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Updated 8 hours ago

Before she was born, her parents, Rich and Michelle Schwartzmier, decided not to learn the sex.

But mom knew. From the moment she learned she was pregnant, Michelle wanted a girl. She already had picked the name: Casey. Michelle loved that name — not for a boy, though, only for a girl. They discussed other names, but Michelle was convinced that they would have a girl, and she would be named Casey.

And so Casey Marie Schwartzmier was born at 2:33 p.m. on May 15, 1996. She weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces, and she was beautiful.

Michelle Schwartzmier holds a photo of her daughter, Casey Marie Schwartzmier, and her son, Eric Schwartzmier, in her home in Ross.

Photos by Andrew Russell

Casey was easy to care for and impossible not to love. She slept well. She was quick to smile. She did not fuss. She was a happy, giggly baby.

She talked at a young age. Her first word was "ball," which made sense because she spent endless hours rolling a ball for her dog, Buddy. The gentle golden retriever would fetch it, gently drop it within Casey's reach and then wait for the next roll.

Before she was 2, Casey understood most everything adults were saying, and she proved it one day in the hospital. Casey had pneumonia. A nurse told Michelle that Casey needed medicine, that it was important to get it down, and so mom might have to hold Casey if she resisted.

"How about you just talk to her?" Michelle said.

"Really?" the nurse said.

"Really."

So the nurse turned to the sick toddler and said: "Casey, I need you to drink this medicine."

Casey considered the request. "I will drink it," she said. "But then I need to watch 'Barney.'"

The nurse agreed, and Casey declared: "It's a deal."

By age 3, Casey was singing. Constantly. Her favorite songs were "You are my Sunshine" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." She dressed up as a kitten for Halloween.

Michelle Schwartzmier and Rich Schwartzmier show a family photo album of their daughter, Casey Marie Schwartzmier.

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