Liam’s story
Our son Liam aged 11 became ill in May 2011, he started being sick and having headaches which we assumed was a bug he had picked up from his Dad who was also ill that week. By the following week he couldn’t open his left eye and Liam was unable to tolerate bright lights and noise. He went to our local GP who referred him straight away to Peterborough City Hospital and they sent him for a CT scan the same day and a brain tumour was found.
That night Liam was transferred to Addenbrookes hospital with his Mum so they could arrange an MRI scan and make a decision on what to do next. Liam had an operation to remove as much of the tumour as possible. We then received the devastating news that it was an aggressive tumour called Glioblastoma grade 4 and Liam’s life expectancy was 12 to 18 months. The treatment Liam received was chemotherapy and radiotherapy to give him some quality of life.
Liam lost his fight 11 months later on the 6th April 2012 after spending his final weeks at home with his family looking after him.
As a family we wanted Liam to enjoy life to the full. We had many holidays during this time and his favourite was to Gran Canaria where he had a great time with his brother, Callum and sister, Megan where many happy memories were made.
Family and friends soon rallied round to raise money for us to go on these holidays and also donated money to the Children’s Cancer Ward at Addenbrookes Hospital and the Peterborough City Hospital children’s ward. Money was raised from a bike ride, golf day, ladies lunch and donations from quiz nights.
Liam was a very fun loving boy with a fantastic smile. He enjoyed life to the full. During his treatment he never once complained and would make everyone laugh. He did get tired but went to school at least once a week for a couple of lessons.
This Supporter Group has been set up in Liam’s memory to help raise money into research of brain tumours in the hope that someday a cure will be found.
“So although we shall all shed a few tears today, we should also smile, laugh and raise a cheer for the star that watches over us …Liam Pridmore”
The star that watches over us
Liam is looking down on us all today with that big smile on his face.
He is smiling because he is very happy to see us all – The people that he loves, has spent time with, laughed with, cried with and was also probably cheeky to at some point!
Liam had a number of wonderful qualities that we will all remember him for. He was amongst many other things, funny, loving, kind, adventurous, caring, silly and very very brave. He was also a great wind up merchant. One of his favourite tricks was jumping out from nowhere and frightening the living daylight out of you.
We will all today have numerous memories of Liam as the complete Son, Brother, Grandchild, Friend and companion. He loved people and being surrounded by his family and friends. His love for us and his laughter, sounds and soul will surround us all for the rest of lives and never be forgotten.
His bravery and strength in the face of adversity will remain with us all and continue to help us realise that life, however short, should be lived to the full and we should celebrate the time that we have together.
And so we celebrate and remember the life of Liam Pridmore. He is a star now that will shine brightly upon us today, tomorrow and every day for the rest of our days. He will walk with us, he will laugh with us and he will reach out his hand and guide us.
The challenges that Liam and his family have faced over the last year have brought us all together. We have bonded together for their cause and we have re-discovered our sense of community, our sense of loyalty, our sense of respect for each other and above all our sense of unity and strength.
So although we shall all shed a few tears today, we should also smile, laugh and raise a cheer for the star that watches over us …Liam Pridmore
Ruth Pridmore