Faith Dremmer

Faith Dremmer (April 23, 1992 – March 24, 2010)

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It was love at first sight. I was one of the first families to adopt from China in 1994 when the doors to adoption opened. She was two, her name was Faith, and she was my life.

Faith was an amazing child and a very special young adult. She attended the University of Chicago Lab School from second grade through high school. She participated on the math team, science team, orchestra, dance team, played soccer and tennis and was one of the stars in the Indian Bhangra dance troupe. On her own accord Faith became active in our Temple Sholom community in Chicago. Anywhere Faith could help she did. She volunteered her skills to help students challenged by math, feeding the homeless and working the runaway hotline. As one of her friends said at the Temple Sholom graduation “she was the glue who kept us together….one of the good ones.”

We had a remarkably rich life together and we were both grateful.

That life as we knew it came to an abrupt end on March 24, 2010 when Faith and two friends decided to cycle their way through southern Illinois during senior year spring break. It was day three into their adventure when an 85 year old man who could not navigate a simple curve on a remote country road hit the girls. Faith was in the lead and was hit head on and died. Julia Baird second in line was knocked unconscious, had a collapsed lung and her shoulder was nearly detached from her body. She was airlifted to the closest hospital. Kaia Tammem last in line had two broken wrists and cuts on her face and body.

The senior driver turned in his license two days later. Six months after the crash he was admitted to a nursing home.

This man served his country and had a family of his own. To have a crash at the end of a productive life that kills a 17 year old child and permanently injures another can not be easy to live with. It was a crash that could have easily been prevented.

There were so many affected by the loss of Faith. As a single mom half of my life was taken away. I say I am sorry to her everyday. Sorry she did not have the life she so deserved. I cannot help thinking that the senior driver who could have easily been driven to his destination is saying in his own way that he’s sorry too.