This is a love story… but not in the conventional sense.

It centers around the love of a grandmother and a granddaughter who can't spend enough time together.

It's about a teen athlete with her whole life ahead of her --including a promising softball career--but who would rather do nothing more than spend time with her octogenarian "Grandma Lou."

It also involves a former two-sport athlete who is now in a memory care home and at a stage in life where memories and the recognition of loved ones are diminishing like the fading rays of light at sundown.

More than anything, though, it's a story of how sports can bind a family together, even when an illness such as Alheimer's disease threatens to take away the most basic of human connections.

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FROM DUST BOWL TO NATIONAL CELEBRITY

To truly appreciate our story, you have to go back to the Great Depression days of the 1930's. Wanda Lucille ("Lou") was born Oct 24, 1934 in Ravia, Oklahoma, a rural town where she shined in softball and basketball.

Back when there were no possibilities of playing sports past high school, Lou married her high school sweetheart, Ernie Gastineau, who at the time was a Golden Glove boxer out of Dallas, Texas.

"Mom would reminisce about her days of playing sports," remembers her daughter, Kelli Gastineau Rausch. "She gave up her passion for softball and basketball to raise her family and support her husband's boxing career."

Pictured below: Lou with her Ravia High (Oklahoma) basketball team... she's top row, far right.

Ernie and Lou would eventually move from Oklahoma to Arizona and raise four children: Debbie, Mark, Kelli and Brett.

Kelli earned a full-ride basketball scholarship to Southeaster Oklahoma where she played at the same time as a future NBA star named Dennis Rodman.

And then there was Mark, whose athletic career almost ended before it began; as a young child he broke his leg so badly, a doctor told the parents that he would never walk again.

Not only did he resume walking, he went on to an All-American college football career and 10 sparkling years in the NFL with the New York Jets as a pass-rushing sack artist which included him being named the Defensive Player of the Year in 1982 and five straight years (1981-85) honored as an All-Pro.

Mark still holds several NFL and Jets records including most sacks in a Pro Bowl (4) and most sacks in Jets history (107 ½).

And thanks to his on-field success, his mother became a national celebrity as a likeable pitch-woman in commercials.


"Mark would good-naturedly complain that Mom would get more attention than he would and sponsors wanted to use her in commercials more than him!" jokes his sister.

KENADEE GETS THE ATHLETE GENES

Kelli would eventually meet and marry Steve Rausch, a placekicker and punter on full-ride scholarship at Arizona State. The couple stayed in Arizona and recently celebrated 25 years of marriage and one major accomplishment of their quarter century together: their 16-year-old daughter Kenadee, who will turn 17 on January 15.

Not surprisingly, Kenadee picked up the massive athletic talents swirling in the Gastineau and Rausch DNA and has become one of the top pitchers nationwide in the 2018 class.

The right-hander, who lives in Gilbert with her family and attends Perry High School, is a bubble Hot 100 honoree (she'll be in the 101-200 list when it's released this week) and has colleges from California to New York interested in her pitching abilities.

Craig Nicholson, the former Arizona State head coach who now runs the Arizona Hotshots Elite Gold club team and has coached Kenadee for a half year, gives this scouting report on his prized junior prospect:

"Kenadee has continued to grow in terms of her understanding of pitching and how to get hitters out (which I personally believe is the most important thing a pitcher can do).She does not light up the radar gun, but does have the ability to touch 62-63 mph. She has learned how to change speeds with all of her pitches and has seen a lot of success this fall by varying speeds and focusing on making the ball move."

"Her biggest asset outside of her will to compete at a high level, is her ability to locate all of her pitches, and vary speeds with the same pitch. I truly believe that she will continue to get better and, by the time she is a freshman in college, will have the ability to dominate a game. She is also one of the most coachable kids I have been around in 20 years, and truly a joy to be around."

STAYING HOME WITH "GRANDMA LOU"

Off the field, Kenadee was always driven to succeed and has done everything from modeling to starting her own business at the age of 11. Calling her little endeavor "Kenz Kreationz," Kenadee would peddle hair flowers during summer breaks and ended up making thousands of dollars. However, the junior entrepeneur ended up becoming so busy she couldn't keep her business going and maintain her softball workouts so something had to give.

She chose to drop her bustling business and stay focused on softball.

Wanting to play against elite competition, the young pitcher chose to play for Donnie Hagberg's Firecracker's squad based in Huntington Beach, California. For two years, she commuted back and forth to play for the Southern California team despite the eight or nine-hour drive from Arizona.

While with the Firecrackers, in line with the organization's "Play With Honor" theme, Kenadee choose to honor her grandmother in a video tribute she put together:


This year, however, Kenadee had a tough decision to make: continue to play with the coach and teammates she loved or find a club team closer to home. She chose closer to home, but it had nothing to do with the sport she loves, but everything to do with the grandmother she adores.

DEALING WITH ALHEIMER'S DISEASE

Kenadee's grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2006 when Kenadee was just six year years old.

At first, Lou was able to live with Steve, Kelli and Kenadee in their home, but as the years passed and the Alzheimer's worsened, the Rausch family had to make the excruciating decision to place her into a memory care facility in East Mesa to ensure that she would receive the proper medical attentional needed.

In March of this year, the transition was made. It was especially tough on Kenadee.

"The bond she and my mother share is like no other," Kelli explains of why it so impacted the teenager. "They are best friends and, from Day 1, Kenadee wanted Mom with us and not in a care center. She begged, pleaded and promised that she would help with the daily care and needs of her grandma. She has even given up her newly decorated room for Grandma so she feels comfortable in her new surroundings when she visits."

Fortunately for all, the medical facility is located within a couple miles of the practice site of her new travel team coached by Nicholson.

The situation, explains the athlete's mother, couldn't be more ideal for the two.

"It is a dream come true for Kenadee in that she is able to get the highest level of coaching and still be close to her grandmother on a regular basis."

Coach Nicholson appreciates the circumstances as it strikes home with him too.

"I think it's very impressive that Kenadee has such a great relationship with her grandmother and has been so supportive of her through a difficult time. That has a special place for me as well because my grandma was my biggest influence growing up."

BALANCING EVERYTHING IN LIFE

Kenadee is a 5-foot-10 right-handed pitcher and is being looked at by schools ranging from Arizona State, Arkansas, Army, Duke, North Dakota State and Pacific. She is hoping to decide in the next few months where she will play and has visited schools across the nation including Army where she took an unofficial visit with Uncle Mark, who played with at Jets teammate that attended West Point.

Recruiting, though important right now, is just one of the many areas Kenadee is balancing in life: softball, academics (3.5-plus GPA) and charity work (helping Adopt-a-Family for Christmas, volunteering for the Gilbert Little League and serving as a board member for Kids Against Bullying) among them.

But it's her time with her grandmother that is closest to the athlete's heart and Kenadee knows that each day spent with Grandma Lou--her best friend and long-time softball buddy--is precious.

​Pictured: Kenadee with her parents Steve and Kelli.

"My Grandma lived with my family for over four years," begins the athlete, "and I was able to be around her constantly. I am so grateful for the time filled with fun and love that we shared together every day."

"As soon as I got home from school each day, Grandma would be waiting at the door with her bat--she prefers Easton!--and glove ready to go to the park and play with me."

"Grandma was a standout athlete growing up and I think this is one of the reasons she enjoys watching me play so much--it brings back memories of her childhood. When we are at the fields together it is amazing how therapeutic it is for her and me."

Lou's children are in constant contact with her and reach out to Kelli and Kenadee as much as possible for news on their mother. Though her memory may be fading, the family matriarch remains a guiding life in their lives.

"If it wasn't for my Mom I would have never had made it to the NFL," says Mark, who today lives in New York City and is very active in Times Square Church and its ministry. "Mom kept our family grounded and was always a supporting role in my career."

The former All-Pro lineman also is in constant touch with his softball-playing niece and accompanied her on a campus visit to West Point recently to check out Army (pictured).

"I tell Kenadee to stay humble and never think you are above the game because it will come back to bit you. I want her to enjoy her time as an athlete because it doesn't last forever. And I'm so proud of her as a person and how she loves her grandmother so much. Although I admit I am amazed and overwhelmed at the schedule she keeps!"

THE SOFTBALL CONNECTION

Kelli believes that the close connection her mother and daughter have is primarily because of the shared love they have for softball.

"Before Alzheimer's set in with Mom, she would always say, 'Oh I wish I would have had the opportunity that the girls have these days.' Mom would reminisce about her days of playing softball and basketball and share with Kenadee that there is nothing impossible and tell her, 'Always follow your dreams and never give up.' It's hard now because she can't express her words and thoughts anymore but when softball is brought up Mom gets a smile across her face that would light up any field!"

Even though Grandma Lou has been robbed of many family and sports memories, seeing Kenadee inevitably brings back better days and happier times. And Kelli marvels at how her daughter has stepped in to lighten her load in taking care of her mother over the years.

"It amazes me to watch Kenadee with my mom," Kelli begins. "To be honest if it wasn't for Kenadee I couldn't have made it through the past few years without her help. Being a full-time caregiver isn't easy. You basically give up your life to care for your loved ones. There are no days off."

"Kenadee would come home from school and practice and would come right in and tell if I may have had a rough day. She would immediately say, 'Grandma you wanna go out and play catch? Or you wanna get a Coke?' Kenadee always has a way to make her happy."

The high school junior takes advantage of every chance she gets with her grandmother.

"Kenadee turned 16 right after mom was placed in the home," continues Kelli, "so it is not uncommon for her to drive over and pick her grandma up and go spend an afternoon at their favorite taco shop where the employees know them by name and have their booth waiting."

One of the toughest aspects of Alzeimer's is it makes the emotions of its victims unpredictable. It's tough to tell what may trigger emotions and some get angry or even violent in worst-case situations.

Fortunately, Kelli says it's the opposite with her mother.

"We are very blessed my mom is very sweet and kind. When we visit my mom the moment she sees Kenadee she starts to cry tears of joy."

Appreciative of every second she gets with Grandma Lou--including simple acts like picking her up on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas morning--Kenadee finishes with wise counsel to those who know someone afflicted with the disease.

"If I were to give advice to anyone caring for an Alzheimer's patient, it would be to show as much love as you can and remember that, although they may seem normal, they are likely scared and would never want to be a burden on anyone."

"Remember it's about love and that can't be taken away. Love is not a memory, it's a feeling that resides in your heart and soul."