New play area means Cian will remain a big part of his old school
‘Caring and loving’ six-year-old Cian Case
CIAN Case will always be embedded within the community of Llanharan.
He was a charismatic and incredibly loving little boy, his dad said.
Cian was just six years old when he died after a battle with cancerous spinal and brain tumours.
He was admitted to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in late November 2015 with tummy pains. Investigations showed there was a tumour on the spine.
By July 2016, joyous scenes at the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital of Wales in Cardiff saw him ring the bell to signal the end of his treatment.
After seven months of treatment, his family were told Cian would be discharged from hospital, with an MRI scan showing treatment had been successful.
But, after relapsing in November 2017, he died at his home in Llanharan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on January 29, 2018, surrounded by his family.
It was news that shattered the community.
Cian was said to be an “energetic and charismatic person who always liked getting stuck into things”.
His father Richard Case, 45, said: “When we were told he was having treatment we thought he would go into himself, but he remained positive right until the end. Even things like motivating himself to walk to the park and back – that’s what he believed would make him get better.
“But Cian was also incredibly loving – there were definitely these two sides to him.”
Nearly three years later, Cian is still being remembered in the community, and a play area at his former primary school has now been opened to honour his life.
Some of Cian’s favourite things have been incorporated in the memorial area that’s recently been revealed at the school.
“Cian’s Playground” was unveiled at
Llanharan Primary School this month and his father, Richard, said it was an “emotional” time for the family as they approach the anniversary of his death.
Richard said: “About this time is actually taken back to bad memories, so having something positive may dampen some of those bad memories.
“When next November comes around we can mark this as one of the ways we can keep Cian in our hearts.”
Earlier this month, Cian’s parents, Lorraine and Richard, together with his siblings, Dylan and Bethany, officially opened the new outdoor space that has been dedicated to little Cian.
A large sign has also been put in the area that even features some of his handwriting.
The company that helped to design and install it is owned by the father of Cian’s friend, who also helped to design Cian’s coffin when he passed away.
Richard said: “All of the images were chosen by the family and by Cian’s friends. There’s a penguin, which was his favourite animal, an orange ribbon for his favourite colour, the Cardiff City logo and also the WWE logo as he loved wrestling. His friends also chose the stars and the hills.
“It’s nice for us to be able to remember him, but it’s lovely when other people remember him.
“The people of Llanharan really took Cian into their hearts.”
The family had known for a couple of years the school wanted to plan something, and they are delighted that Cian has been honoured.
“It’s amazing because it means he’s still a part of the school,” added Richard.
Following the opening of the playground, Councillor Geraint Hopkins, chairman of governors at Llanharan Primary School and Rhondda Cynon Taf Cabinet Member for Adult Community Services and Welsh Language, said: “I was privileged and honoured to join Cian’s family and friends in attending the opening ceremony of Cian’s playground earlier this week.”