| Location | Birmingham |
| Age | 17 years |
| Cause of Death | Leukaemia |
| Date of Birth | 06/07/1988 |
| Date of Death | 09/07/2005 |
| Visitors | 5,220 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 βIβm in hospital and Iβve got leukaemiaβ. 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 didnβt 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 β 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 βMom. . .β I knew something was coming as I recognised the way she said βMomβ.
She said βIβve come to terms with losing my hair β Iβve got more important things to think about havenβt I!β 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 β it meant she wasnβt 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 β no parent should hear the words βIβm sorry, your child has cancerβ, let alone βIβm sorry, thereβs nothing more we can doβ. 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 βnow go on β get on with itβ.
Sadly Mariaβs story is not as rare as you may think. Every day in the UK, six teenagers or young adults are diagnosed with cancer. Thatβs 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 Mariaβs 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, didnβt smoke, didnβt 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 Mariaβs 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 havenβt thought about her. She would be 20 now and I canβt 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.
β€
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β€
Thinking of you on your 6th Heavenly Angelversary Maria
β€
*α¦*~~~~*α¦*~~~~~*α¦**~~~~~~*α¦*~~~~~*α¦**~~~~~~*α¦*~~~~~*α¦*
β€.... β£...THINKING OF YOU ON YOUR ANGEL DAY... β£ ... .β€
*α¦*~~~~*α¦*~~~~~*α¦**~~~~~~*α¦*~~~~~*α¦**~~~~~~*α¦*~~~~~*α¦*
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*α¦*~~~~*α¦*~~~~~*α¦**~~~~~~*α¦*~~~~~*α¦**~~~~~~*α¦*~~~~~*α¦*
β€........... β£... REMEMBERING YOU WITH LOVE....β£ ............. β€
*α¦*~~~~*α¦*~~~~~*α¦**~~~~~~*α¦*~~~~~*α¦**~~~~~~*α¦*~~~~~*α¦*
β€
Today is very special Maria,
It comes by once a year.
It’s the day you went to Heaven
And the day you left me here.
I know I should be happy Maria,
You’re in your Heavenly home.
But instead I feel so empty
And oh so all alone.
Yes today is very special
The day you grew your wings.
You left so very quickly
You didn’t take your things.
Instead you left me crying,
Yet hoping all the while
That someday I will remember
This day with a smile.
Anonymous 30.8.10
GOD BLESS YOU PRECIOUS ANGEL, WATCH OVER YOU BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. THEY MISS YOU SO MUCH. ALL MY LOVE XOXO PRINCESS
♥
♥.........Goodnight and God Bless............♥
♥~Darling Angel…..
*♥~Last night at bedtime I looked out
**♥~to say goodnight to you
***♥~and out the window through the clouds
****♥~a star came shining through...
*****♥~It sparkled and it twinkled
******♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥~like a precious diamond stone
**************♥~it looked as if it winked at me
*************♥~and I felt less alone...
************♥~On earth we can see starlight
***********♥~even if the star has gone
************♥~and though you are not with me
*************♥~your light still does shine on...
**************♥~So though I cannot kiss your face
***************♥~or hug you oh so tight
*****♥~I'll look to Heaven, see a star
****♥~and whisper your goodnight...
***♥~Good night my darling dearest Angel
**♥~I love and miss you so much
*♥~So much it really hurts
♥~please shine bright for me tonight.
~~~~~~~~~~Rachel Bass ~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~Love Jude. x x ~~~~~~
♥
α¦ α¦ α¦ All My Love Beautiful Angel α¦ α¦ α¦
*α¦..........α¦* *α¦..........α¦* *α¦..........α¦* *α¦..........α¦* *α¦..........α¦*
*α¦.......α¦* *α¦Heavenly *α¦.......α¦* *α¦ shona sengupta. ..α¦*
*α¦..........α¦* *α¦..........α¦* *α¦..........α¦* *α¦..........α¦* *α¦..........α¦*
How will heaven be?
As far as I can see
It will have huge bells
And will be situated on clouds
It will have many golden wells
That will so often swell
Rain will be abundant
And the sun will shine all day long
Angels will play on the harp
The sweetest summer song
Music that will touch the heart
While those beneath will shed drops of sorrow
Little will they know what will happen on the morrow
But to them up above
As plain and clear it will be
As far as far as I can see
Yes there will be misty alleys
And lush green meadows
Fresh with the fragrant smell of spring
Winter will never be bitter
Summer never so hot
Autumn never so bare
And resources never so scarce
Food for all will be relished by all.
Grateful we’ll be as grateful can be
Mountains high and strong and brown
Surrounding that hidden land,
Beautiful and vast seas I see
There colour as blue as sapphire can be
And the white waves lashing upon the shore
Sitting on the flattened grey rocks
Who would not call it absolutely heavenly?
However it might actually be,
But can we still not see
There will lie behind this seen
A relieving feeling of bliss
For where not have we been
But is this not by all believed
That after one’s decease
This is the land of eternal peace
Where we all ultimately reach?
*α¦..........α¦* *α¦..........α¦* *α¦..........α¦* *α¦..........α¦* *α¦..........α¦*
Happy Birthday Babes
Happy Birthday Maria - Another Birthday has come along - but there is no excitement, no cards, no presents, no Happy Birthday song - just beautiful memories remembering the joy you brought to me.. I am going to collect your flowers shortly and will visit your special place. I hope your Angel friends are throwing you a massive party - I love you with all my heart babes and miss you every second of every day. God Bless my beautiful Maria ♥ With all my love......Mom ♥
β€
....*....*...*...*..
....β_β_β_β
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
οΏΌοΏΌοΏΌοΏΌοΏΌοΏΌ
___ββββ
.ββββββββ
Π½αρρΡ Π²ιΡΡΠ½∂αΡ. x
β€
Happy 23rd Heavenly Birthday Maria
β« *β«*β« *β«*β« *β«*β« *β«*β« *β«*β« *β«*β« *β«
...............Happy Heavenly Birthday .............
β« *β«*β« *β«*β« *β«*β« *β«*β« *β«*β« *β«*β« *β«
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-----------------{*~*~*~*~*~*~*}
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------------ {~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~}
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--------- {~*~*~*~HAPPY~*~*~*~*~}
----- -{~*~*~*~*~BIRTHDAY~*~*~*~*}
---- {~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~}
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β« β« Happy Birthday To You β« β«
β« β« Happy Birthday To You β« β«
β« β« Happy Birthday Dear Mariaβ« β«
β« β« Happy Birthday To You β« β«
GOD BLESS YOU BEAUTIFUL ANGEL. ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. SEND YOUR FAMILY LOTS OF SIGNS AND LET THEM KNOW YOUR ALL AROUND. ALL MY LOVE XOXO
β€
A Sweet Mother's Love
A Mother's love is truly priceless;
Worth more than diamonds, silver, or gold.
We recognize her sacrifices
As, through the years, our lives unfold.
She taught us all about God's word.
With unending faith, her voice was heard.
Her patient heart came from above,
For us to cherish 'Sweet Mother's love'.
Mother's don't judge you, even if you're wrong.
Their love is steadfast, loyal, and strong.
She sows good seed, from up above,
Then cultivates them with her love.
A Mother's love is rare, indeed.
She takes care of our every need.
Even when her golden hair turns gray,
Sweet Mother's love is here to stay.
Happy Mother's Day, Mom!
I love You!
And, Happy Mother's Day
To all Mothers, everywhere.
Copyright ~ 2003 Vickie Lambdin
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_______(_,-}={-,_)___DAY.____
_________//((_____XX
β€
Hiya Babes
Feeling very low and lonely tonight - it's my birthday tomorrow but you aren't here to rush in to my bedroom in the morning.....I love and miss you so much Maria.....my heart is broken forever. I miss you babes and love you always ♥
A MILLION HUGS, A MILLION KISSES I`M SENDING UP ABOVE.
THERE FOR ALL OUR PRECIOUS ANGELS THERE TO SHARE AROUND WITH LOVE.
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY BEAUTIFUL ANGELS
LOVE FROM SUE
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There have been 844 candles lit for Maria.
