Dawtrey family pay tribute to community after death of son | This is ...

WHEN Robert Dawtrey?s young life was taken away by cancer, his family was thrown in to turmoil.

But his mum Sarah says the support of some very special people in and around Stroud means her family?s pain has been easier to bear in Robert?s final 18 months of life, and after his death.

1. Robert Dawtrey with his sister Lisette

2. Sarah and Tony Dawtrey

3. Robert aged 20 on holiday in France

?We are not from Stroud and moved here when Robert became ill, and I want to express our deepest thanks and gratitude to his carers, medical staff and people who touched his life and our lives in so many ways,? said Sarah, as the six-month anniversary of his death approaches. She has also had to cope with her husband Tony, 69, suffering two serious strokes.

Robert was just 24 when he died on March 5 after battling a brain tumour for just over a year.

He moved to the area after sixth form college on the Isle of Wight, because he had special needs which could be best met at Ruskin Mill College in Horsley.

Born premature, he had Asberger?s Syndrome and hearing problems. As such, he felt it hard to make friends but Sarah said his personal tutor Adam Morrigan brought out the best in him.

He spent three happy years there, learning to weave, pot, and make stained glass windows and jewellery, before heading to Stroud College to study carpentry.

Care group Aspirations gave him a secure home life in Stroud and Sarah said when he was diagnosed, staff made it possible for him to stay at home in Bisley Old Road.

?His radiotherapy was at Bristol Oncology unit under Dr Kirsten Hopkins, and she and the staff there were wonderful with him,? she said.

?He spent most of 2011 in hospital and his Aspirations carers were with him too.?

She had high praise for Cotswold Care Hospice near Minchinhampton where she said Dr Kath Blindman and Carole Neale of the care team along with Aspirations carer Gwenda Collinson helped him, his family and his carers come to terms with dying.

?When he lost the vision in one eye in February 2011, he took it in his stride, believing it would return once the tumour had gone,? she said.

?Sadly that would never happen.?

He lost his remaining sight in November last year, after the tumour on his brain returned and grew. He was given between four and six months to live.

?He knew he was going to die,? said Sarah.

?He asked if he could donate his corneas for transplant, as he knew what it felt like to go blind, and if his eyes could help save someone else, his life would not have been in vain.?

Sadly organ donation was not possible but Sarah has donated Robert?s brain to medical science in the hope that one day studying it may help save a life.

His final trip out was to the Lock Keepers Cafe Bar in Stroud in January 2012, where Sarah said Wendy Townsend and her staff treated Robert and his family like their own.

He died in the arms of his mum, his sister Lisette, and his aunt Melle on March 5.

?All he wanted out of life was to be a carpenter, find a girl to love and marry, and have a family,? said Sarah, 53.

?None of his dreams came true. He died in dignity, in peace.?

Reverend Brian Wollaston conducted the funeral service at St Laurence Church, Stroud, and treasured possessions including his trademark ?Crocodile Dundee? leather hat, family photos and his Hong Kong rugby sevens shirt were with him in his coffin.

At Robert?s request, his favourite jam donuts and strawberry jam sandwiches were served at his wake at the Lock Keepers.

Source: http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Dawtrey-family-pay-tribute-community-death-son/story-16734722-detail/story.html

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