I feel I need to write down my many thoughts that have been swirling through my head the last several days. My precious granddaughter, Cassie suddenly passed away last Friday, July 29, 2016.
I had left the house to go get some x-rays of my back and do some shopping for Cassie's Bridal Shower, that was going to be on Sunday. As I arrived home, I gave Shauna a quick call to see if she wanted me to take her to Firestone to pick up the car that was getting fixed. When she answered the phone, she sounded frantic, asking me how close I was to the house. Upon my reply that I was by the garage, she told me that she had gotten a phone call that Cassie's roommate had found her passed out in front of the apartment door and that she was turning blue. They had called 911 and she was being transported to Utah Valley Medical Center by ambulance. They also told her that they didn't know if she would make it. Shauna had not been able to get a hold of Josh or Ammon or their spouses to let them know. I told her to come and take my car and that i would watch dad.
She left immediately, and I began calling her children. I was able to get a hold of Lauren and told her to call Josh and for all of them to pray for her. I then called and finally got a hold of Ammon and gave him the same information. I contacted all of my children and siblings and asked for all of them to pray for Cassie, as she was in critical condition. After I called everyone, I called Shauna again to see if she had made it to the hospital and to she how she was doing. She said, "You haven't heard? She didn't make it."
It took my breath away and I began to sob! No, this can't be happening! She can't be gone!
I then had to call everyone again and give them the horrible news of our great loss. Those were the most difficult calls I have ever had to make. How do you tell people that your 20 year old, beautiful, loving, kind, precious granddaughter has passed beyond the veil and joined her grandpa and great-grandmother in Heaven? It was inconceivable to me that she could be gone. Everyone was in disbelief. They were speechless. We wept together and shared our bewilderment at the sudden loss of this precious daughter of God.
I called and asked April if she could come and stay with grandpa and then called to see if Matt would drive me to Provo so I could be with my daughter and her husband and Rissie, who was at the hospital when Cassie passed away.
By the time I arrived, they had prepared her to transport her to SLC to the Coroner's office, where an autopsy would be performed to determine the cause of death. The doctors, nurses, police and social worker were all very kind, sympathetic and loving to all of us. We all went into a waiting room where we shared our grief with family and friends. Three of her roommates were there and one of their mothers was also there. They had contacted a member of the bishopric and a member of the stake presidency, who also came to help console the family. One of the primary doctors who had tried to save her life came and spoke with us 3 different times. He was visibly shaken by it all.
Apparently, what happened was that 4:03 Cassie had called her mother and they spoke for quite awhile about wedding plans and the apartment where she and Spencer were going to live after their marriage on the 27th of August. After that call, she spoke with her friend, Jordan Verdejo, who had just Thursday returned from serving a mission in Tennessee. They were making plans to get together soon. Cassie's closing comments were, "Is there anything I can do for you?" She then drove to her apartment building, got out of the car and went up to the second floor to go to her apartment. She put the keys in the keyhole and suddenly collapsed onto the floor. Her roommate heard the key and then a loud thud. It kind of scared her, but she soon went to the door to find her on the floor. She was awake and trying to talk to her roommate, but she was hard to understand because her tongue was sticking out of her mouth. Her roommate started to scream for help.
About that time, one of their other roommates was coming up the stairs. She saw the situation and was calling outside for someone to call 911. Cassie was still consious when the paramedics arrived. She told them she couldn't breathe. They got her into the ambulance and headed to the hospital. Her apartment was only a few blocks from the hospital, but her heart stopped before they arrived. So the paramedics began CPR, after putting an external pacemaker on her chest.
Once she arrived in the emergency room, a team of 30-40 doctors and nurses performed heroically to try to save her life. After about 35 minutes, with no response or return of a heart beat, they were forced to call it and declare her deceased. They called Rissie and Cassie's roommates into the room before they stopped and explained to them that there was no response and they were going to have to stop. Rissie asked if they would all pray with them, which they did. Shauna was still stuck in traffic and so was Jeff, so neither of them were there at the hospital yet.
After they arrived, they allowed the family to come into the room and spend about 45 minutes with Cassie before they had to take the body to SLC. I had just arrived at that time. The doctor felt quite sure that it was most likely a blood clot either to the heart or the lungs that caused her death, but said we would have to wait for the autopsy for a definitive answer.
Many tears were shed by all. There were no answers. Her loving fiance' was in California and was able to get a last minute ticket to fly to SLC that night at Midnight. What a shock this was for him. Their wedding was just 29 days away. She can't be gone!
Sleep came difficult that first night. It was too shocking and too surreal that she was truly gone from us and that there would be no wedding in 29 days, but rather a funeral. How could this possibly be?!!
Her brother, Josh and his family were in California working for the summer. So, they quickly packed a few things and headed to Utah. Her brother, Ammon and his family, were in Idaho for a Gee Family Reunion. They packed up their things and headed home that night too. Spencer's parents were in Portland, Oregon and they also headed to SLC to be with their sweet son.
Matt and Gwen brought chicken, fruit, chips and other items for us to snack on as people arrived. Neighbors also brought fruit, corn on the cob, and flowers to share with us. Saturday, as people arrived, they all began to gather at our home in West Jordan. Spencer came to spend the day with all of us. Everyone finally arrived by about 4:30 in the afternoon. Cassie's roommates and the one mother also joined us, as well as Cassie's cousin, Mandy. April took dad over to her house for a few hours. We shared memories of Cassie, which gave us an opportunity to share a few laughs along with the tears. We finally were ready for those who wished to receive a priesthood blessing. What a sweet experience it was. Each of the priesthood holders were able to pronounce at least one blessing. Josh even asked Spencer to give him a blessing. It was like being in the temple, the spirit was so strong and sweet. I will cherish that time for the rest of my life!
Sunday we truly felt the power of the thousands of prayers that were being offered throughout the world on our behalf. We were buoyed up in spirit and strengthened. We attended church and felt the sweet spirit there, as we partook of the sacrament. Many members expressed their heartfelt sympathy to the family. We could feel their love for us.
Josh, Ammon, and Larissa and their spouses, along with their cousin, Mandy, came over in the afternoon. It was wonderful to see all of them again. Several ward members came and brought food and flowers as an expression of their love. Victoria Sheets also came and spent the afternoon and evening with us. We had an unexpected visit from Jordan Verdejo and two of her sisters. Jordan was the last person who talked with Cassie before she began having difficulty breathing, because of the blood clot to her lung. It was so sweet of them to come and share their love with the family. The Verdejo's were in their ward in Texas and their father was our Stake President. Jordan just returned from her mission on Thursday and had her homecoming Sunday.
Jayna had taken the leftovers from the chicken home to April's and made a big pot of chicken noodle soup for us to eat Sunday. It was so wonderful. April prepared a wonderful roast beef dinner with all the side dishes, broccoli/cauliflower with cheese, salad, homemade rolls, and "Cassie Cake" for dessert. It was a wonderful day of sharing our love with each other.
Monday afternoon we went to the mortuary to make arrangements for the care of Cassie's body, the funeral and the burial. We learned that the coroner had released her body to the mortuary, as they had completed the autopsy. It was determined that the cause of death was Pulmonary Thromboemboli with a contributory cause being phlebothrombosis. In other words, she had a blood clot to her heart which caused her to die within about 15 minutes. There was nothing that could be done to save her life. As we were talking with the mortician, we learned that because I had purchased a burial program with them back in March, that there is a grandchild clause that covers any of my grandchildren if they die before the age of 21 years. Cassie died 3 days before her 21st birthday. I don't even remember that information from when I signed up. We were amazed but such a tender mercy. It saved Shauna and Jeff about $12,000. What a blessing! We will be able to do her make-up and hair on Thursday afternoon, and assist with dressing her.
Tuesday, August 2, was Cassie's 21st birthday. We learned from her bishop and stake president that if everything could be arranged, we would be able to do her temple work for her on her birthday. With the help of the priesthood, the Temple secretary, and our loving Father in Heaven, it all came together and we were able to do it. We had all of the Gruwell family, Spencer and his parents and several friends, Arianne & Greg Newton, April and Monte Black, Jayna Cleamons, Sarah Allen, Victoria Sheets, her Stake President and his wife, several of her roommates, Matt Gibson, myself and many others who were able to be there for this very sweet experience. Her sister, Larissa, was proxy for the initiatory and Shauna was proxy for the endowment. The spirit was very strong during the entire session and especially at the veil. Gwen Gibson brought my dad so he could meet us in the Celestial Room. It was wonderful to all be together there to share our love for Cassie with one another. It was probably one of the sweetest experiences I have ever had in the temple. It helped me understand many of the things that are done and said during the service and passing through the veil now has even greater significance to me. I will treasure this experience for eternity.
Wednesday, August 3, Cassie's family and friends spent the day cleaning out her room at her apartment. As they went through her things, Shauna had each of her roommates choose a piece of
jewelry as a remembrance of her. Because she had been preparing for her wedding in the near future, she had already packed many of her things. Shauna and Jeff had also gone to Vasa, where Cassie had been working to get some of her personal things. They were greeted with open arms and many employees who shared stories of how Cassie had touched their lives. Her boss told them that her last day of work she had spent training her and a new employee how to do her job, since she would be gone for a week on her honeymoon.
jewelry as a remembrance of her. Because she had been preparing for her wedding in the near future, she had already packed many of her things. Shauna and Jeff had also gone to Vasa, where Cassie had been working to get some of her personal things. They were greeted with open arms and many employees who shared stories of how Cassie had touched their lives. Her boss told them that her last day of work she had spent training her and a new employee how to do her job, since she would be gone for a week on her honeymoon.
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