This is my Angel Asa -

DO NOT TAKE YOUR CHILD FOR GRANTED. TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED TO ANYONE.EACH CHANCE YOU HAVE TO HUG YOUR CHILD AND TELL HIM/HER THAT YOU LOVE THEM DO IT. I WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO HAVE THAT CHANCE WITH ASA AGAIN.

The fairness of life will, in time, offer peace to those who suffer today & suffering to those at peace today. Therefore, commit to memory, the day is coming when the brokenhearted, misplaced, and abandoned will have to decide whether to get up or not. And the strength to get back up is found in continually offering ...our life to something worth getting up for… - Chadrick Black

Please sign Asa's Guestbook as it comforts me to know that you were here. Don't worry about not knowing what to say. It warms my heart that you are thinking of my son today too.

My broken heart-

On December 15, 2001 Asa's best friend and brother Enrique was born. Asa always looked out for "ki-ki" which is what he called him at first because he couldn't say Ricky. He would come running to tell me that the baby was crying and was so concerned about him. They were always together. Did everything together. Even though they had twin beds, Asa would creep into bed every night with Ricky. Ricky looked up to Asa. One couldn't go anywhere without the other. There was one day in particular that I will always remember. I had dropped Asa and Ricky off at the babysitter so I could go to work and Asa didn't want to stay. I told him to go take care of Ricky and I will be back. When I looked back Asa was trying to pull the baby carrier with Rick in it to come after me. He wasn't staying and he wasn't going to leave his brother. Asa was a classic clown. Sometimes when I would try to be mad at him for doing something bad he would do something to make me laugh and I couldn't keep my composure. Asa was a very sensitive boy and it would cut him to the core if he ever thought that someone was disappointed in him. He wanted everyone to like him. He was everyone's friend. When Asa started school at Maybury Elementary in September of 2005 he was so excited. Asa's first year in school he loved it. He was real thirsty for knowledge. Wanted to know about everything. He had started to learn to read and loved it. He loved being in the car and sounding out the signs we went by. When he figured it out he was so proud. Asa had turned 6 July 28, 2006. I gave Asa the option of having a party or going to the Ohio State Fair. Asa picked the Fair, but as his birthday came near he was wanting a party instead. Finally he decided to go to the fair. Asa,Ricky,Vicente and I took them to the Fair and the boys had a blast. Asa took part in a magic show demonstration and you could not keep his feet on the ground. He was so excited over the Batman helicopter that was there. Asa rode on the swings and went all by himself on a haunted house ride. We all went together on the Gondolas where I was scared and Asa and Ricky tried to comfort me.I let Asa buy whatever he wanted and he wanted more than everything there, a Batman necklace. Which I still have. It is worth more to me than what we paid for it. Asa's First Grade year in school he was in Mrs.Hartley's class. Room 4. Asa loved learning and was very interested in learning about the solar system. He would name all the planets to me and ask questions that I found to be very inquisitive for a 6 year old.

I THOUGHT I SAW YOU TODAY WALKING IN THAT SPECIAL WAY THEN REALITY SET IN AND I KNEW IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN BUT FOR THE BRIEFEST MOMENT I WAS ABLE TO PRETEND AND THINK OF ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUT A BRIEF MOMENT TO PRETEND WAS ALL I WAS ALLOWED AS THE BOY WHO LOOKED LIKE YOU WALKED INTO THE CROWD I WANTED TO FOLLOW HIM GET A GLIMPSE, MAYBE A HUG BUT I KNEW IT WASN'T YOU THE ONE I TRULY LOVE SO I WIPED AWAY MY TEARS AND SLOWLY WALKED AWAY MY BROKEN HEART WAS ACHING BECAUSE I THOUGHT I SAW YOU TODAY. WRITTEN BY NATALIE CAMP SEPT.2007

Asa and his Best Friend Ricky.

Asa had several friends in school but he would come home every day and talked about Tripp,Patrick,Hunter,NaJay and LaQuill. Asa talked about girl named Ivory and Brianna I would tease him about it all the time. I would tell Asa all the time that school came first. I explained to him many times how important it was to finish school and go to college. He wanted to go to Ohio State. He didn't know what he wanted to be but knew he wanted to wear suits. Asa would talk about was going to college, getting a wife and having babies. He said we all could live together. "Me and grandma and mommy." We would laugh at that. I had promised him that when he graduated from college I would buy him a car and from there on he started pointing out the cars he liked. Especially the PT Cruiser. It became a game for Asa. He would shout "PT Cruiser I saw it you missed it!!" I would then ask the color and he would tell me then I would act like I was upset he saw it first and he would smile so big the dimples on both cheeks would show. Asa loved Batman for some unknown reason he was obsessed. Anything Batman he had to have and most of the time I would get it for him. He had Batman bed sheets and would tie them around his neck and use them as a cape.He had an actual cape and mask but liked the sheets. I couldn't yell at him because it was too funny. He asked me once "If Batman can't fly why does he have a cape?" Asa, I still haven't figured that one out!;) Before the beginning of his First Grade year in school we moved rather far from his wonderful elementary school. I thought Asa would have to switch schools and had explained that to him and he was fine with it. But as things worked out they had a bus coming out this way so they added him to the route. He was so happy it was all he could talk about. Riding the bus. The brown bus.(Brown was the color of his route.)Asa was doing very well in school. He loved to read and write.He also loved to draw. On every paper he had to doodle on it. I always told him he was going to be a business manager. He was in the process of teaching his brother how to write the alphabet "correctly" before he was tragically killed. I can still hear him getting frustrated saying "No Rick that's not how they do it!" For every letter and number he had a rhyme and it always cracked me up.

Asa in his suit looking GQ !!

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Asa first day of school.

Asa's first day of school I was wondering how I would deal. Would I cry?

I remember the first time I took him to daycare after I had him I just cried and cried. I ended up going to part time then just eventually quitting my job all together. I could not bear to be without him.

However, Asa's first day of school I was so proud of him. So excited. If you look at this picture the thing that sticks out to me the most is his belt. He loved his belt. His clothes were always nice and neat because he had to have it that way.

Asa and Mommy

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My sweet Asa

My Vato Loco

My dearest Asa, I miss your big kool-aid smile and big brown eyes. Even in death you were handsome. The nurse there even commented on your beautiful lashes. I miss how you would laugh so hard and slap your leg. I miss you. You are my heart and Ricky and I talk about you all the time. He misses you and always ask to go see your cross and to go to the Cemetery. He gave me a Mother's day card and he had signed your name cause you couldn't be here!! I know you were though. Thank you for all the signs my little Angel. Please don't stop sending them. Love, Mommy

On January 4,2007 at 9:00am Asa was pronounced dead at Children's Hospital in Columbus,Ohio Following an accident that involved a Columbus Public School Bus and my 6 year old son. The accident occurred on the corner of Scottwood and Coburg. It is a day I will never forget. A moment I will always regret. The moment I told Ricky what happened to his big brother he said "he is an angel? Angel Asa." Asa loved going to church with his grandma and loved to get dressed up in his suit. If he didn't get to go he would look so hurt. Asa was a bright, intelligent little boy. Not long before he died he had asked me if I knew what God looked like. Then asked if I had ever saw an Angel and if anyone can really see one. My answer now- I am looking at one. _________________________________________

I love you Asa. Asa left behind 3 little brothers. All of which he loved dearly. Enrique,Vince,Alejandro. Asa was so proud the day he came to see me and his new baby brother Vince in the hospital. I always told Asa and Rick that this was their baby and you would have really thought so. By the time I had Alex Asa was big enough to hold him and he loved doing it.

I love you Asa

Asa is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens on East Broad Street, across from Mt. Carmel East Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Asa lies at rest in The Garden Of The Apostles. He was laid there January 10,2007 Asa was 6 years,5 months, and 7 days. He will be Forever.

King Asa

Day of Asa's funeral-Alex&Ricky

Asa wearing his wrestling belt

Ricky and Asa