He was able to speak to his sister who had been away at
Northampton University but was home that weekend due to her having flu. That
was the last time we spoke to Ryan.
I remember my husband had gone to watch a football match
on the Sunday. He got a telephone call from one of Ryan's friends who he
had met in Vancouver. He thought the phone call was about someone else and
not our Ryan. Ryan's friend had said that Ryan had passed away in his sleep
- this was the 25th October 2009.
I will never forget that Sunday evening as it is, and
always will be, with me forever. Our world had been torn apart. He was our
life, our baby son and the most precious thing we ever had along with his
sister. Although he had travelled to Vancouver he was in fact that weekend
in Seattle with three other friends who he had met. We flew to Seattle the
next day and had a week there sorting out matters, along with making
arrangements for his return home.
We met up with the Medical Officer in Seattle who told us
that there was nothing we could have done and that he died of viral
myocarditis, caused by a viral infection, which attacks the heart.
The whole of November is somewhat a blur but his funeral
took place on the 9th November at Our Lady’s and St Vincent RC
Church, Potters Bar where over 600 friends and family attended. His death
had caused quite an impact on a small town. His story was put in our local
newspaper.
We know what it is like to lose a parent or parents as I
had lost both of my parents and my husband had lost his father. To lose a
child is unbearable and heart breaking. I can honestly say that our lives
will never be the same and we do not feel any different now from when we
first heard the news. The only thing that keeps us going is our lovely
daughter, Ryan ‘s sister Sammy-jo.
We had so many flowers, cards, tributes but one tribute
did stand out to us which was from one of his friends which said “IT’S NOT
THE YEARS IN YOUR LIFE THAT COUNT …BUT THE LIFE IN YOUR YEARS”.
RYAN HARRISON 15TH FEBRUARY 1991 – 25TH OCTOBER 2009
