‘Our beautiful, brave Rueben is back with his mummy’
TRAGIC TRIBUTE AFTER YOUNGSTER DIES FROM CANCER
A HEARTBROKEN family has revealed their son died exactly 365 days after a devastating brain tumour diagnosis.
Ten-year-old Rueben Walder passed away in the bed in which he was born, precisely a year after his family were told of his cancer.
The Holmfirth boy, who lived with his dad Stephen Walder and Stephen’s partner Liz Robb, died on Saturday morning with his family by his side.
His untimely death is a double tragedy for the family, who lost Rueben’s mum Cathy Temple to cancer in 2017, aged just 33.
Rueben had bravely fought his illness, undergoing brain surgery twice and dealing with the effects of chemotherapy.
In an emotional tribute, stepmother Liz Robb said the ten-year-old had been “returned to his mummy”.
She said: “Our beautiful, courageous, determined, strong, cheeky, mischievous young man, at the very young age of ten, took his very last breath in this world, surrounded by our amazing family who have supported us through everything.
“A nana and a grandad lost their grandson, our children lost a brother, his amazing aunty lost their nephew, friends lost their best friend and we lost our son.
“But we returned our inspirational young man to his mummy in heaven.
“The journey our whole family has been on this last year is beyond profound of any words we can find, but please know Rueben undoubtedly knew his own mind. A spade was a spade.
“He loved animals like no one we’ve ever known. He loved, nurtured and cared for everyone in his family. Always wanting to sort everyone out or be the boss of everyone. Telling us all how it was!
“So don’t worry Rue, you made sure over this last year that we’ve become so strong. You’ve helped mould us all into new, better versions of ourselves and for that we are all eternally grateful.”
Wellwishers are being invited to line the streets of Holmfirth to pay their respects prior to his funeral on June 15.
Rueben will leave his Holmfirth home accompanied by only his family and will proceed through Holmfirth village at 12.45pm prior to the funeral at Hey Lane Cemetery at Hall Bower.
The family say Rueben loved all colours of the rainbow and are asking that no-one wears black on the day. His favourite colour was pink.
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