Sean Antony Evans

Sean Antony Evans fell asleep on 10th August 2007 at the young age of 9yrs old. He passed away at
home in Ballykinler, N Ireland but had previously lived in Blackpool. He leaves behind devastated
parents Louise & Keith and three brothers, Ryan (14) and Callum (3)& Corey-Sean. Sean lost his
battle with Cancer after fighting this terrible disease for 13 mths.

He had originally been diagnosed in 1999 aged 15mths with a rare form of Cancer called
Rhabdomyosarcoma. The tumours were in his lungs and his right thigh muscle. The prognosis wasn't
good, if treatment didn't work he only had 5 weeks at most to live. He started chemotherapy and it
lasted for 18mths and had an operation to remove the tumour and thigh muscle. To our delight the
treatment was working and the tumours were shrinking. We were told that the Cancer was likely to
return but the longer he stayed clear the better the chances of survival. If the Cancer did return
there would be little they could do to save him as he had had so much chemo his body wouldn't be
able to take anymore, also he had been given all of the drugs that were available for this type of
Cancer. For the next few years we lived in fear every time he went for a check up. 1 year turned to
2, then before we knew it he had reached 5 yrs and was classed as in remission. The cancer was very
unlikely to return. We were overjoyed, our boy was a survivor! He lived a normal happy life.

Then in July 2006 he started complaining of back pain and to our horror we found another lump in
his leg. We knew instantly the cancer had returned. We took him to hospital where they confirmed our
worst thoughts, the Cancer was back, only this time it was in more places than before. He had a
tumour on his spinal cord, one in his leg and in his lymph glands. It was progressing fast, within a
week of finding the lump he was paralised. His doctor took us into her office and broke the news
that Sean was going to die, there was nothing they could do to save him. They said that there had
been developments in treatment since the last time he was ill and they could give him new drugs that
if worked would only buy him extra time. We agreed, anything to give us more time with our son. We
explained to Sean that he had Cancer again or lumps as he put it, but we never told him he wasn't
going to get better, we couldn't do that to our boy, he was too young to understand. He started
treatment and at first the tumours started to shrink, he was back on his feet for a while. After the
course of treatment they suggested Radiotherapy to again buy some extra time. Whilst undergoing that
the tumours started to grow again, and spread, the doctor explained to us that their options were
running out, there was however an experimental drug they could try that was still in the
laborortries being tested but it may be worth a try, we agreed without hestitation. Sadly the
treatment wasn't working and there was nothing more they could do. In july 2007 we had to make the
heartbreaking decision to stop all treatment and Sean was administered Palliative care. My husband
is in the army and so our battallion was moving from England to N Ireland and we chose to move too.
Sean was unaware that he was dying and we wanted him to remain with his friends and the life on camp
he had always known. We needed the support of our friends and my husbands unit so on 9th July we
packed up the house and moved overseas. Sean was very poorly by this point and it was very emotional
on the boat over as we knew this was going to be Seans final journey with us. He would never move
with us again. When we arrived in Ireland he was deteriating rapidly, the doctors there told us we
only had weeks left with him. He was on canstant morphine and completely bed ridden. We nursed him
at home so he could be around his family and familiar things.

At 10am on 10 August Sean slipped into a coma and took his final breath on this earth. He was not
alone, my husband & I were with him when he left. Even though we had known this day would come for
13 mths we weren't prepared to lose our son. We had nursed him and seen to his every need, watched
him deteriate right in front of our eyes without being able to help our son, and now he was gone.
Forever! At his funeral service everyone wore football shirts as a final tribute to our brave boy,
and the brigade buglers played as his coffin was carried from the church. Balloons were released as
a symbol of release from his pain. We had Sean cremated as because we move around so often we
couldn't bear to leave him behind. We have his ashes in a Huggable Urn, it's a special teddy that
holds childrens ashes. We chose a grey persian cat for Sean as he loved cats, so much in fact he had
more stuffed cats than you could count. That way he is always with us and can go wherever we go.
In life Sean was full of energy, a happy friendly little boy. He loved to play army with his friends
and wanted to grow up and be a soldier, just like his dad. He always had a smile on his face, even
when his illness was at it's worst. He was a very loving person, was always making people laugh. As
a son he was kind, caring, loving and most of all thoughtful. He was always telling me he loved me
and on birthdays & mothers day would spoil me rotten, making cups of tea writing little notes. He
adored his dad always by his side. His loss has left such a massive void in our family that can
never be filled. We miss the sound of his voice ringing through the house, his little hugs & kisses
his beautiful smile. His elder brother Ryan misses him so much, what hurts him the most is Sean died
the day before Ryans 13th birthday, and he so wanted his brother to be there enjoying the day.
Callum who is now 3 misses him also, even though he's still so young he knows Seany has gone, but we
will tell him all about his brave special brother.Sean became a big brother again in October 31st,
we named him Corey-Sean in honour of the brave brother he will never know. We will tell Corey-Sean
all about his special angel brother & how his name is special. Sean will never ever be forgotten by
his heartbroken parents & brothers.
Sean we miss you so very much you will always be our brave little soldier. You will never be
forgotten. We love you always & forever.

Sean also has another web page dedicated to him at http://seanevans.memory-of.com