Never say goodbye!

Please don't drink and drive! Let's keep each other safe and alive!

My son never fought in a war

upon a foriegn shore

Though he would have

had it been his calling

He enlisted into the service

at the young age of seventeen

he became a United States Marine

He was stationed in Okinawa Japan

There he learned to become a man

With a humanitarian discharge in hand

He returned home to help his family

which was in dire need of him

from the land of the red sun

To three young sisters and a mother ill

with manic depression

With his father just out prison

for making a bad decision

of dealing drugs

running with thugs

His son still looked up to him

forgiving him his sins

His parents were soon to be divorced

but dad came down with staff infection

from his terrible heroin addiction

Mom ended up in a hospital psychiatric unit

for her bi-polar affliction

Soon his father slowly and painfully died

He stood strong by his father's side

as staff infection from a dirty needle

consumed his every vital organ

His heart, his liver, his spleen...

Near the end he softly spoke the words

"I love you, dad."

Mom fell victim to alchohol

trying to drown her memories

of a violent marriage and mental illness

that had brought her to her knees

Taking care of three young sister's

was very hard accomplishment

for a young man of twenty-one

upon returning home

from the land of the red sun

 

Robert Stephen Krempa was born 7/31/73

Sadly and tragicly he was killed by a drunk driver 4/15/07

 

 He is credited for saving the life of a little four-year old boy

named Xavier.  It was a beautiful spring evening, just a year ago

my son had just gotten off of work. He had just become a manager of his company, his box of manuals not yet opened. Ironically, he was on his way with friends to buy a car and get his driver's license renewed. It

was a head on collision, as the car he was riding in as a passenger in the back seat, was hit while waiting for a red light. When out of nowhere came the oncoming car crashing into them, Leaving my son and his friends wife to die in puddles of their own blood. The car caught fire, thank God the fireman were able to put it out in time. When I went to the young mother's funeral, I

 was thanked for being the mother of a hero. For they say that

my son ripped off his seatbelt, and blocked little Xavier with his own body, so saving the young boy from ultimate death. Months later Xavier's father who was also critically injured as was his son, thanked me also and told me that my son is his hero, too. Xavier had been scalped to where the doctor's had to sew his scalp back to his head, he will always have the scar as a memory of what occurred that day. Worst of all, he has nightmares of the accident and the loss of his loving mother. He has trouble walking due to injuries to his spine.  The drunk driver was finally sentenced, he got ten years in prison for his crime. My son and his friend had their lives taken away in the prime of their lives because of someone else's foolishness and disregard for human life. They were both sober lovingly gentle people and are sadly missed by family and friends. The small poem I wrote for the obituary. I would like to share with you it reads as follows:              

 

The world has lost

A wonderful young man

Who had the potential, the ability, the mind

And, the heart of a scholar, a teacher, a philosopher

and an author

I lost my son

Love forever and always, Mom

 

Reviews

[WritefromtheHeart]

Dear debileah...
What words of solace can I give you, dear one? You have lived the tragedy that every mother dreads to think of...I cannot say anything except convey my true sorrow at your monumental loss. Your writing has to be of some small comfort...and you share it with us here so that we may give back to you some of the love in our hearts...many blessings to you, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

[CHRIS ANDES]

this really breaks my heart
..I don't want to see mothers crying especially my mom
...thank you debileah for sharing this
=]

[Erin Thomas]

There is so much true, genuine emotion in this poem. The heart is never wrong. It speaks so truly with the voice of experience. This poem is the epitome of exemplifying emotion through writing - a very difficult task. My deepest condolences for your loss. I couldn't help but tear up, I can't even imagine.

[Danelkahr]

your poem brings back lost memories but thank you for letting me embrace the memory once again. a good one

[Kim Robinson]

your poem is heart-rending, debileah. thank you for sharing your heart and your son with us. may the Lord bring His solace and strength to you as you infuse new children with the love your son infused your life with

[Andrea]

A life well lived touches othres. Your son continues to impact those he never knew or met. He does this by the life he saved and the lives touched by that young boy. Perhaps one day you will speak of something your son did and all of a sudden you will realize you are smiling. The sorrow will always be there but the happiness of memories will come to visit and, you will remember with joy, your son.

[Lady Shade]

Thank you for sharing this reality and allowing me the time to sit here in the dark and cry. I recently lost my son, not to a drunk driver but to SIDS...a pointless death of a beautiful child. Mama's are never supposed to have to bury their babies. I am proud of your heroic son. I love the poem you wrote for his obituary. Even though my little boy died on May 8th of this year, I have yet to manage the strength to do his memorial service or even write his obituary. It all seems far too painful to face. I turned to alcohol and isolation trying to avoid having to feel my loss.

[Meridian]

I imagine that it never gets easier to accept the sudden, senseless loss of a child. Your writing, though, immortalizes your son and your love for him. Bless you, and bless his soul. This is beautiful.

[Wicahpi]

always n forever a tragedy beyond words.
bless you!

[Marie Anzalone]

I cannot imagine how much you needed to write this. You have emerged stronger, I hope, after a Life of Hell that most of us would only turn away from, to let its victims sort out their own mistakes. I hope you are able to find solace in small things, and that writing about Robert helps you share his memory with world in a way that makes his presence larger in it.

[Nish Nish the Fish]

Oh dear, this has been tear inducing no doubt.
i grieve for you in the slightest way.
feeling sorry for your loss is an understatement. and yet i'm so incredibly sorry for your loss.

beautifully written, very sad, and unfortunately so true.

again, so sorry.