When a giant crane collapsed in Bellevue last fall, it killed Matthew Ammon.

The 31-year-old was new to the Northwest, and we knew very little about him.

But KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Reporter Eastside Bureau Chief Alison Grande is back from travelling across the country to Pittsburgh, where she met with his parents.

"He was our only child, and we miss him very much," said Kathy Gaberson.

Her son, Matthew Ammon, was inside his fourth-floor apartment in Bellevue when the crane collapsed.

"Part of the crane fell on the building and crushed Matthew under the debris," she said.

Ammon was 31 years old, an attorney who moved to the Northwest for his dream job at Microsoft. His parents say he focused on the future. In an instant, he was dead.

"We are grief-stricken. We are heartbroken. We've lost our son, our only child, and it's not about being angry, it's about missing him," she said.

"The sad part is he's not going to be able to experience everything that lay before him," said Larry Ammon, Matthew's father.

Matthew Ammon told his parents he had hopes of getting married, having children.

His father, Larry Ammon, lives in New York State. He looked forward to sharing more time with his son.

"I always sort of expected to be doing more with him in the years ahead," he said.

Up to his death, Matthew Ammon enjoyed each day. He loved the outdoors, riding his mountain bike, his motorcycle, and driving his Audi S4 at the race track.

"He never rode in a car without a seatbelt. He wore helmets to ride his bike. He wore protective clothing when he rode his motorcycle. Everything was safety conscious, safety conscious, safety conscious. The irony of having a crane fall on his apartment building when there's no way to protect yourself is just stunning."

--So stunning that since Ammon's death, Washington State passed new crane safety legislation, requiring inspections, regular testing. Gaberson and Ammon went to Olympia to meet with bill's sponsors.

"If that legislation prevents one more death from a crane accident -- nothing will replace our son, nothing will ever repay that life -- but I would not want any other parent or any other family member to experience this kind of grief from a crane accident, so we're very pleased and thankful."

There is so much pain and loss, but there are smiles when they talk about their son's life.

They are holding on to those memories -- his smile, curiosity, love of tradition, and his thoughtfulness.

"This (picture) was my favorite it typified joy," said Larry Ammon.

Matt a toddler, on his father's back.

"That's now my favorite picture of him."

The last picture...

"Love to be with grandma."

Matt's cat "Angel" survived the crane collapse and brings his mother comfort in Pittsburgh.

"This one is the last Mother's Day card I ever got from him."

This Mother's Day will be hard to face.

Kathy Gaberson visits her son's grave near her home regularly.

"Every time I approach his grave, I think it catches my breath, takes my breath away and I think this is not supposed to be happening. This is wrong, There is something terribly wrong with this. He can't be here he's not supposed to be here," she said.

Ammon's parents are comforted that their son had found a new home, new friends, a dream job, and had the chance to enjoy the outdoors here in the Northwest. It helps them to know he was so happy here.