| Location | Pontypridd |
| Age | 14 years |
| Cause of Death | Cancer |
| Date of Birth | 20/12/1994 |
| Date of Death | 20/02/2009 |
| Visitors | 1,468 since 03/05/2009 |
| Creator |
After an unbelievably brave fight against the complications of Neurofibromatosis, my wonderful
son CeeJay, died of a Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour on the 20th February 2009.
CeeJay was an amazingly beautiful child who had a life time of poking, prodding, pain and
disability. Somehow he found a way to keep smiling every day and live life to the full. He loved
playing with his friends, going to school and perfecting his skills on the playstation. If you have
the time, please take a moment to read the Eulogy at the beginning of the tribute section. It was
read at his funeral on my behalf and is a lovely insight into the boy I was privileged to call my
son.
CeeJay is terribly missed not only by me, his dad Lee, his elder sisters Sarah and Danielle, his
younger brother Nick, his 'baby' sister Naeve and all the other close family members who loved him
so dearly; but also by the absolutely huge number of people that he touched during his brief time
with us.
His ability to endear himself to others was perhaps most obvious when he hung on in there to see his
14th birthday in December 2008 and received over 350 birthday cards and celebratory wishes from
people all over the world.
CeeJay never knew he was dying. When the disease ran its course in the latter stages he battled
cruel pain, exhuastion and physical degeneration. Instead of bemoaning his lot he spent the time he
had each day looking for something to take pleasure in. A snatch of a TV programe late at night
just the two of us. A part of a playstation game with a friend. A tiny mouthful of a chocolate
muffin. My son, no more than a child, taught me about bravery, spirit and living every moment to
the best.
The memory of his laugh and sunny outlook on life is his legacy to all who knew him.
You've taken your laughter and ready smile to heaven my son. Fly high and sleep softly with the
angels. xxx
What a great idea this site is.
I didn't see Chris that often - mainly when he came down to London for a hospital appointment and stayed over at ours. He was not a forgettable child - full of life and curiosity and above all mischief. He had a very definitely sparkle in his eyes. I suspect it's still there.
I know how much he is missed by his family and it breaks my heart.
Love
Karen
CeeJay's Eulogy - Part 2
No matter how uncomfortable he was over the years he’d so rarely complain. He’d chill for a little while but couldn’t stay down for long before he had to be up and on the go again packing as much as possible into every day. As his illness progressed he hung on to that cheeky smile and sense of humour for as long as possible. Even when he was confined to his bed he’d still have some trick up his sleeve. One night he tied some bandages around his wrists as bracelets leaving long ties. Embarrassingly, when his dad got up and when his nurse Jane turned up in the morning, it looked very much as if I’d tied him to the bed rails – something he found hugely amusing.
His medical team have worked hard over the years to ensure that Chris stayed well for as long as possible and I have the utmost gratitude for the care he received and the support offered to the whole family. He went through so many procedures over the years without so much as a squeak of annoyance. Instead he’d make it his business to check out the play area or see if there were any younger children he could help out with.
Chris’ legacies to us all are memories of a lad who never, ever gave up on anything. He thrived on what he could do and never spent time worrying about what he couldn’t do. He was an inspirational boy who fought the bravest of battles for as long as he possibly could. Some of my own special memories will be of the week we spent in Tenby together; conversations and laughs that would run into the small hours of the morning when Auntie Sonia and Auntie Den came to visit; watching him manage to beat his dad on at FIFA whilst half asleep; the 350 birthday cards he received from all over the world and some wonderful cuddles and talk time we most probably wouldn’t have had if he were still so active and busy.
I am so very proud of Christopher. Proud of what he achieved whilst he was here and proud of how many people he actually touched in some way. He was an amazingly special boy and I’m honoured to have known him. I hope you will all be able to take a little bit of him with you into the future and remember that huge smile and zest for life. He has left a void which can’t be filled and will be terribly missed by those who loved him.
I’ve no doubt there’s a spot in Heaven reserved for you Chris that’s near a Play Station with a cool bottle of J2O and a game of FIFA with your name on it. Fly high CeeJay and be at peace – you deserve it."
CeeJay's Eulogy - Part 1
Chris’ mum wrote this and asked me to deliver it today in case she had a bit of a wobble and ruined it half way through.
Thank you all for coming today to show how much you cared for Christopher whilst he was with us.
Christopher entered this world six weeks early on the 20th December 1994. After such a rush and drama he took one look around and promptly went to sleep. That was until he discovered a passion for food! As he grew it was nothing to hear noises in the middle of the night and find him parked in front of an open fridge door like an extra from the ET movie with piles of half munched food scattered around him. He’d cheerfully eat anyone out of house and home!
Chris’ other passion was to live every day to the full. He’d always insist on doing things his way and often biting off far more than he could chew and causing more than a few panic attacks amongst us adults along the way. There’s a few of us here who remember when he escaped from the house as a toddler at three in the morning! Dressed in PJs and wellies he went a wandering looking for puddles to jump in. Or the time he piled up some toys in his bedroom so he could reach the vellux window and peer out over the roof much to the shock of some surrounding neighbours. We’ll also remember him as a youngster insisting he could walk to the Co-Op and back only to get half way home and sit in Robert Street, peel off his shoes and socks and announce he was tired and needed a rest. We just struggled to look invisible and unconcerned about the small child at our feet stretched out barefoot on the pavement!
When Chris started going to Ty Hafan and discovered he’d have a care worker whose job it was to dance to his tune whilst he was there he was in his oils. Keeping everyone on their toes and running them ragged became his mission. Instructions to rest a little just fell on deaf ears as he kept himself, and everyone else busy. It was home from home and he absolutely loved spending time there. Going to Wembley and seeing his heroes Manchester United play was definitely one of his all time highlights.
Chris somehow managed to sail through life with an enviable ability to keep smiling and see the best in every situation. School was a fun place to see his friends and filled with teachers he liked. A car park was a fun place to kick a ball around or just watch others play. Home was somewhere to hone his play station skills and friends’ houses were an invitation to have fun and raid a few more fridges. Chris’ deep and dirty laugh and constant smile are something I think we’ll all remember.
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