The other residents in the home loved to see him coming cos he brightened up
their days. He would shower them with hugs and kisses - "even the women with
beards", that's what he said, not me. He told them stories and blabbed
tales from home to entertain them all.
He visited our neighbours and spent time with them no matter how old they
were. Sometimes he would call for his friends mums and dads to see if
they (the adults) were coming out to play. They used to go and play hurley
and football with him in the nearby field. Everyone knew him.
Everyone loved him. He touched so many lives. There is not a day
goes by that he does not come up in conversation with family, friends,
teachers - anyone who knew him. He made so many people happy.
My sister-in-law Therese has four girls and both our families are so close
the kids are more like brothers and sisters than cousins. James used to call
Therese his other mum.
At the end of last year we were asked to take part in the end credits for
"After Aaron" to
highlight CRY and the preventative screening, the deaths that can be
avoided. We wish James had had the ablation procedure but
it was never mentioned or offered, that's why we feel so robbed.
To commemorate his short and wonderful life in this his 10th anniversary
year and also to celebrate what would be his 18th birthday, my husband
Brendan, James' two older brothers Sean (25) and Batman (aka Brendan, 22),
plus his mad aunt Geraldine (too impolite to give away her age) are
planning to do sponsored skydiving and the funds raised to be donated to
CRY to thank them for their support and hopefully allow someone to be
screened and live a long and active life.
James, well, we were never told he could possibly die but we enjoyed him
whilst he was here. Still we wish we would be running the streets to hound
him in, or he would be doing his driving test, or bring a girl home. As you
can tell we really loved him so much and there are no words to describe our
emotions, they are still in turmoil. We just know he is with us every day and
he will look out for us and comfort us. Sometimes you can feel the kiss of an
angel when you are having a bad day and you just know its him.
"Our loving smiling angel full of hugs and kisses; everyone's friend,
James"
Teresa Byers -
on behalf of the Byers family and family circle
