Daniel James Round

I loved the boy with the utmost love of which my soul is capable; and he is taken from me — yet in the agony of my spirit in surrendering such a treasure I feel a thousand times richer than if I had never possessed it.”
- William Wordsworth


I had cancer.
There isn't any explanation as to why I got sick.
All I know is God has a plan for each of us and
for each plan there is a purpose.
Some of us know what our purpose in life is and others will never find it.
Then there are those like me who accomplished it without ever realizing it.
My journey with cancer has not been without purpose.
It is through my illness that I helped doctors understand this disease a little more so they may find a cure.
It is through my illness that I opened the eyes of those around me to how precious life really is.
Something we all too often take for granted.
It is through my illness that some of those that were around me realized that life was too short to be afraid of our feelings.
My cancer was beaten back by the power of love and love surrounded me when I took my last breath.
It is the most powerful of emotions, one not to be afraid of, but to be embraced.
To be loved by someone unconditionally and
completely is to reach into your soul and feel warmth.
It is through my illness that I have shown there is no guarantee for the future — only dreams for it.
Whether the future is just another day or another 75 years, we should all dream big and live fully everyday.
It is through my illness that I saw the strong cry, only to find more strength.
It is through my illness that some who hadn't talked to God in a while once again began to pray.
It is through my illness that I joined the hands of those familiar to those of strangers, who may never have met.
I accomplished so much in such a short amount of time and each day I continue to touch the hearts of many.

THAT WAS MY PURPOSE
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Our beautiful son Daniel James Round (Danny) was born on 9th June 1993. He fell asleep and left this world on 10th March 2007. He was 13 years old. Danny collapsed whilst we were on a family holiday in Cornwall. A tumour was found on his lower spine which had spread to his pelvis and sacrum and was spidering up his spine, he also had numerous tumours in both his lungs. He was diagnosed on 23rd August 2003 with Ewing's Sarcoma. The doctor's weren't sure whether he would survive his first chemo - but he did and he eventually started to respond to his chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Although his tumour was inoperable, we finally had a glimmer of hope. He had severe nerve damage and no amount of drugs stopped this pain. He left hospital on 2nd June 2004 in a wheelchair unable to walk, but alive and in remission. Danny played rugby for his town, football for his school and had just been made a pack leader at scouts just before his diagnosis. He loved to ride his motorcross bike and enjoyed magic and being with his friends and family. He virtually lived in sport's shops and had discovered aftershave which I can still smell and taste even now!! One thing he was determined to do was to walk again, eventhough the doctor's said not to be too hopeful that he will. He endured months and months of painful physio, but he did it, he walked again. We found out in June 2006 that his cancer had returned and that there was nothing more that could be done for him. Danny fell asleep in our arms with beautiful dignity at 6.15pm on Saturday 10th March 2007. We feel blessed that Danny left us so peacefully. He was in no pain or distress, he just stopped breathing and fell into eternal sleep. Danny had such a presence about him, you knew when he had walked into a room. He had such a kindness and serenity about him that people were drawn to him. The tributes people have paid to him have been remarkable and uplifting; an English oak tree has been planted in his honour, to grow and become strong just as Danny was; his primary school have renamed their library the "Danny Round Library" in his honour and a beautiful bench was made for him and placed next to his grave so we can sit with our wonderful memories of him. His love keeps us strong and the thought of how much respect people had (and still have) for Danny. How much he has changed people's lives for the better and how he is spoken of with such compassion, love and admiration. He was just a child - and we are so, so proud of him. He isn't just our son, but also a beautiful human being who cared, had a wicked sense of humour and had so much to give.

To infinity.......................... And beyond

Danny's story was followed by our local press - you can read his many stories at www.rochdaleobserver.co.uk

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GOODNIGHT OUR HERO

To be brave is to cry
But still to fight on,
And that's what you did
Our hero, our son.

The battle was hard
We thought we had won,
But still you fought on
Our hero, our son.

The happiness you brought
To the lives you have touched,
Will live on forever
As you are loved so, so much.

Our hero, our son.

When we close our eye's we can see you,
When we whisper your name we can hear you
And when we reach with our hearts we can touch you.

Goodnight our hero, our son, our Dan
You're just a child,
But you have died a man.
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