Casey leaves community with good
memories
Stephanie Long
(9/6) Casey Bly, the Thurmont teenager who captured the hearts
of so many, passed away August 17 following a battle with cancer, but his
memory continues to live on as many in the area remember him as wonderful,
brave and a great friend to everyone.
Hundreds of community members turned out to celebrate Casey’s
life at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church and honor the young man who
touched so many in his short life and taught them what is truly important.
“God used Casey to flip our lives upside down and inside out
and reprioritize our lives,” said Reverend K. Craig Moorman.
Casey was remembered by those at Duke University Hospital and
Georgetown University hospital, where he received treatment, as a funny kid,
who was a privilege to know and who “made it through with dignity.”
The sentiments that were shared are echoed in blog entries
Casey made on his blog that he kept throughout his battle with cancer.
Documenting his daily on goings at the hospital and his treatment, Casey kept
often blogged about his love of video games and visits from his family, friends
and his girlfriend Olivia Fretch, the love of his life. Despite his
circumstances Casey never wrote angrily of his experience, but remained
positive, even after finding out his cancer had returned.
“It just so turns out that a lot of stuff has happened since
the last time that I blogged. For example I graduated and walked across the
stage first to receive my diploma which was very nice. But then the very next
day I had an appointment in Georgetown clinic where they did just a normal
routine bone marrow biopsy checkup type thing and the found that my leukemia
has made a reoccurrence so I got admitted immediately the day after I
graduated. I’m not back into remission yet but the doctors here at Georgetown
University are trying their absolute hardest to knock me back into remission as
fast as they did the first time,” he wrote on his blog, remaining positive.
A nurse who spoke at the memorial service said “It is amazing
how much Casey was able to affect people he didn’t know.” What is even more
amazing is Casey’s life continues to affect people. A video was posted on
youtube.com a week after Casey passed away, which honors Casey’s life. The
friend who made the video wrote, “I have made this as a tribute to such a
strong kid. He had cancer and battled it pretty well…He had so much support
from everyone. He was brave and will always be remembered.” Over 3,200 people
have viewed the video, many of whom never met or knew Casey, yet they are
affected by him.
There is no doubt that Casey’s life will continue to affect
people and that he will be remembered as he should be, as a young man who was
strong and brave in the toughest of times. Now that he has passed on we must
“carry Casey’s torch” Moorman said.
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