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This page is a tribute to our grandson, Daniel Lee Rasnick II, written
by his Grandma Laura.
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| Daniel entered this world on Friday, January 3, 2003
and Grandma Laura was there to witness this miracle. It truly was a
miracle that Daniel was born, as his mother, Holly, had been told not to
have any more children due to her own health issues. Holly’s
pregnancy was high risk and resulted in more than a few trips to the
emergency room. Holly required regular monitoring due to high blood
pressure, heart problems and anemia, resulting in the need for a
transfusion several weeks prior to Daniel’s birth and another one after
his birth. I was one of the first people to hold him. I held
him as I called Grandpa Ron to let him know that our little angel had made
his grand entrance.
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I was so proud! I went around telling everyone
that I was a Grandma and whipping out those pictures. You know which
pictures I’m talking about, the first photos from the hospital right
after birth where the little guy looks like he’s been through a fight
and lost, but you think he’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever
seen. I knew how much I loved my sons, but I didn’t know loving
a grandchild would be such a different kind of love. I loved that
child with every fiber of my being. |
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I was blessed with the opportunity to spend a great
portion of his first 4 ½ months of life with him. He loved his
Grandma Laura. When he was quite young Holly would say that he
didn’t like to be held, but when I’d sit with him in the glider he’d
be just as still as could be. I truly believe that children KNOW who
love them. I’d come home from work and he’d be making a fuss.
I’d say “what are you doing, Daniel, Grandma’s here” and he’d
stop fussing. As he got a little older, he’d just smile and
wiggle. Precious memories I’ll treasure forever.
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Once we knew I was finally going to be transferred to
a different office in Nashville, my co-workers and I had a party at one of
the restaurants on the Ohio River. I took both Daniels to the party
with me. Even amongst all the noise, Daniel fell asleep sitting on
grandma’s lap. After my transfer I’d drive up to visit every few
weeks, I hated missing seeing Daniel change and grow, but I thought he’d
be around as long as I was alive. |
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I’m blessed that my grandmother
is still alive. Her 79th birthday was July 4th, so as a surprise I
coordinated with my mother and brought Daniel and Little Daniel over to my
grandmother’s house so that we could get photos of the 5 generations.
Grandma was so surprised and thrilled. Funny how things turn out, we
certainly didn’t think that it would be Daniel missing for the holidays,
but I’m certainly glad we have pictorial documentation of the 5
generations.
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On August 16th, Shadow and I drove up to Florence.
I stopped by Daniel’s apartment to pick up Little Daniel so I could take
him with me up to my mom and dad’s house in Cincinnati. We had
such a great day! We took lots of pictures, he played with the dogs
(oops, our dogs don’t know they’re dogs), great grandma and grandpa
played with him, and uncle Jeremy held him while he napped. We
hooked the digital camera up to the TV and looked at the pictures we’d
taken. We laughed so hard at this one picture my mother snapped just
as Daniel chomped down on my finger with those two bottom teeth.
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We left there around 8:00 p.m. to pick Holly up from
work and went back to Daniel and Holly’s apartment. I helped put
Daniel to bed and Holly and I talked for a long time before I went to
sleep. I talked to Grandpa Ron several times that day and told him
what a great time we were having. |
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The next morning, August 17,
I woke up early, got Daniel out of bed and decided to give the little guy
a bath. We had such fun, he loved the water. Thankfully, I
also captured this in pictures. I dressed him and gave him a bottle
before the Kids got up. Holly got ready and left for work. I
took Daniel and Little Daniel out for breakfast and shopping to get a few
things Little Daniel needed. We ate lunch and then it was time for
Grandma and Shadow to head to the Kentucky State Fair to spend the rest of
the day with Grandpa and then drive home. Little did I know when I
hugged and kissed Daniel as I was leaving that that would be the last time
I’d see my grandson alive.
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Monday evening, September 15th, my mother left
several messages on my cell phone and answering machine, saying to call
her that night. I called her on my cell phone and she said that
there was something wrong with the baby and that he was at the hospital.
Right about then, the house phone rang and it was Jeremy telling me that
Little Daniel was dead. I had one phone to each ear and cried
“what the heck is going on, is my grandson dead” and my mother said
“I think so”. I hung up the phones and called Ron, telling him
that I needed for him to come home. That was one of the darkest
moments of my life.
I went to work early the next morning, feeling in a
daze. The outpouring of love, support, compassion and monetary
donations for Daniel was simply mind-boggling. Ron and I can’t
begin to thank all of the people that have been there for us in many
different ways. I believe that in a time of great need and sorrow,
you see the very best in people, which to me is God at work.
Daniel was in the Air Force and decided to wear his dress blues to the
funeral. Well, Daniel had gained a few pounds since he last wore his
uniform and the pants didn’t quite fit anymore. So he went to the local
recruiter’s office in Florence, KY to see were he could get a new pair
of pants. The recruiter told him that he’d have to drive up to Wright
Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH, about an hour and a half away.
Daniel proceeded to tell the guy what he needed them for. The fellow told
him to hold on for a minute and left the room. He came back a couple of
minutes later, dressed in his BDUs and handed Daniel HIS pants. This
recruiter, and I wish I knew his name, literally gave Daniel the pants off
his behind so he’d have his uniform to wear to that funeral. God bless
him! I was a very proud mother to see my son stand up there in full
uniform and say his good-byes to his “Little Man”.
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Friday, September 19th, was Daniel’s funeral.
The Funeral Home was full of people; family, friends, co-workers, former
co-workers, and they even allowed Shadow. Daniel, Holly and I were
permitted to hold Little Daniel before everyone arrived. I
wouldn’t trade that time holding my grandson and telling him goodbye for
anything, just as I was one of the first people to hold him, I was one of
the last people to hold him. He looked so peaceful. He wore a
baby green one-piece outfit with a little dog saying “ruff - ruff”,
Daniel and Holly said that he hated clothes so they weren’t going to
bury him in anything more than they had to. He was wrapped in a
small teddy bear receiving blanket and a blue fleece blanket that had a
teddy bear angel on one corner and the comment “Daddy’s Little
Angel”, with his little bare feet sticking out the bottom.
Lying beside him was his crinkle bug, a teddy bear and a bottle. In
his left hand was a set of play keys, in his right hand a blade of grass
and beside his right hand a hand-written poem on stationary with teddy
bears across the bottom called “This Blade of Grass of Mine”.
Daniel was laid to rest at Arlington Memorial Gardens in Cincinnati.
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The next week Daniel and Holly met again with the
detective and were informed that Daniel’s death had been listed as
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. I thank God that he died peacefully,
without pain or suffering and that his last day on Earth was a happy one
for him. Little Daniel had never been to the park before that day
and he loved it. The day after Daniel died, Daniel and Holly went back to
the park where they had been. They could see where they had been sitting
on the ground, the grass was still pushed down. Right in the middle was
one blade of grass standing straight up, that’s the blade of grass they
placed in Little Daniel's hand.
This Blade of Grass of Mine
This
blade of grass of mine
Was the last thing I played with
Before I died.
It
isn’t just a piece of grass to me
On my last day, it was the best place
I could be.
My
Dad took me to the park that day
He didn’t plan it, the road simply
Guided him that way.
I
gazed at all the grass and trees
Daddy smiled at my hair blowing
In the breeze.
Although
we were there for less than an hour
God made a “grass” impression of
His amazing power.
The
next time you’re sitting in the grass
With your Dad,
Remember
me and mine, and the wonderful
Time we had!
Baby
Daniel
01-03-03
09-15-03
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