Robert's Story

He was a magnet of positivity.  He could draw people in like moths to light.  And he used his power for good.  From a young age, he knew his calling was to help others.  By the time he was in high school he was well known in our community, not only because of his explosive power on the football field, but because of his gift of spreading love. At his first high school dance, he dedicated the first dance to a girl who had Cerebral Palsy. That was Robert—always kind, caring and thinking of others.

 

Everything changed on Sunday April 24, 2016. Robert and some friends went to a nearby lake without supervision. The kids decided it would be fun to swim to the next island, which was nearly 2 miles away. Midway out to the island, Robert went under and drowned.

My life shattered. My sweet, kind, outgoing and promising 16 -year-old son was gone. I lost all hope and never thought I would regain peace in my life. I was a shell of my former self and could barely care for myself much less my tender 6-year-old, Brycen, who lost the brother he idolized. Several months after Robert died, Brycen crawled on to my back as I slept and I woke to him weeping, “Mommy I need you!”

Those words shook me from my stupor of grief. I began to search for resources to aid me in healing. I had not been able to find anyone who had lost a child or understood my pain, which felt like I was missing a piece of my soul. One night, feeling desperate, I Googled, “Faith after losing a child,” and Faith’s Lodge popped up.

I realized there was hope in this pain and there actually were people out there who would understand what I was going through. I applied to Faith’s Lodge and was overwhelmed with joy when I received a scholarship for my family to attend. They also introduced me to a partner organization that helped our family make the trip from Georgia. I was taken aback by the support that we were receiving, but it was only after arriving at Faith’s Lodge that I truly understood the gift we had received.

Our days at Faith’s Lodge were filled with love and support. I could feel Robert’s presence in every moment. I cried, laughed and found strength from being around the other parents. Most importantly, I saw my son Brycen enjoying his young life again, something that had been missing since he lost his best friend and brother. Thank you, Faith’s Lodge, for restoring my faith and peace and allowing us to hope again.

Lakeya Collins, Robert’s Mom