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My Son, Casey
Nov 02, 2002
Next Thursday, it will be seven months since I talked to my son, Casey. One of the things that he talked alot about, was going to Florida for spring break, the year after he turned 18. Case turned 18 this past December. He was so excited to go. Casey drove off around midnight on Easter Day. We were so very worried about him going, but were happy for him at the same time, because he finally got to fulfill his dream. We talked to him every day while he was away, and he was having "the best time of his life". He was homesick, but still, he was really enjoying himself. We talked to him around 11:30 p.m. on April 5th. He told us that he was going to leave Florida and head home at 11:00 a.m. April 6th. What we didn't know at the time, was he was already on his way. They were planning on being back home at the time he said they were leaving. At 9:30 the next morning, we received "the call" that every single parent is so very scared of. It was the hospital calling to say that our son was in an accident, was life flighted to the hospital, and he was unresponsive. We could not get to the hospital fast enough, I can still remember feeling my heart pound in my chest. He suffered severe brain trauma, along with a broken neck. He fought so hard for six days. He was pronounced brain dead two times, but his will to live was so strong, he managed to hang on a little longer. On the third time, however, the fight was just too overwhelming for him. They tested once again, and this time it was confirmed there was no blood flow at all to his brain. The whole time he was in the hospital, he never regained consciousness, never opened his eyes, and we were not able to hold him in our arms. Because of his broken neck, holding him was not an option. It wasn't until they were preparing him for surgery, (he was an organ donor), that we were able to hold him in our arms and tell him goodbye. My husband and I both said that we could have a heart attack, and not know it, because of the heartwrenching pain. Casey was asleep in the back seat of the car when his friend took over. His friend fell asleep at the wheel, and they were only an hour away from home. He did not have life threatening injuries. Some days, I don't think I can get through the day. Casey worked with his dad, and his plan was to take over his business when he got older. He was very involved in everyone of our lives. He knew where anything was, he was able to do anything from cooking to mechanic work. He was operating heavy machinery by the age of 10. He was so versatile, such a huge part of all of our lives. He has a brother 21 and another brother 15. His younger brother has had dreams of Casey coming to him in his sleep, and his older brother is really having a rough time dealing with losing his younger brother. If it wasn't for them, I do not know what I would do. I have not and will not be able to understand how or why this has happened to my precious son. He touched so many lives. His bright blue eyes, and his sparkling smile are truly something that will never be forgotten. I know that a part of me has gone with him, and will never be back. I need to talk about my son to anyone who will listen. I thank all of you who have listened. I really didn't want Halloween to come because that means the holidays are that much closer. Casey's birthday is December 20th, he's supposed to be 19 this year.............
Thanks again, Penny
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