In remembrance of Otto: 1 November 2002-11 August 2007
Otto was an adorable baby and
a wonderful child. He had a fantastic sunny personality and charmed
those around him with his beautiful smile and enthusiastic laugh. His
enthusiasm for life shone throughout his life. I remember the day he
very enthusiastically painted the outside wall and glass doors to the
garden. And with how much enthusiasm he let rip with 'baa-baa black
sheep' in church, when he wanted to chat and we told him it was time to
sing!
He had a very good sense of humor too and was able to see the funny side
of life. Otto was in stitches standing on the jetty while watching his
dad and Mark struggling to steer the dinghy in the harbor. It was
so obvious they were just going nowhere. And the day in hospital when a
nurse came in the room to turn off an alarm and she remarked, 'You're
beeping' and Otto chirped back, 'No, I'm Otto':)
Otto had an incredible
sensitive streak in his personality and from a very early age wanted to
help those around him who he sensed was distressed. Very suitably one
of his favorite games was playing 'rescue'. He was the first child at
his nursery who connected with a little wheelchair-bound girl. He sat
holding her hand during playtime and also helped to push her out to
where the mummies waited after school. Even though he enjoyed a good
session of rough-and-tumble play with the other kids and stood up for
himself when the occasion demanded it, Otto could never understand the
senseless hurting of each other. He got very upset when anyone picked a
fight with him.
Like most children Otto could be very cunning and determined and usually
used it to his own advantage. I had to smile the day he figured out that
the money in his little piggy could be used to buy stuff too. He was
about 3. We were on our way to the corner shop and he kept on asking for a
lollipop and me as usual said no, using the oldest excuse in the book
that I had no money. Otto piped up that he had money in his piggy, we
could use that! Once he got the idea he didn't hesitate to use it on a
larger scale and next time he asked for another train and I said no once
again because of the money-issue, he reminded me gently about his
piggy-bank. How could I refuse?
Otto was fortunately too little to understand cancer and
the treatment that goes with it. But he had so much patience that he endured
everything that happened to him without a lot of fuss, even at the worst
of times. His patience had always amazed us: the way he ate a lollipop,
1 lick at a time; he could wait before eating his treat from the shop,
until we got home; especially his patience with his little sister Maya.
Once he understood that she was too little to understand certain things,
Otto would wait patiently until she had a nap before building a
complicated train-track around the living room floor. Relying on that
same patience, Otto sat on a bed in hospital for weeks on end without
complaining, waiting for the day we'd tell him it was time to go home.
His patience went hand in hand with a heart filled with courage. The
cancer being too strong for his body is in no way a reflection of the
valiant battle he fought against it. And courageously Otto nodded his
head when I told him the angels in heaven will look after him when mummy
and daddy stay here on earth to take care of his sister and baby
brother.
His biggest wish was to go to South Africa and swim in the sea again with his cousins.
Otto spent a few glorious days with them on a holiday the previous year
and he never forgot the experience. We promised to take him, but unfortunately didn't get the opportunity before his too short life was over.
This has taught us that life is too short to be sitting around waiting
for life to happen to us. Something that kids perhaps understand better.
Otto was our boy and we will not forget him.
We want to share our story to raise awareness for the
debilitating disease (medullablastoma) that took Otto's life and to raise funds in
Otto's memory, to help other children and their families going
through the worst time imaginable.
... to
Sand Rose
Project, for letting us stay in their beautiful cottage in
Cornwall in April. Pictures
... to the directors and staff of County
Contractors who have made a donation to the Royal Marsden Cancer
Campaign in Otto's memory, instead of sending Christmas cards
for 2007.
... very much Paul and Michele who sent a
generous donation to Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign in Otto's
name, instead of sending Christmas cards for 2007.
... so much to Pete and Claudia for letting us
stay in their beautiful villa in Spain when our trip to the USA
didn't happen. Our holiday
... for every beautiful message we received on Otto's
birthday, by
phone, card, email, txt. It brings his family great comfort to
know that people are thinking of Otto.
... to Nicola Dann, who has asked her
family and friends to donate to
CHASE, instead of buying her new
baby (born 29 Oct 2007) gifts.
... to Sophie, who has generously
donated child minding fees for Maya to Otto's fund.
Events for CHASE
Donations received
5th July 2008 - Asics British 10k London Run
- we're sending Paul for this one. Why not get out your running
shoes and join him!
You're guaranteed a place in the Run if you enter for one of the
500 participating charities, £250 sponsorship is a
requirement. Each charity has limited places.
There is a box on the entry form online where you can enter your
charity of choice. Contact them directly about your entry and
sponsorship after you've entered. Details of the charities are
on the
Asics British 10k London Run's website.
Paul is running for CHASE.