In Memory of Dave


My 37 year old brother Dave has gone to heaven!!!
I can't believe this has happened. He left his wife Heidi and his five kids Lasca-11, Brogan-10, Joecee-6, Stryder-4, Kaymin-2. I am hurting so bad. I think I can deal with Dave's death but I am having a hard time every time I think of the wonderful family he left behind.
Heidi was so strong yesterday. I know I would have crumbled but she held strong for those kids as they each said good bye to their dad. She made the hard decisions to be made in this horrible life event.

Dave's spirit is now in heaven... his body is going to save so many people today!!!
our family has been granted 3 amazing miracles... My brother Todd recovered from a broken back. He is still in a wheelchair but he has a sound mind and a wonderful family. My sister-in-law Wanda was in a car accident and suffered severe head trauma, the doctors said she would never function. She now has 4 children and you would never guess she had any type of accident. My mom had a heart attack and was gone... she came back to us. We prayed so hard for Dave but we didn't get the miracle this time. But... so many families are going to have miracles happen today because of him.

Today I am numb... I have so many thoughts about my brother Dave. From the mayonnaise he used to spear on my glasses to the heart felt apology he made to me recently...

My goal now is to make sure these 5 kids and Heidi are loved, cared for, and return to as normal life as possible. I know this trial is going to be the most difficult thing we have been through but we will make it through. Heidi is one of the strongest people I know. She has made her kids strong. From the day Lasca was born Heidi has been so honest with her kids. I admit at times I thought she would tell them too much... She has given them the gift. The gift to be able to express them selves. This will help them through the years. My heart was torn out as Lasca laid on her dads chest and talked to him and said goodbye. She told him that she didn't want him to go!!! She loved him!! But if this had to happen she told Dave that they would be OK. What an amazing 11 year old.

At work Wednesday Dave was pulling a trailer it came loose and hit the back of his truck. We are not sure exactly what happened... we are assuming he had some whiplash. He was complaining of a severe headache on Thursday and Friday. But no one thought much of it because he had Bronchitis. This trauma to his neck caused a dissection (a small cut in the basil artery in the back of his neck.) As it was healing itself it was forming a clot in the artery.
Saturday morning Heidi heard him stumble out of bed and scream. He was dizzy and couldn't walk. Heidi helped him to the bathroom, he fell and Heidi dragged him to the bed. Brogan had come up because of the fall and called 911. The ambulance came and took him to American Fork Hospital were they did a CAT scan. In the CAT scan we think the clot came loose and caused the most severe stroke. They transfered him to a bigger hospital at Utah Valley. They found a large clot in the worst spot possible, the basil artery. It was cutting of blood flow to his brain stem and both hemispheres of the cerebrum (the lower back part of the brain). The doctors were able to remove the clot but the damage was too severe. Sunday evening his fight was over and he was declared brain dead.

I loved my brother Dave. He was real, genuine, fun, and a big tease. He loved his wife and kids and they loved him. I will miss him so much. I can't believe that our gatherings will be missing one of its greatest entertainers. We will make sure his legacy lives on through these 5 wonderful kids. Heidi is strong... there are going to be huge struggles ahead but we will face them day by day.


I Love You Dave!! I will Miss You!! Until we meet again in Heaven...