Robbie Smith was born to Hamp and Saralyn Smith in Dodge City, Kansas, on September 8, 1983, and he died at home on March 15, 2000, following a seizure in his sleep. He was 16 and a sophomore at Dodge City High School at the time of his death.
He was healthy as a young child, but began having seizures at age 8, due to a brain cyst in his left temporal lobe. He underwent 3 brain surgeries in New York City in December 1994, at the age of 11, but the seizures did not stop. Worse, the surgery caused him further brain damage and he lost the ability to read, as well as suffering severe damage to his memory and speech.
With the help of dedicated Special Education teachers, he gradually regained the ability to read and speak well, and he appeared to be on the way to overcoming his seizure disorder, when he came down with a severe case of the flu in March 2000. The flu weakened his immune system, and he died of a seizure in his sleep at age 16.
Despite his health problems, he always wore a smile and was known for his kindness to others. He adored babies and small children, and he loved his Lord Jesus with all his heart.
He loved playing Nintendo games, working with his Dad on their huge model train layout, collecting baseball cards and coins, and designing with Legos. Other than his seizures, he was generally healthy and strong, and was always very active.
Besides his parents, he is survived by his sister, Laura, and his nieces, Sierra and Cheyenne. Cheyenne was born after Robbie had already been in heaven for almost 7 years, but Sierra was born shortly before Robbie's 16th (and last) birthday, and he got to hold her and love her and play with her. He adored small children and was so very proud to be an uncle.
He was also survived by his adored and adoring White Westie named Murray, but Murray has since joined him, and I am sure they romp together in heaven's meadows!
Poem I wrote for Robbie:
Somewhere in my memory
A little boy still plays,
With golden hair and hazel eyes---
Oh, how I miss those days!
He grew into a fine young man,
So tall and oh, so kind;
I wish that he were living still
And not just in my mind.
But at least I have my memories
And I can still recall
Loving scenes from yesteryear
When still he was so small.
And if I listen close I'll hear
His voice so sweet and low,
Calling out across the years
In loving words I know.
When visions come, I stop and stare,
With longing in my heart,
To hold again the little boy
From whom I've had to part.
He can't come back, but someday I
Will gladly go to him,
That golden boy who holds my heart
And dusty dreams so dim.
THANK YOU to HANS for the lovely photo collage of Robbie at various ages, and for the lovely, sparkling photo of Robbie!
THANK YOU to SUE♥ for the lovely animated token of Robbie!
SEE ALSO the pages on Find-a-Grave for his four grandparents:
Howard Hampton Smith, Sr.
Elizabeth Wood Hunt Smith
Roy Lamar McAfee
Frances Babb McAfee
And the page for his older sibling, lost when I had a tubal pregnancy: JORDAN KELLY SMITH
He was healthy as a young child, but began having seizures at age 8, due to a brain cyst in his left temporal lobe. He underwent 3 brain surgeries in New York City in December 1994, at the age of 11, but the seizures did not stop. Worse, the surgery caused him further brain damage and he lost the ability to read, as well as suffering severe damage to his memory and speech.
With the help of dedicated Special Education teachers, he gradually regained the ability to read and speak well, and he appeared to be on the way to overcoming his seizure disorder, when he came down with a severe case of the flu in March 2000. The flu weakened his immune system, and he died of a seizure in his sleep at age 16.
Despite his health problems, he always wore a smile and was known for his kindness to others. He adored babies and small children, and he loved his Lord Jesus with all his heart.
He loved playing Nintendo games, working with his Dad on their huge model train layout, collecting baseball cards and coins, and designing with Legos. Other than his seizures, he was generally healthy and strong, and was always very active.
Besides his parents, he is survived by his sister, Laura, and his nieces, Sierra and Cheyenne. Cheyenne was born after Robbie had already been in heaven for almost 7 years, but Sierra was born shortly before Robbie's 16th (and last) birthday, and he got to hold her and love her and play with her. He adored small children and was so very proud to be an uncle.
He was also survived by his adored and adoring White Westie named Murray, but Murray has since joined him, and I am sure they romp together in heaven's meadows!
Poem I wrote for Robbie:
Somewhere in my memory
A little boy still plays,
With golden hair and hazel eyes---
Oh, how I miss those days!
He grew into a fine young man,
So tall and oh, so kind;
I wish that he were living still
And not just in my mind.
But at least I have my memories
And I can still recall
Loving scenes from yesteryear
When still he was so small.
And if I listen close I'll hear
His voice so sweet and low,
Calling out across the years
In loving words I know.
When visions come, I stop and stare,
With longing in my heart,
To hold again the little boy
From whom I've had to part.
He can't come back, but someday I
Will gladly go to him,
That golden boy who holds my heart
And dusty dreams so dim.
THANK YOU to HANS for the lovely photo collage of Robbie at various ages, and for the lovely, sparkling photo of Robbie!
THANK YOU to SUE♥ for the lovely animated token of Robbie!
SEE ALSO the pages on Find-a-Grave for his four grandparents:
Howard Hampton Smith, Sr.
Elizabeth Wood Hunt Smith
Roy Lamar McAfee
Frances Babb McAfee
And the page for his older sibling, lost when I had a tubal pregnancy: JORDAN KELLY SMITH
Robbie Smith was born to Hamp and Saralyn Smith in Dodge City, Kansas, on September 8, 1983, and he died at home on March 15, 2000, following a seizure in his sleep. He was 16 and a sophomore at Dodge City High School at the time of his death.
He was healthy as a young child, but began having seizures at age 8, due to a brain cyst in his left temporal lobe. He underwent 3 brain surgeries in New York City in December 1994, at the age of 11, but the seizures did not stop. Worse, the surgery caused him further brain damage and he lost the ability to read, as well as suffering severe damage to his memory and speech.
With the help of dedicated Special Education teachers, he gradually regained the ability to read and speak well, and he appeared to be on the way to overcoming his seizure disorder, when he came down with a severe case of the flu in March 2000. The flu weakened his immune system, and he died of a seizure in his sleep at age 16.
Despite his health problems, he always wore a smile and was known for his kindness to others. He adored babies and small children, and he loved his Lord Jesus with all his heart.
He loved playing Nintendo games, working with his Dad on their huge model train layout, collecting baseball cards and coins, and designing with Legos. Other than his seizures, he was generally healthy and strong, and was always very active.
Besides his parents, he is survived by his sister, Laura, and his nieces, Sierra and Cheyenne. Cheyenne was born after Robbie had already been in heaven for almost 7 years, but Sierra was born shortly before Robbie's 16th (and last) birthday, and he got to hold her and love her and play with her. He adored small children and was so very proud to be an uncle.
He was also survived by his adored and adoring White Westie named Murray, but Murray has since joined him, and I am sure they romp together in heaven's meadows!
Poem I wrote for Robbie:
Somewhere in my memory
A little boy still plays,
With golden hair and hazel eyes---
Oh, how I miss those days!
He grew into a fine young man,
So tall and oh, so kind;
I wish that he were living still
And not just in my mind.
But at least I have my memories
And I can still recall
Loving scenes from yesteryear
When still he was so small.
And if I listen close I'll hear
His voice so sweet and low,
Calling out across the years
In loving words I know.
When visions come, I stop and stare,
With longing in my heart,
To hold again the little boy
From whom I've had to part.
He can't come back, but someday I
Will gladly go to him,
That golden boy who holds my heart
And dusty dreams so dim.
THANK YOU to HANS for the lovely photo collage of Robbie at various ages, and for the lovely, sparkling photo of Robbie!
THANK YOU to SUE♥ for the lovely animated token of Robbie!
SEE ALSO the pages on Find-a-Grave for his four grandparents:
Howard Hampton Smith, Sr.
Elizabeth Wood Hunt Smith
Roy Lamar McAfee
Frances Babb McAfee
And the page for his older sibling, lost when I had a tubal pregnancy: JORDAN KELLY SMITH
He was healthy as a young child, but began having seizures at age 8, due to a brain cyst in his left temporal lobe. He underwent 3 brain surgeries in New York City in December 1994, at the age of 11, but the seizures did not stop. Worse, the surgery caused him further brain damage and he lost the ability to read, as well as suffering severe damage to his memory and speech.
With the help of dedicated Special Education teachers, he gradually regained the ability to read and speak well, and he appeared to be on the way to overcoming his seizure disorder, when he came down with a severe case of the flu in March 2000. The flu weakened his immune system, and he died of a seizure in his sleep at age 16.
Despite his health problems, he always wore a smile and was known for his kindness to others. He adored babies and small children, and he loved his Lord Jesus with all his heart.
He loved playing Nintendo games, working with his Dad on their huge model train layout, collecting baseball cards and coins, and designing with Legos. Other than his seizures, he was generally healthy and strong, and was always very active.
Besides his parents, he is survived by his sister, Laura, and his nieces, Sierra and Cheyenne. Cheyenne was born after Robbie had already been in heaven for almost 7 years, but Sierra was born shortly before Robbie's 16th (and last) birthday, and he got to hold her and love her and play with her. He adored small children and was so very proud to be an uncle.
He was also survived by his adored and adoring White Westie named Murray, but Murray has since joined him, and I am sure they romp together in heaven's meadows!
Poem I wrote for Robbie:
Somewhere in my memory
A little boy still plays,
With golden hair and hazel eyes---
Oh, how I miss those days!
He grew into a fine young man,
So tall and oh, so kind;
I wish that he were living still
And not just in my mind.
But at least I have my memories
And I can still recall
Loving scenes from yesteryear
When still he was so small.
And if I listen close I'll hear
His voice so sweet and low,
Calling out across the years
In loving words I know.
When visions come, I stop and stare,
With longing in my heart,
To hold again the little boy
From whom I've had to part.
He can't come back, but someday I
Will gladly go to him,
That golden boy who holds my heart
And dusty dreams so dim.
THANK YOU to HANS for the lovely photo collage of Robbie at various ages, and for the lovely, sparkling photo of Robbie!
THANK YOU to SUE♥ for the lovely animated token of Robbie!
SEE ALSO the pages on Find-a-Grave for his four grandparents:
Howard Hampton Smith, Sr.
Elizabeth Wood Hunt Smith
Roy Lamar McAfee
Frances Babb McAfee
And the page for his older sibling, lost when I had a tubal pregnancy: JORDAN KELLY SMITH
