In this heartfelt speech, our RoadPeace West Midlands and West Mercia member, Ioana, shares her journey of love, loss and resilience following the tragic death of her husband, Dragos. Her story reminds us all of the power of love, the importance of community and the hope that can be found in turning grief into purpose.
Remembering my husband, Dragos Petrescu
“As we recently navigated the Christmas season, my heart felt both heavy and full. For many, it’s a time of joy, but for me, it was a time of reflection, longing, and remembrance. My beloved husband, Dragos Petrescu, who was such a huge part of my life, is no longer here with me.
On Monday, 8th August 2022, at 01:29 a.m., my life came to a stop. Those moments remain so vivid. I will never forget the three surgeons and two nurses entering the small family room at Birmingham QE. They were there to tell me that they could not save his life. It wasn’t for their lack of trying, but his injuries were so significant. They tried for five and a half hours.
I did the only thing I could do at the time: pray. But nothing helped. His injuries were caused during a crash involving his motorbike and a tractor. He was just 10 minutes away from home. I never got the chance to say goodbye. I never got to see him again. I refused to see his lifeless body because I wanted to remember him as he had been in life.
He always had a way of making me feel like I was the most important person in the world. His kindness, his humor, and the way he cared for everyone around him will never be forgotten. I always admired his strength, his adventurous spirit, and how deeply he loved me. He taught me the meaning of true partnership and unconditional love. Together, we created a life filled with laughter, understanding, and joy.
It’s so hard to believe that he is gone, and there are moments when it still feels like he is just out there somewhere. I miss him more than words can say. The emptiness I feel is overwhelming, but I find comfort in the memories of us together. Time heals nothing, but you learn to live with your loss and your pain.
The road ahead feels uncertain without him by my side. But I promised to keep moving forward, to live in a way that would make him proud. I carry a part of him with me in everything I do.
I found help and hope in one place. RoadPeace has become a family to me, my safe place where I can laugh, talk, and cry. They kept me going through this grief. It really helps to be with others who have been there and truly understand what I am going through.
I also found purpose amid the struggle. I wanted to understand the role that emergency services play after a road traffic collision. I wanted to share my experience and play my part in making a difference, to actually do something with a real-world effect. That’s when I began my journey as a Special Constable with West Mercia Police.
Through RoadPeace, I have been given the opportunity to remember my husband’s life. And through my role as a Special Constable, I can work to save other families from enduring this preventable and unnecessary devastation.
As I reflect on the past Christmas season and remember my loved one, I hold on to the love he gave me and the memories that live on in my heart. I hope we all find comfort in knowing that even though our loved ones are no longer with us, their spirit surrounds us, filling our lives with warmth and light.
Let this season of reflection remind us that love transcends time and space. Wishing you all peace, joy, and the strength to cherish each moment.”
Updated on: 20 January 2025