Grayson Alexander, Gretchen Rossi’s late stepson, passed away on Sunday at the age of 22, but she is focused on all the wonderful memories they had.
The former star of “Real Housewives of Orange County” posted a number of videos of their kids Skyla Gray and Grayson Smiley on Instagram on Wednesday.
The 3-year-old was patiently entertained by Grayson as they sat on his bed in the heartbreaking footage.
Grayson, who had been fighting brain cancer for more than 16 years, watched his younger sister play with various toys while he was still hooked up to a tracheostomy tube.
We love you, Gray,” Rossi wrote in the caption of the photo, which also included images of her siblings and her boyfriend of more than 13 years.
After a challenging IVF process, Smiley and Rossi, who departed “RHOC” in 2013 after four seasons, welcomed Skyla in 2019. The child has Gray as his middle name in remembrance of Grayson.
The 44-year-old former reality star broke the tragic news of his passing on Instagram only one day before to the homage.
Our hearts always hung onto the hope that this day would not materialize, she said in the post’s opening line. “Our sensible brains informed us this day may come,” she said.
“We are extremely shocked and grieved by Gray’s passing. The guy Grayson Arroyo-Smiley was such a unique individual. He was a fighter like no one had ever seen before while an angel on this planet. He battled every day to find pleasure in the littlest things despite his anguish and misery. Despite his situation, he was usually happy, singing, and dancing.
Rossi continued by referring to Grayson as a “genuine beacon of light and hope” in spite of the tragedy and said that they would be “forever thankful for the numerous lessons gained from this little child.”
Michelle Arroyo, Smiley’s ex-wife and Grayson’s mother, also verified the news on her social media accounts.
»Grieving for her stepson Grayson, Gretchen Rossi plays Skyla videos«