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James Haddad FOREVER AN ANGEL
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Journal
Monday, October 27, 2003 4:45 PM CST JAMES HADDAD FOREVER AN ANGEL
This is a tribute to our precious son James Robert Haddad. Although he is not physically with us anymore, he is forever in our minds and hearts. We remember him every single moment of our lives. His spirit guides us everywhere we go and in every choice we make.
How does life continue after a death of your child? It just does with difficulty. It is not a choice. Life does change, of course. Sadness accompanies everything. This sadness may not be obvious everyday, but it is always there. We have been able to keep a balance and not allow the sadness overwhelm and control our lives by keeping James with us everyday; by talking about him, by displaying his photos in our house and by doing special activities that revolve around him.
Though we obviously miss James beyond any words anybody could find, we must feel that James’ departing us to eternal life had a higher meaning that, perhaps, only now we are coming to terms with. From just the number of real people involved during the time James was alive and being treated, to the number who have remained very much a part of our lives since October 26th, we have come to understand how significant this tragedy has been to all those concerned.
James was our second child. He was born on the 20th June 1993 at Mayday hospital in Croydon, Surrey, UK. James was a healthy and a happy baby. He loved school and made lots of friends. He enjoyed playing football like many other boys and was involved in many tournaments where he won a few trophies for his skills.
He was vivacious, spirited, feisty, and played piano.
He was sensitive to others. He loved playing his games, as well as play around. He was very bright and very artistic.
I hope the contents of this page will reflect his unique personality, his special outlook on life and the way he touched people around him.
It was on the last week of December 2001, where we noticed that there was something wrong with James. On New Year’s Day we took James to the emergency at Mayday hospital for a check up and that’s where our nightmare started.
During the 10 months of James’ debilitating illness, he showed tremendous courage and determination. James's condition, though deeply tragic in itself, particularly for us, seems to have touched so many lives in a way that has left so many of them permanently changed, and we prefer to think, for the better in some idiosyncratic way.
James became an angel at 6:15am on the 26th October 2002 after a courageous fight against a brain tumour named Diffused Intrinsic Pontine Glioma.
James' memory will live on in Croydon after a pear tree was dedicated to him on Thursday, August 14. We helped plant the small pear tree, the same age as James, at the Heathfield Ecology Centre, Ballard’s Way.
The plaque reads: “The spirit of a boy runs free in this orchard. James Haddad: 20th June 1993 - 26th October 2003.”
We need to convey a special word of thanks to Mrs Pendry, Head Teacher, who helped enormously in keeping James’s memory alive by dedicating part of the school to be transformed into a memorial garden for James which was opened by Croydon mayor, councillor Stuart Collins on Friday, May 16, 2003 following a memorial service and blessing by Canon Joseph Collins. This garden continues to be a focal point for all the children in St. Mary's Junior School who are encouraged to visit and use it in the way it should be.
Mrs Pendry we must add has won the Teaching Awards 2003 Category Winner. This is for School and Community Involvement in a Primary School in London. She received a Silver Plato, Interaction white Board and a cheque for £2000.00.
Furthermore, James' Garden has been nominated as the best Smart Community Garden in Croydon on 23rd October 2003.
It has been ten year since James became an Angel and it is very necessary for us still to visit James’s resting place, and are always taken a back by the number of previous visitors who had been and gone, leaving flowers, messages and cards as a sign that they were there. Everyone is welcome any time to pause and share your thoughts with James. In many ways, James is still with us, I have no doubt about that, he’s just with us in a different way we are used to.
On Saturday 25th October,2003 we held a Memorial Mass for James to commemorate him as an Angel. Some 300 people attended the Service, which was held at St. Mary’s RC Church. The service featured touching readings from his teachers, children and selection of James’ favourite hymns. It was a fitting tribute to James where most of his friends were in school uniform and sang hymns that James used to love especially the final hymn “The Rise and Shine” which brought great joy to the service. Thereafter most of the people were invited to James’ Memorial Garden where there was a blessing by Canon Joseph and some children released 10 white balloons.
Then all went to the school hall for refreshments during which Sue gave an emotional speech of thanks for all the support that we got from friends, work colleagues, Canon Joseph Collins and the Head Teacher Mrs. Pendry and James’ teachers for contributing in keeping James’ memory alive.
Please honour James by supporting the James Haddad Appeal Fund. We are committed to using every penny raised by the appeal to treat other innocent children suffering from a similar illness and other charitable organisations associated with James’ condition.
Those wishing to make a donation to such a worthwhile cause can forward payments to the James Haddad Trust fund; CAF BANK, Account No: 00012815, Sort Code: 40 52 40; OR send your cheques payable to “THE JAMES HADDAD TRUST FUND (JHTF)” to: 40 Ballards Way, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 7JL, UK
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Links: http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/jameshaddad/ Fund raising for James
http://www.jameshaddadtrustfund.org.uk
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