Gretchen Rossi and her partner, Slade Smiley, are distraught. Grayson, her 22-year-old stepson, died, according to the Real Housewives of Orange County alum.
On Tuesday, Rossi took to Instagram to pay tribute to Grayson, who died after a long and difficult battle with brain cancer.
“Our rational minds told us this day might come, but our hearts always held onto the hope that this day would not come to fruition,” the Real Housewives of Orange County alum captioned a slideshow of Grayson with his family. “We are devastated and heartbroken by Gray’s death; Grayson Arroyo-Smiley was such a special human being.”
“He was an Angel on Earth and an incredible warrior…a warrior unlike any other. He fought every day to find joy in the smallest of things, despite his pain and discomfort. Despite his circumstances, he was always singing, dancing, and laughing “She penned a letter. “He was a true ray of hope and light.”
“We will be eternally grateful to this little man for the many lessons he taught us, and we will miss his beautiful spirit tremendously,” she said. “May the Lord take him in his hands, renew his broken body, and bring him back to life.”
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Rossi and Smiley have been married for 13 years and have a 3-year-old daughter named Skylar Gray. Grayson’s middle name was chosen for their daughter.
Michelle Arroyo, Grayson’s mother, and Smiley’s ex-wife, with whom he also has a 29-year-old son, Gavin, mourned the loss in an Instagram post that honored Grayson’s life and strength.
“I’m heartbroken to share that my sweet Gray died Sunday night,” Michelle said, explaining the circumstances surrounding his death. “His heart stopped here at home, and I performed chest compressions to restart it until the paramedics arrived and took over. He looked fine and was breathing normally when he left for the hospital, but his heart stopped again there.
“I don’t have all the answers right now, but I do know that the last few months of fevers, infections, and low potassium have most likely taken their toll on my sweet boy’s heart.”
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“I’m still in shock and going through the motions of dealing with everything,” she added. “Gray is probably playing cards with Gramma and Trouble with our beloved Diane. His dog Mo is always by his side and has never left him.”
