A Song And A Promise For Slain Officer's Widow

MIAMI - (CBS4) - While driving on a Coconut Grove street, Miami Police officer William Craig was struck by a drunk driver sending him into a coma.

That was March 19, 1988. The next three months were harrowing for his surviving children and wife Debbie Craig who remained at his bedside.

But 23 years later, Debbie Craig's devotion to her husband is still remembered and at least one officer was so moved by her dedication that it inspired him to write a song.

"This lady showed strength that I never seen before.  She shaved, bathed, him, talked with him every single day," said Officer Lorenzo Whitehead who back then was a rookie officer who stood guard outside the comatose officer's hospital room for several weeks.

Whitehead witnessed Debbie Craig's courage and love and began to write about it.

"I wrote at that door," Whitehead said. "I wrote a song."

Craig died three months later. Whitehead made a promise to himself to record that song. The years passed, but the thought remained.

Twenty-three years later he's making good on that promise.

"There is no guarantee of survival. No contract of return," he said.

The song is simply titled, "You Just Don't Know" and it took him two years to perfect it.

"I'm not a professional singer.  I'm not a professional musician," he said. "I'm not going to be on American Idol.  I never got in line.  But I got in line for this."

The song is about those who have died and the loved ones they leave behind. He wants the first copy to go to the widow who inspired him. Debbie Craig now lives in Phoenix.

"I will fly all the way to Phoenix to commend her and let her know for these 23 years I have always remembered her.  I always remembered what she did," he said.

The reunion was emotional for both of them.

"You know how long I have been looking for you?" Whitehead told her.

Debbie Craig met officer Whitehead at the Phoenix Airport Thursday where he gave her his song.

"I really think you are wonderful and the bravest person I have ever met," Whitehead said.

Debbie Craig replied: "I don't remember being very brave."

"Well listen I do.  I do.  Because I was sitting there," Whitehead reply.

"It was so reassuring to know that someone like officer Whitehead would be there and if something happened he would be there to hold Bill's hand when he died.  That was everything to me," Craig said.

The two plan to spend the weekend in Phoenix catching up on old times thanks to a wife's show of courage whose actions inspired a song.