she hugged her blue balloon with a message to her son.

Lum was in tears throughout the evening, but cried  hardest when it came time to release her message to Kaden.

His grandmother, Deanna Trammell, told him to visit Russell Wilson’s father.

“Tell Wilson’s dad to hold you on his lap,” Trammell wrote. “Tell him grandma said so.”

Trammell said Kaden was described as a die-hard Seahawks fan.

“He was a ’12,’” said Trammell. “He used to get so excited when grandma would jump up and down.”

Pastors from local churches encouraged family and friends to look to God for answers.

“I’ve found that the word of God is the only thing that makes sense when nothing makes sense,” said Debra Jamerson, a service pastor at Christian Faith Center.

Jonathan Stone, pastor at New Life Church, said tragedies are when communities leave their mark.

“I think at the end of the day what makes a community great is its ability to come around each other in brokenness,” Stone said.

Donations to the Lum family can be made here.