I’d like to tell you about my son, Robby, who died last Sunday at the age of 22.
Robby was my beautiful boy. He was my firstborn and my only son. George and I were so excited to welcome Robby into our lives. He was named Robert George after my father, Robert, and my husband, George.
Robby was a quiet, intuitive toddler. I remember once when 19-month-old Robby silently watched me struggle to turn off a clock radio, then he pointed to the needed button and said “That one.” Throughout his life, Robby’s few words spoke volumes.
Robby spent his early years before kindergarten creating entire worlds with Legos and blocks, constantly drawing, playing with his friend Bobby who lived next door, reading books, and turning himself into a super hero with capes made out of paper towels and tape. I realized, when Robby was five, that he was gifted in art when he drew me a pirate ship that had incredible detail and accuracy. That gift for drawing grew over the elementary years as Robby created his own flip books and storybooks.
When Robby started school, I prayed God would send him a special friend. That friend was Keith.
Keith and Robby were best buddies during elementary school, and, really, for most of their lives. They hung out all the time, playing in Robby’s tree fort, swimming in Keith’s pool, fishing, and riding bikes, scooters, and skateboards.
Robby’s years in elementary school were happy ones. So many friends that were Robby’s age lived in our neighborhood during those years. Our house was the go-to after-school destination because “Robby’s mom” had a free candy drawer. Robby’s little sister, Sarah, saw a business opportunity there, and would take highly valued candy items from the drawer and make them only available for purchase in her little shop on the stairs.
Robby and Sarah were so very close growing up. They both loved our family trips from places as close as New Smyrna beach to as far away as Alaska. I will always have great memories of our trips to North Carolina every fall to see the leaves change, and family gatherings in Orlando and Anna Maria Island with Robby’s cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.
In middle school, Robby got into bmx racing and inline skating. He also played drums in Lee Middle School Band, raced on the track team, and was a member of the National Junior Honor Society. He completed a two-year confirmation program at his church.
Robby spent the first two years at Edgewater High in the science magnet program. Apparently it wasn’t a chick magnet program, because in his junior year he dropped the magnet curriculum, complaining that there weren’t enough girls in his classes. He played on the varsity tennis team at Edgewater, played drums in the youth band at his church, and, became the proud owner of a used Acura that he loved to drive. Robby spent his last year of high school participating in a dual enrollment culinary arts program with his dear, close friend Colby.
Robby and his father spent many happy hours cooking out together. Robby bought George a new grill for his birthday just four months ago. For my birthday, Robby bought me spoons, since they always seemed to go missing from the drawer. I cherish the time I spent playing music with Robby, he on the drums with me on the piano, watching episodes of Law and Order, and talking with Robby and George as we drove Robby to hundreds of 12-step meetings in Longwood and in the fellowship hall of this church. I will miss our special times together.
Robby had a close knit group of high school friends—young men and women with whom he formed a special bond---you know who you are---and I want to tell you that he loved you all so very, very much. If you are a friend who tried to keep Robby from drugs, I thank you. If you are someone who gave Robby drugs, I forgive you. If you are an addict, please seek help before drugs kill you like they killed my beautiful boy.
My Robby was handsome, smart, charming, funny, loving, and loyal. He should have had a very bright future and a wonderful life. I wanted to remind you about the real Robby, because it’s easy to forget when we think about the past six years in which Robby slowly lost a terrible battle with drug addiction.
We tried everything in our power to save Robby’s life. Eventually, addiction became stronger than Robby’s ability to be sober. And, ultimately, drug addiction took Robby from us.
I believed in Robby, and I never gave up hope that he would eventually overcome his addiction. I imagined the bright future he could have had. I loved him beyond measure, and I won’t stop missing him.
He will always be my beautiful boy.
