John William Parkes

I can remember the phone call, it was just to let Mum and John know that we was staying in Weymouth
a few more days. I didn’t speak to John but Mum said that he was fine. Mum was shopping with
Colette in Newport she had just bought the baby an outfit and a little hat.

On Sunday we arrived home and I called Mum and John just to let them know we was home safely and
that we would pop down late that afternoon. Then that’s when it began, Mum explained that John
had collapsed and that he was in hospital. I could tell immediately that something was wrong, Mum
explained we didn’t tell you earlier because we didn’t want to panic you and she said that I had
to think of the baby (I was nearly eight months pregnant at the time). Of course I started to panic
and we went straight to the hospital.

As we walked in I could see John sat on his bed, he seemed normal, just like our John. We sat down
and that’s when Mum and john started to explain that they had found a tumour in Johns brain.

A few weeks past and John was unwell but he never complained. Then on the 7th October 2005 John had
Major surgery to remove the Tumour. Hours past and the doctors told mum that it was a success and
that she could see John. I went into see John a few hours after I knew I couldn’t cry I had to be
strong for both Mum and John. I can remember I couldn’t look at him tidy it was if I was looking
through him as if it was my normal John, John the one that always joking and having a laugh.
Spencer was great he tried to make conversation and Mum tried too but you could tell that everyone
was devastated.

After a few days John became much stronger and he soon came home. His feeling in his arms became
better and he started to seem like our John again.

On the 31st October I then went into hospital to have my baby. Mum and John arrived at the hospital
in the morning they was just as excited and worried as me and Spencer was. By the time I was wheeled
into theatre most of the family was in the waiting room and at 14:25 Lewis Christopher was born
weighing 5lb 13oz. Mum and John came straight in and they was over the moon. “I can remember
john had a big beaming smile. Mum and John stayed all day despite John had only had major surgery a
few weeks earlier, he must have been really tired.

Over the next few weeks John started his treatment. He had to have radiotherapy on his brain and on
his chest as they has found a mass on his lung. You could tell it hit him hard but he would never
admit that and he still not once he would complain. He went shopping with us and he pushed Lewis
in his pram, most days he would sit there with Lewis lying on the sofa and he would talk to Lewis
saying “Bampy’s little boy Nanny’s little bugger”.

Christmas came and we were excited as it was Lewis’s first Christmas Mum and john came up in the
morning to spend some time with us. We all opened some prezzies and then we took Mum and John
home.

On the 31st January 2006 John had his last Radiotherapy session and everything seemed fine. We was
told that John would have to have a check up in the next coming weeks.

But that’s when things started going wrong and John became ill. Soon he wasn’t eating and had a
sore throat. He was admitted into hospital soon after that and detearated very quickly. As John
became weaker the doctors still didn’t say he was going to die but I think we all knew deep down
that he was slipping away.

On Saturday 18th Feb I decided to take Lewis down to see John as he hadn’t seen him for a while.
We meet Mum and John in the hospital café as John didn’t like Lewis going onto the ward as you
never know what he could catch. That afternoon we had a drink in the café and we then went out for
some fresh air, John was talking to us then he was talking to Lewis and I can remember him saying
“oh god love him”. We then left then too take Lewis home.

We went to see John on Sunday and he seemed a little better but on Monday he seemed worse. Visiting
time was over and I kissed John goodnight from me and Lewis and said I will see you tomorrow.

Tuesday 21st Feb was a normal morning, normal routine With Lewis a nappy change, bottle then a bath.
Then just before I started to bathe Lewis there was a phone call from the hospital it was the ward
sister Rachel. She said Ceri its Rachel I’m just calling you to tell you that your mum has asked
me to call. We would like someone to look after Lewis for you and would I go straight to the
hospital. Lucky enough Sue my step sister was at mine so she had Lewis for me. Spencer was in work
so we decided to meet each other there. I go there first so I waited outside the ward but after a
while I couldn’t wait any longer so I went in to see Mum and John. John had got worse and he was
on the bed, he acknowledged me and he put his thumb up just to say he was ok.

That’s when the ward sister took me and mum into the family room. She started to explain that
John was very ill and that we had to prepare ourselves for the worse. She said that there was
nothing more that could be done although they would be able to make John comfortable. After that
Mum went into John and told John that we was taking him home. John replied I’m not going home
until I’m better then Mum explained that he wasn’t going to get better, he then asked where I
was.

We got John home the following day. I can remember as we got him home it started to snow. John
became much worst over the next few hours and we was told that we only had a few hours left with
him. We sat with him talked to him and Lewis got to see his bampy, had a big cuddle with him one
last time. At 21:40 John passed away peacefully surrounded by my Mum, me, Spence and the rest of
the family. John was buried on the 28th Feb 06 and at Johns funeral it started to snow

Life hasn’t been the same since he left, John was one of a kind always willing to help others no
matter what. We will always love you John and Lewis sends kisses all the time.