LAKEVILLE, Minn. — Nearly two years after their son drowned during a Florida vacation, a Lakeville family is honoring their child’s memory by also paying it forward.
In May 2017, Holly and Dave Garlie traveled to Florida with their three sons and Holly’s parents. On the second to last day of vacation, the Garlies realized their rented home had suddenly become quiet.
“My heart sank, and I looked out that door and I saw his red ball floating in the pool. And that’s when I knew my worst nightmare came true,” said Dave Garlie from the family’s Lakeville home on Wednesday.
Hours after discovering 5-year-old Sawyer in the pool, the family had to make the most unnatural and difficult of decisions.
“We had to make the decision to let him go,” recalls Holly Garlie, adding, “No parent should ever have to make a decision like that.”
Who they lost
Alternating between smiles and wistful looks, the Garlies can gush about their youngest child.
“Sawyer is the youngest of our three boys, and our second redhead. So he had a bit of a fiery spirit to go with his red hair,” Holly said, also noting that he had, “just a huge heart. He was always giving people hugs.”
Dave Garlie remembered the moments he’d catch his son playing with action figures, “just lost in his imagination.” And the father also remembers how he wanted to greet everyone as they drove through the neighborhood.
“He just loved to yell out hello to everybody,” Dave said.
His parents say Sawyer was smart, loved to clean and play hockey, soon skating up a storm on most every rink. And his parents describe how his personality filled every room.
“That’s the one thing about Sawyer, he lit up a room,” Dave remembered.
A journey of grief
Last year, and still struggling with overwhelming grief, the Garlies finally redeemed a gift card to Faith’s Lodge – a place that helps families on a similar journey. And that retreat and opportunity helped the Garlie family heal, as they connected with families who understood their unique pain.
“That weekend was part of changing and making that choice to live, to be here. To look at all the blessings that we still have. And to try to live our life the best we can,” Holly said, adding that it also helps them be more present for their other two sons, Brody, 12, and Lincoln, 9.
Now, the Garlies are paying those blessings forward by holding a “Skate for Sawyer” benefit on Saturday that will help other families visit Faith’s Lodge. For these parents, it’s an opportunity to honor their son while giving back to the greater community that all along has helped them.
“(We want to) keep Sawyer’s memory alive. And do things for him, so that his name is always out there, even when we’re gone,” Holly said.
For more information on the Skate for Sawyer event – and how you can donate to the event and support Faith’s Lodge – just go to the website.
