Casey caught a frog!!  He always loved nature!

I remember meeting the Van Grop family soon after Casey's diagnosis.  As hard as the initial shock was to the family, in that moment I saw Kathleen and Cornell putting Casey's needs a head of their own.  They worked very hard to do everything possible to keep Casey happy and to see to it that his every need was met.  They would listen to him.  Challenge him to do school work.  Speak tenderly to him and help him to know that he was loved.  Never did a day go by without one of them being there by Casey's side.  And while they were here with Casey, both parents would interface with the medical team in order to follow his treatment plan and give their point of view as to what should happen in the care of Casey.  This continued throughout Casey's battle with cancer.   

From the outside looking in, I saw your love for your son Casey each every day while you were here.  And, you know, I believe that Casey felt it throughout his life's journey.  I grieve with you guy.  And I want to thank you for loving Casey so well and supporting him as he strove to live with cancer.  You are the best of parents to me.   

May God bless you,

Chaplain Ron Davis
Nationwide Childrens Hospital
 

We will be at this for a while

Love

I can vividly remember Molly and Casey playing in the snow and the simplicity of it would bring tears to my eyes. Here was this little "man" so very brave in fighting his battle, letting go and having such a wonderful "kid" moment with his beautiful sister. Something we all take for granted, watching our kids lob snowballs at each other and arguing over who could build the best snowman, was something so precious to Casey and Molly.I can remember standing, transfixed, at my front window smiling along with them and praying that they would have many more winters to play.
The ready smile that Casey always met you with and the quiet strength in such a tiny tiny body became his trademark. I loved when he overcame his shyness with my dogs and would come over to pet them. Such a small victory but so special for him and for my puppies.
We will miss Casey and his bright and happy smile. We are all blessed that God shared him with us, even if the time was way to short. Scott and Kathy Miller
 

Six years ago my family was blessed to move across the street from a wonderful family, the Van Gorps.  Little did I know that we would become like family.  I remember the first day I met Cornel and Casey in my front yard.  Casey was so happy and energetic.  He and my son, Michael  were having so much fun running around the yard with a rubber snake. Over the years we woud share so many happy memories from walks to the bus stop, trick or treating,  playing outside and looking for frogs and salamanders, and holiday events at Wedgewood Country Club.

One of my favorite memories is driving Casey home from school and hearing him and my son Michael laughing and planning on how they would trick the high school neighbor boy who scared them one Halloween.  They had such big belly laughs and funny ideas.  They would also plot their next tricks on their sisters.  

It was always a great start to the morning seeing Casey's smiling face as he would walk to the bus stop. He was always so happy and eager for a new day and adventure.

Casey had such a love of life.  He loved to be outdoors exploring and doing anything related to nature.  He touched our lives in so many positive ways.  We will remember him as a brave, strong boy who loved to be happy.

We will always remember our wonderful neighbor and friend, Casey. 

Babysitting Molly and Casey was something that I still cherish and look back on with fondness. I have vivid memories of having "pizza" nights with Casey begging to put broccoli on his wheat pita crust (I can only hope that someday my children would beg such a thing :)), Molly asking so nicely that if she was "good" (which when was she not) could she maybe have just one jelly bean? Both Molly and Casey were so polite, well mannered, appriciative and simply put...pure. In conversations with Kathleen and Cornell it was apparent that they did everything they could to keep their children protected from outside influences that would take away their innocence and ability to be "kids" and it showed in their lives in how joyful they were and how much they loved each and every "thing" they had and did.

I remember Casey (and laugh) running up to change for bed and him (literally) flying down the stairs in his (caped) spiderman pjs...and then quickly raced upstairs to come down with yet another "caped" pj option---batman, Molly and I would laugh and roll our eyes as he showed us his best superhero moves.  He would zip around the house with such sheer excitment and wonder. 

I also remember how Casey adored Molly, and she did the same to him. He was so lucky to have such a doting sister who was always quick to assist him, give suggestions, give up her bike for him, encourage him and console him when he needed it. I didn't witness her with him as he was sick, but I can only imagine how gracefully she must have delt with this situation and how devistating this loss must be for her.

I could continue on with morories, and as I have heard of his passing I have been doing a lot of looking back and mulling over my time spent with Casey and his family. It's hard to believe that someone who could bring so much joy and HAVE so much joy could be taken so soon, but I feel lucky to have been part of his life for the years that I was.  I will certainly look back on my time with him and the family as nothing but special.   


On a final note...he will go down as one of the best kids I've ever known :).