A superhero send-off for brave little Jayden
The family of a one-year-old baby who has died are planning to give him the “superhero” funeral they say he deserves.
Jayden Parker, from Washington, had problems with his heart, lungs and liver, and underwent a series of operations as the Freeman Hospital’s specialists worked to give him the best start.
But the tot, who was diagnosed with his health troubles before he was born, died on Monday, April 5, leaving his loved ones devastated by their loss.
Now they have launched an appeal to help raise the funds needed to give Jayden a funeral to reflect the bravery he showed during his treatment, with much of his short life spent in hospital.
He leaves mum Deborah Harper, 38, dad Marc Parker, 41, and siblings Toni Fair, 20, Lauren Fair, 18, Megan Fair, 16, Layton Fair, 15, and Lucas Parker, six.
More than £1,000 has been raised so far towards the service, which will be held at a church in Washington village, with funeral arrangements still being made.
Sister Toni said: “He was really happy and he loved dancing and wiggling.
"My Mam wants a superhero coffin for him because he was like a superhero in the way that he would fight.
"I just don’t want her to worry about it and we want to give him the best send-off we can.
"Every time I see money go in, I just cry and you realise how many people want to help.”
Jayden’s great-uncle David Harper has launched a Go Fund Me page to collection donations.
The page says: “Just want to help my sister give the send-off my little superhero nephew deserves.
"He has fought so hard but sadly his fight is over.
"So many ops later, heart, lungs and liver problems, but yet he still had a fight inside him.
"Just sadly he needed to rest and couldn’t take no more.
"He has shown us what fight we all need in our lives, a true Superman, anything anyone could give to help will mean so much.”
The donations page, which was set up earlier this week, can be found via https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-a-little-superhero-tohave-a-super-send-off