Parents in emotional farewell to brave Ash
UNDER a century-old evergreen tree and with pastel pink balloons blowing in the breeze, heartbroken parents Tony and Tracey Simrajh said their final goodbyes to their beloved daughter Ashleigh.
“I know she’s standing here beside me, I truly believe that, and I know when I’m talking about her she’s going to roll her eyes, because that’s what she does when Dad talks about her,” Mr Simrajh said of his 23-year-old, who died on September 15 after a fierce battle with melanoma.
Her funeral was at Braeside in Merrimac on Saturday, exactly two weeks after the Gold Coaster married her fiance Jason Hale, and everyone was wearing bright colours as requested by Ash.
Ashleigh first noticed a lump on her thigh in 2017 but by the time she was properly diagnosed in May last year the cancer had spread and she became terminal. Her family has launched legal action against two doctors who allegedly failed to diagnose her cancer.
“Tracey was already in love with the child she had growing inside her but as soon as she was born I immediately fell in love with my baby girl,” Mr Simrajh said.
“The minute she was born she was just the apple of my eye.”
Mr Simrajh told the 40 or so friends and family that his “strong-willed melanoma warrior” was dressed in her pyjamas because her favourite place was in bed.
“Ash and I had a special bond, she became my best friend. Ash and I were best friends first, and father and daughter second,” he said, choking back tears.
“Mum provided the emotional support. Trace has done an amazing job in providing emotional support for her, and I provide all the problem-solving skills for her.
“And in that way together we were able to bring her up to be an amazing young lady who has been taken way too soon from us all.”
Mr Simrajh urged friends and family to ensure that Ashleigh’s story didn’t finish with her death.
“Her story needs to be spread, not just about a beautiful young lady who passed away too soon, not about an amazing wedding which it was, to an amazing guy Jason, and not just about someone who got cancer,” he said.
“Ash’s story is about people who we trust, doctors, not doing their jobs properly.
“Her story is that if you don’t feel right, if a doctor doesn’t do the basics, go see someone else.
“Ashleigh, you’ll never be forgotten … you’ll always be in our hearts.”