UNION, Ky.-- A Northern Kentucky couple is overcoming heartbreak to honor their grandson, who along with his mother had his life tragically cut short a few years ago.
Now his grandparents are making sure his name lives on by fundraising for playgrounds at two different schools.
The playground at St. Timothy Catholic School is the kind John and Marilyn Kramer would take their grandson Aiden to, and watch as he immediately became best friends with all the other kids.
“He was too sociable sometimes. He would go up to other kids and start playing with them,” John said. “He was always in the middle of activities. Easy to get along with. Always ready to do something. You want to take a picture of him? He was ready with a smile.”
Aiden was a straight-A student, and according to his grandfather, was always helpful to everyone he met.
“He was kind of like a buddy to everybody. I mean, that’s what he was known for,” he said.
Now all the Kramers have left are their memories. One in particular still keeps them up at night.
“When the police department showed up, it came as an extreme shock. You don’t know until you experience it,” John said.
It was March of 2018.
Aiden and his mother Kelli Kramer, John and Marilyn’s daughter, had both been killed. She was 31. He was only nine.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office connected Kelli’s ex-boyfriend to both her death and Aiden’s.
Joshua Ward, 48, was charged with two counts of capital murder.
Deputies believe he shot Kelli and Aiden in their apartment around March 20, 2018. Both died from multiple gunshot wounds to their heads and torsos. His trial is scheduled to start on August 23.
“And I think a lot of it was jealousy,” Marilyn said. “He thought he was gonna get back at her.”
There’s been a lot of sleepless nights since that day.
“You’re always in a constant daze. You can’t believe what happened to you. As time goes on it does get better. It’ll never get completely better,” John said. “That’s something we have to live with, and it’s tough. And that’s the main reason why we’re doing this, to honor him, and it’s really the only thing we can do. We want other kids to enjoy the parks.”
John and Marilyn came up with an idea for a raffle in October. It kicked off in April.
A $10 ticket gives the buyer a chance at the $10,000 grand prize. Proceeds are going to improve the playgrounds at both St. Timothy, and Burlington Elementary School, which Aiden attended for the last six months of his life.
The playgrounds will also feature permanent markers with Aiden's name.
“Aiden never had a chance to make a name for himself. So we’re gonna do it for him,” John said.
“Trying to make a good thing out of a bad thing, and it just keeps us busy and keeps us going, knowing that we’re doing something good for others,” Marilyn said. “And that’s the way Aiden was.”
Aiden lived with his grandparents for four years, leaving them with countless memories they’ll continue to hold onto.
And now when kids play at the playground bearing Aiden’s name, they’ll remember him too.
“We'll definitely come up here and sit up here and look at his marker. Look at the park itself,” John said. “He was kind of like our son, so it means a lot to us. Very special child.”
The drawing for the raffle is on June 7, which would be Aiden's 13th birthday.