| Location | Birmingham |
| Age | 17 years |
| Cause of Death | Leukaemia |
| Date of Birth | 06/07/1988 |
| Date of Death | 09/07/2005 |
| Visitors | 2,344 since 12/03/2009 |
| Creator |
My thanks to everyone who has left candles, written tributes, posted pictures or
gifts for Maria's 21st Birthday and for her anniversary - there are so many it
it really helped this past couple of weeks knowing how much you all care. With
love to you and all your precious angels....Diane x
Our beautiful daughter Maria was taken from us by an illness we knew little about. Our beloved Maria
was born in Birmingham on July 06, 1988 and passed away on July 09, 2005 at the age of 17.
Maria was a beautiful, caring, intelligent girl whose life was cruelly cut short by the diagnosis of
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
We will love, miss and remember Maria forever.
The words to the song playing are those of Randy Owen. He has written this song which highlights
the courage and determination of all our youngsters diagnosed with cancer. All proceeds from the
download of this song are going to a childrens cancer charity and our donation has been made.
Teenage and cancer are two words one never hopes to hear in the same sentence.
On 16 June 2005 our daughter Maria was diagnosed with leukaemia. She began treatment straight away
but only three weeks after the initial diagnosis, she got a nasty virus. We lost her the very next
day. It was three days after her 17th birthday.
We had very little time to digest the fact that Maria had been diagnosed with this cruel illness.
Doctors and nurses were very reassuring, saying she had a 70-80 per cent chance of survival, but it
never entered our heads that there was a 20-30 per cent chance the other way too.
Following the initial diagnosis and tears, Maria showed exceptional bravery. The next day she began
phoning her friends. I really admired the way she just said “I’m in hospital and I’ve got
leukaemia”. I even heard her laughing on the phone. From that point on I knew she was up for the
fight. Taking her lead, so were we.
All thoughts about cancer left our minds and the word leukaemia didn’t sound too bad. The days and
weeks that followed were spent visiting Maria in hospital and lifting her spirits. Friends, family,
everyone came. Her friends from school brought her hats – the one thing that was upsetting her was
the thought that she would lose her beautiful blonde hair. She turned to me one evening and started
the conversation “Mom. . .” I knew something was coming as I recognised the way she said
“Mom”.
She said “I’ve come to terms with losing my hair – I’ve got more important things to think
about haven’t I!” I admired her bravery, but underneath I knew that this was the one thing she
was not coming to terms with. I was glad she was worried – it meant she wasn’t worrying too much
about the leukaemia.
However, despite her bravery and courage, Maria contracted a virus only three weeks after diagnosis,
which proved too much for her immune system after such intense chemotherapy.
Losing our precious Maria to leukaemia, which we thought was curable, has been as destructive as the
illness itself.
Our hearts are broken and our lives devastated – no parent should hear the words “I’m sorry,
your child has cancer”, let alone “I’m sorry, there’s nothing more we can do”. The only
way I can describe how we feel now is that someone has ripped out our hearts, scrunched them up,
trampled on them, put them back in and said “now go on – get on with it”.
Sadly Maria’s story is not as rare as you may think. Every day in the UK, six teenagers or young
adults are diagnosed with cancer. That’s six families who will have been sat down by a consultant
and told the devastating news that we were told. Six more will be told that tomorrow and six more
the day after and so on.
To be diagnosed with cancer is distressing at any stage of life, but it is particularly hard for a
teenager to deal with. They are old enough to fully comprehend what being diagnosed with cancer
means, yet are still so young to deal with the emotional strain that comes with having such an
illness.
These young people, in the midst of their already difficult journey to adulthood, suddenly find
themselves faced with a possible life-threatening illness. Many must put life on hold, just as it is
starting to take off.
Since Maria’s untimely death, life is very difficult but I try to focus my grief on doing
something positive, so I decided to set up a charity in her memory: The Maria Watt Birmingham
Foundation for Childhood & Teenage Leukaemia
www.mwb-leukaemia.org.uk
If this could happen to my 17 year-old daughter who ate healthily, led an active life, didn’t
smoke, didn’t drink; in essence did all the things we are told to do for a healthy lifestyle, then
it can happen to anyone.
The main aim of the charity is to make as many parents and teenagers aware of the signs and symptoms
of leukaemia, as some can be easy to dismiss: Headaches, lethargy, pains in the backs of the legs
and swelling of the stomach are all common teenage ailments. As parents, we know our children best
and we should not just dismiss these signs. We hope that this increased awareness will result in
earlier diagnosis, in turn leading to earlier treatment and hopefully a better prognosis for the
future.
Since Maria’s death our family unit has changed beyond recognition. Our relationships have
changed. Imagine a stool with four legs. If one leg of the stool is cut off, what happens?
The past few years have gone by in a blur and not a minute has passed when I haven’t thought about
her. She would be 20 now and I can’t help but wonder what her life would be like had she
survived.
All we can hope is that by raising awareness of teenage cancer, we will prevent other families
having to go through what we have.
MEMORIES OF YOU
Memories of you...
Will stay in my heart forever,
Memories of you...
I will always treasure.
Memories of you...
make me feel warm inside,
Memories of you...
are the love I cannot hide.
Memories of you...
help me through the day,
Memories of you...
will never fade away.
Memories of you...
are beautiful and dear,
They seem to grow still brighter
with every passing year.
┊ ┊┊ ┊┊ ┊┊ ┊
┊ ┊┊ ┊┊ ┊┊ ┊
┊ ┊┊ ┊┊ ★ ★
┊ ┊┊ ┊★
┊ ┊┊ ★
┊ ┊┊
┊ ┊★
┊ ★
┊
★
LOVE AS ALWAYS XX KATHLEEN
For A Very Special Angel
I.......
________Love You____________Love You
______Love You Love _______Love You Love Yo
____Love You Love You L___Love You Love You L
___Love You Love You Love You Love _______Love
__Love You Love You Love You Love _________Love
_Love You Love You Love You Love You _______Love
_Love You Love You Love You Love You Love______L
Love You Love You Love You Love You Love You__Lov
Love You Love You Love You Love You Love You Lo_L
Love You Love You Love You Love You Love You Love
Love You Love You Love You Love You Love You Love
_Love You Love You Love You Love You Love You Lo
__Love You Love You Love You Love You Love You
____Love You Love You Love You Love You Love Y
______Love You Love You Love You Love You L
_________Love You Love You Love You Love
____________Love You Love You Love Yo
______________Love You Love You Lo
_________________Love You Love
___________________L ove You
____________________ _Love Y
____________________ __Love
____________________ ___Lo
And......
_________Miss You____________Miss You
______Miss You Miss _______Miss You Miss Yo
____Miss You Miss You M___Miss You Miss You M
___Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss _______Miss
__Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss _________Miss
_Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You _______Miss
_Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss______M
Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You__Mis
Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You Mi_M
Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss
Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss
_Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You Mi
__Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You
____Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss Y
______Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss You M
_________Miss You Miss You Miss You Miss
____________Miss You Miss You Miss Yo
______________Miss You Miss You Mi
_________________Mis s You Miss
___________________M iss You
____________________ _Miss Y
____________________ __Miss
____________________ ___Mi
More than you will ever know.
⊱♥⊰ ANGEL WINGS YOU WEAR... ⊱♥⊰~
The day you left broke our hearts
and the tears fell like rain,
but knowing that you now have wings
helps to ease the pain.
⊱♥⊰~⊱♥⊰
We know now when the snow falls
it is Angel dust from you
and when we see a shooting star
our Angel just passed through.
⊱♥⊰~⊱♥⊰
The rain drops do not make us sad
for they are not tears,
but sprinkles of love falling down,
our Angel again is near.
⊱♥⊰~⊱♥⊰
The winter cold has even changed,
Jack Frost no longer exists,
it's now a visit from our Angel
and he's left a special gift.
⊱♥⊰~⊱♥⊰
You also visit in the night,
your wings flutter with grace,
we know now when we awaken
that an Angel has kissed our face.
⊱♥⊰~⊱♥⊰
When the days are warm and bright
and the sun shines from above,
we feel the warmth wrap around us,
you've given an Angel hug.
⊱♥⊰~⊱♥⊰
You are with us at all times,
every day and night,
you try to end the pain we have
and the tears that we still cry.
⊱♥⊰~⊱♥⊰
Though Heaven is your home now
and Angel wings you wear,
you stay close to those you love,
until they join you there.
⊱♥⊰~⊱♥⊰
Written by: Dolly Lee
Lots Of Love Always Sharon & Angel Stacey xxx
Simply put ...I really miss you
I've continued to ask why
Life took this dreadful wrong turn...
Now I often sit and cry
*♥* *♥*
Simply put ...my heart is broken
Most people have no clue
Unless they live this heartache...
They don't know what I've lived through
*♥* *♥*
Simply put... I long to hug you
Share a gentle warm embrace
Often spend each day just wishing....
This truth could somehow be erased
*♥* *♥*
Simply put... I can't remember...
The last time I heard your voice
Memories are often painful...
I was not given any choice
*♥* *♥*
Simply put... I know I'm grieving
Won't get better through the years
I have learned some coping methods...
To accept this new frontier
*♥* *♥*
Simply put... I'm good at masking
Denying what I feel
For I know deep down inside me...
I will never truly heal.
*♥* *♥*
Simply put...I really miss you
No one knows the pain I bear
Simply put... there is no reason
Losing you was just not fair.
*♥* *♥*
______♣♣♣______________♣♣♣
__♣♣♣_____♣♣_______♣♣____♣♣♣
_♣♣________♣♣_____♣♣_______♣♣
_♣___________♣___♣___________♣
_♣______To____♣_♣____________♣
__♣____________♣____________♣
___♣_______An Angel.. ._______♣
_____♣_______With _________♣
_______♣____ Love________♣
_________♣____xx_____♣
___________♣____ __♣
________♣_♣__♣___♣__♣_♣
_______♣____♣__♣__♣____♣
________♣_____♣♣_♣____♣
__________♣_♣__♣♣__♣
________________♣♣
_________________♣♣
__________________♣♣
_________________♣♣
________________♣♣
♥•*♥*•♥^♥• *♥*•♥
Three Little Words,xx
♥Three Little Words
Forget Me Not,
They Don't Say Much
But They Mean A lot,
Forget You Not
I Never Will,
For In My Heart
I Keep You Still.....♥
..*’’*. .*’’*...
.*.....*.....*..
..*..........*... -(’’v’’)
....*......*..... --’’v(’’v’’)
........’*’ ....... -----’’v’’
•:*:• ♥ •:*:•
The pain we feel inside today
Is the pain we try to hide,
For no one will ever know
The tears i cry inside.
♥•*♥*•♥^♥• *♥*•♥
It seems like only yesterday
The wound is still so sore.
For every hour of every day
We miss you more and more
For you are someone special
And think the world of you.
♥•*♥*•♥^♥• *♥*•
You gave us love
And lots more,
We have so much
To thank you for,
Silent thoughts,
Memories deep,
Locked in our hearts
For ever to keep.
♥•*♥*•♥^♥• *♥*•♥
♥ May the winds of love ♥
♥ blow softly and whisper ♥
♥ in your ear how much ♥
♥ we love and miss you ♥
♥ and wish that you were here♥
♥xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx♥
Love To You And Your Angel
Always Sharon & Angel Stacey xxx
♥***•♥***•♥***•♥***•♥***•♥***♥***♥***♥***♥***♥
........... (...(`.-``'**-.*)...)..........Just Peeking in
..............)......--.......--....(...........to say
............./......(o..._...o)....\..........Sweet
.............\.........(..0..)......./..........Dreams
..........__.`.-._...'='.._.-.*.__.......ANGEL
......./.......'#.'#.,.--.,.#'.#.'....\......
.......\__)).........'#'......... ((__/.....
♥***♥***♥***♥***♥***♥***♥***♥***♥***♥***♥***♥
.•**•.. ♥ .•**•.. ♥ .•**•.. ♥ •*♥ .•**•.. ♥
.................ღ ~ANGEL~ ♥
.......................ღ ~ANGEL~♥
...........................ღ~ANGEL~ ♥
..............................ღ ~ANGEL~ ♥
..............................ღ ~ANGEL~ ♥
............................ღ~ANGEL~ ♥
........................ღ ~ANGEL~ ♥
..................ღ~ANGEL~ ♥
.............ღ~ANGEL~ ♥
.........ღ ~ANGEL~ ♥
.....ღ ~ANGEL~♥
...ღ ~ANGEL~ ♥
.ღ.............................ღ....ღ ~ANGEL~ ♥
ღ..........................ღ...........ღ ~ANGEL~♥
.ღ......................ღ................ღ~ANGEL~ ♥
..ღ...................ღ..................ღ~ANGEL~ ♥
...ღ......................................ღ~ANGEL~ ♥
.....ღ...................................ღ~ANGEL~ ♥
........ღ..............................ღ ~ANGEL~ ♥
...........ღ.........................ღ~ANGEL~ ♥
..............ღ....................ღ~ANGEL~ ♥
..................ღ.............ღ~ANGEL~ ♥
.....................ღ.......ღ~ANGEL~♥.
.......................ღ..ღ~ANGEL~ ♥
ღ♥ღ Our angel in the sky
ღ♥ღ Our thoughts are always with you
ღ♥ღ Our angel in the sky
ღ♥ღ We love you
ღ♥ღ And always miss you
ღ♥ღ And many a day we cry.
ღ♥ღ You are some one special
ღ♥ღ our angel in the sky
ღ♥ღ why did god have to take you
ღ♥ღ how many days we ask why.?
ღ♥ღ There maybe distance between us
ღ♥ღ The distance may be far
ღ♥ღ But distance can never take
ღ♥ღ The feelings we have inside.
ღ♥ღ Oh our sweet Angel
ღ♥ღ We look for you in the sky
ღ♥ღ Hoping we could just see you
ღ♥ღ And wishing that you are nearby.
ღ♥ღ We cherish all the memories
ღ♥ღ Of you our sweet angel
ღ♥ღ Now living in the sky.
copyright ~ Jo Dalton 2009
Lots of Love Sharon & Angel Stacey xxx
♥***•♥***•♥***•♥***•♥***•♥***♥***♥***♥***♥***♥
MISSING YOU
Maria,
I miss you so much - each day is a struggle to get through without you. I miss our chats, I miss our cuggles, I miss you coming down the stairs when I come in from work. I miss your smile and your tantrums. Life just doesnt seem worth living without you - in fact, its not living....its existing.
How am I supposed to live this life without my precious Maria..my daughter, my best friend, my sole mate? There isnt a second of the day that goes by where I am not thinking of you.
I dont know why you were given this horrible illness and why you were taken from me....my heart is broken babes. There is a pain in the pit of my stomach...a pain I cannot describe but it is definitely very physical. I know you wouldnt want me to be upset...but I am. I cry for you and ask WHY? Why did this have to happen to my precious child....but then again, why not my child - if not mine, then it would be someone else's child.
Maria my love and thoughts are with you every second of every hour of every day....what I wouldnt give just to spend an hour with you...but if that wish was granted, I'd want another hour and another hour and another hour so I understand why this cant happen.
With all my love sweetheart.....from your broken hearted Mom xxx
Hello From Heaven
◕⊱✣⊰◕
It's me again from Heaven
With a message from above
Feel my spirit all around you
As I sprinkle you with love...
◕⊱✣⊰◕
I have watched you, as your tears flow
I have heard your silent screams
I know you sleep with visions
Of me visiting your dreams...
◕⊱✣⊰◕
I have come and sat beside you
Placed my hands upon your face
Wiped away the many teardrops
I so wish I could erase...
◕⊱✣⊰◕
I have watched you every day now
Seen such pain within your eyes
I just wish that there were some way
I could help you realise...
◕⊱✣⊰◕
I am happy up in Heaven
In this peaceful loving place
Where I will be here waiting
To welcome you with my embrace...
◕⊱✣⊰◕
You will join me here in Heaven
When your time comes you’ll see
Leave your Earthly cares behind you
Travel on to where you’re free...
◕⊱✣⊰◕
I have heard you ask to go now
But there is more for you to do
I promise I'll be waiting
When your time on earth is through ...
◕⊱✣⊰◕
13th October 2009
♥
♰`*` ♰ Another Star Up In The Sky`*`Another Angel Way Up High`*`Another Light To Guide The Way`*`Another Angel Too Far Away. ♰`*`♰
♥
____________$$$$$$
____________$$$$$$$$$
____________$$$$$$$$$
____________$$$$$$$$$$$
_____________$$$$$$$$$
_____$$$$$$_____$$$$$$$$$$
____$$$$$$$$__$$$$$$_____$$$
___$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$_________$
___$$$$$$$$$$$$$$______$__$
___$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$_____$$$_$
___$$$$$$$$$$$__________$$$_$_____$$
____$$$$$$$$$____________$$_$$$$_$$$$
______$$$__$$__$$$______________$$$$
___________$$____$_______________$
____________$$____$______________$
_____________$$___$$$__________$$
_______________$$$_$$$$$$_$$$$$
________________$$____$$_$$$$$
_______________$$$$$___$$$$$$$$$$
_______________$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
_______________$$_$$$$$$$$$$$$$$__$$
_______________$$__$$$$$$$$$$$___$_$
______________$$$__$___$$$______$$$$
______________$$$_$__________$$_$$$$
______________$$$$$_________$$$$_$_$
_______________$$$$__________$$$__$$
_____$$$$_________$________________$
___$$$___$$______$$$_____________$$
__$___$$__$$_____$__$$$_____$$__$$
_$$____$___$_______$$$$$$$$$$$$$
_$$_____$___$_____$$$$$_$$___$$$
_$$_____$___$___$$$$____$____$$
__$_____$$__$$$$$$$____$$_$$$$$
__$$_____$___$_$$_____$__$__$$$$$$$$$$$$
___$_____$$__$_$_____$_$$$__$$__$______$$$
____$$_________$___$$_$___$$__$$_________$
_____$$_$$$$___$__$$__$__________________$
______$$____$__$$$____$__________________$
_______$____$__$_______$$______________$$
_______$$$$_$$$_________$$$$$$$__$$$$$$
love Jude. X X
♥
♥*^i^*♥*^i^*♥*^i^*♥*^i^*♥*^i^*♥*^i^*♥*^i^*♥
You can shed tears that she is gone
or you can smile
because she has lived
You can close your eyes
and wish that she'll come back
or you can open your eyes
and see all she's left
You can remember her
and only that she's gone
or you can cherish her memory
and let it live on
♥*^i^*♥*^i^*♥*^i^*♥*^i^*♥*^i^*♥*^i^*♥*^i^*♥
♥**♥**♥♥**♥**♥♥**♥**♥♥**♥**♥♥**♥**♥
We'll Never Say Goodbye.
♥♥**♥**♥♥**♥**♥♥**♥**♥♥**♥**♥♥**♥**♥
I cannot see you with my eyes
Or hear you with my ears,
But thoughts of you are with me still
And often dry my tears.
You whistle in the rustling leaves,
That linger in the fall
And in the gentle evening breeze,
I'm sure I hear your call.
A part of you remains with me
That none can take away,
It gives me strength to carry on,
At dawning of new day.
I think of happy times we shared
And then I softly sigh
But then I know - we'll meet again
And never say goodbye.
♥♥**♥**♥♥**♥**♥♥**♥**♥♥**♥**♥♥**♥**♥*♥
Create an ever lasting memorial for your loved ones.
Start here »
Using the options below you can add this memorial to your personal garden.
| I am Maria's ... | |
| Add to Garden: | |
| Notifications: | Text Message |
There have been 445 candles lit for Maria.
