FIGHTING SPIRIT – JON’S LEGACY – READING AT JON’S FAREWELL WRITTEN & READ BY JUANITA BALL
I am very honoured that Jasmin asked me to say a few words. It is with sadness that I stand in front of you today to remember the life of Jon, a son, a brother, an uncle, a great uncle, a friend and an inspiration to us all. Losing someone you love is never easy, but when their life is taken away so unexpectedly it is that much more difficult. On the 8th January 2012 Jon’s father Erwin and sisters Jayne, Liesa, Jasmin and Melanie received the phone call that would change their lives forever. Jon had been airlifted to hospital after he had suffered a 4 metre fall which resulted in serious head injuries, his back broken in 3 places - the impact had crushed his spinal cord. No words can describe the road he and his family have endured over the past two years and four months in hospital. The suffering and pain he had to conquer and the health complications he had ahead of him were tremendously painful to watch.
“Fighting Spirit” was formed during those darkest days and was dedicated to Jon and his family for their strength, their will, and their absolute determination in their continual fight against adversity, the fight to keep Jon alive, the fight against incompetence and the fight against the mental anguish of desolation. No amount of tears or the right words can be used to describe the sadness and despair they all felt, the feeling of being helpless some days more than others was truly destroying to the soul. Through these trying times two things remained, the first being love, the love that bound them together as family and the second was hope, hope that one day Jon would be well enough to leave and come home. Hope did arrive and it was the sweetest memory of them all! Jon had made it home. The pure happiness of being free was plain to see. There was no missing that huge smile, the delight sparkling in his eyes. It shone brightly for all to see. Sadly tragedy struck and Jon passed away on Saturday 26th April, 2014. I cannot describe the feelings of such devastation and hopelessness that what was meant to be a new chapter in ones life had ended so suddenly. So here I stand today saying goodbye to “Jon” wondering why a life was taken away from us so soon. There is no answer to this question and I am left hoping once more. Hoping my words bring you some comfort, that his death is not in vain, he touched so many of us in those few years of pain. Hoping that Jon’s family find peace, peace in knowing you did your utmost best and know he now is truly free, hoping that some day when the wind blows the clouds away, the sky is blue and clear and the sun shines down to warm you, that you all will find the strength, the will, the determination to continue on his memory helping others to do the same, what we all came to love and hold close to our hearts as Jon’s legacy “Fighting Spirit”.
