Nkosane Umoja
John David Hackel
February 24, 1964 - March 14, 1985
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DEDICATION PAGE

This web site is dedicated to my youngest son.  He was born February 24, 1964 at March AFB in Riverside, California.  He departed this world on March 14, 1985, just a couple of weeks beyond his 21st birthday after drowning in the Detroit River.  When my son left this physical plane, my life became divided into two parts – before he died and after he died (B.D. and A.D.) God knows I was not a very strong person, but I had to become strong in order to survive.  God works in mysterious ways.  There is a gospel song my grandma used to sing, "We'll Understand It Better By and By." I understand that, although he left this plane, he will not only always remain here on earth with me, but I will see him again when I die.  You see, there is not a day, not an hour, not a minute that goes by that I don't miss him and feel his presence. Yet, I would gladly give the rest of my life just to actually see and touch him again were it not for my other children.  But, I did begin to "understand it better by and by," and my greatest blessing and relief is knowing that I will see him again.  Now, on the next pages of this site, I will tell you why I know that.

Nkosane, I will always love you.  You are my heart.  I don't care if I live to be 199 years old.  I will never stop waiting to be reunited with you again.



I have created this website in memory of my youngest son, John David Hackel a/k/a Nkosane Umoja.  It has been 25 years since he drowned, and I can't say it seems like yesterday.  It seems like a thousand years ago.  But, his memory is still as fresh in my mind, heart and soul as it was 25 years ago. 

If you are a parent who has lost a child, no matter if that child was stillborn, or if she or he became a 50-year old grandparent, you know exactly what I mean.  That loss cannot be replaced.  There is a permanent hole inside of you where that child used to be.  I will be placing a chat box on this site where we can meet and support each other.  There were people there for me, or God only knows how I would have survived this traumatic loss.  In the meantime, please visit his Guest Book.  Your encouraging words are just as therapeutically welcome today as they were 25 years ago.


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