Kara, Sean, Audrey and Gwen Casten.Photo: Congressman Sean Casten/facebook
“I have a picture on my desk of all of us in that moment and there’s such joy on her face, it’s hard not to have her here,” continued the businessman and scientist who was elected to his first term in the U.S. House in 2018.
Wiping tears from his eyes, he looked to his left — at his wife and Audrey — and went on: “I’m so lucky to have you two.”
Gwen Casten.VoteCasten/Twitter
Gwen was 17, freshly graduated from high school and preparing to study environmental science at Vermont University this fall, when she went to sleep on June 12 and never woke up. Her mother found her unresponsive in her bed the next morning. The family later released the cause of death as sudden cardiac arrhythmia, explaining in an Instagram post: “in layman’s terms, she was fine, and then her heart stopped. … We don’t know what caused the arrhythmia, and likely never will.”
An honor student, Gwen was known as a compassionate activist at Downers Grove North High School, where she founded the Empowerment Club. Shortly before her death, she appeared in one of her father’s campaign ads, talking about how she would turn 18 this year.
“Lots of milestones,” Gwen said in the ad. “Like voting for the first time. But not just for anyone … Sean Casten. My congressman. But I just call him Dad.”
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On Tuesday night, that dad asked his team of staff, volunteers and supporters to carry on Gwen’s legacy.
“Tonight is not a night to dunk on the other team. It’s not a night to conclude that some parts of our community are good and other parts are irredeemable. It’s a night to reflect on how tonight happened,” Casten said.
source: people.com
