Brave Jonathan will be remembered for his smile

AN INSPIRATIONAL teenager who defied doctors to battle his life-limiting illnesses has died at the age of 19, leaving behind a legacy of laughter.Jonathan Whitaker, who was the first patient to stay at Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, was well-known in th

AN INSPIRATIONAL teenager who defied doctors to battle his life-limiting illnesses has died at the age of 19, leaving behind a legacy of laughter.

Jonathan Whitaker, who was the first patient to stay at Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, was well-known in the community for his sparkly eyes and sense of humour.

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Last September, he became the first young person to receive over-night care at the hospice and won over staff immediately with his cheeky personality and ever-lasting smile.

He was diagnosed with lissencaphaly, a condition affecting the brain, at the age of seven weeks.

And despite overcoming the odds to live longer than doctors predicted, Jonathan died recently

His mum, Sally Whitaker, of South Anston, said: "He became ill in June and needed a breathing machine to help his breathing overnight.

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"He was just so tired and because of the curvature in his spine, one of his lungs had become so compromised that he had recurrent chest problems.

"He fought so hard and had survived serious illness in the past, but this was his time.

"He will leave a big hole in so many people's lives, but he is peaceful now."

Sally and her husband David, have been Jonathan's full-time carers all his life, helped by their three daughters Vanessa, Rachel and Olivia.

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Sally added: "The whole family has been fantastic, especially Nick, Lee, auntie Janice and auntie Julia."

The Whitakers received support from the hospice staff for two years before the facility opened as part of its care in the community scheme.

Sally said that the opening of hospice had made such a difference to all their lives and paid tribute to the support from fund-raisers.

She said: "We are so grateful to all the wonderful people who have cared for Jonathan. "These include his consultant at the hospital and respite nurse who came one night a week to us at home and gave him such dedicated care which also carried on while he was at the hospice.

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"The staff have been so amazing, when it opened it was just the best thing and gave us some time on our own.

"Jonathan enjoyed going so much, he thought it was fabulous and nothing was too much trouble for them.

"At the drop of the hat, they would be there and Rotherham Hospital's children's ward was the same.

"Without the fund-raising efforts of the people of Rotherham, the hospice would not even be there, so thank you to everyone involved."