The 18-year-old touched the hearts of people across the country with his positivity.
The heartbroken family of inspirational teenager Blake McCaughey have spoken about how they are keeping his memory alive five months on from his death.
The 18-year-old, from Tandragee, touched the hearts of people across the country with his positivity. He was a Belfast Giants season ticket holder for over 12 years, an avid Liverpool FC fan and a member of Portadown True Blues Flute Band.
Blake, who had a rare genetic disorder, died on Saturday, January 17, after emergency services were called to the family home when he took ill. Despite their best efforts, which saw his mum Christine perform CPR and “every avenue explored”, he sadly passed away.
Since losing their ‘beloved Blake’ earlier this year very suddenly and unexpectedly, his grieving family – including mum Christine, dad Andy and sister Pixie – along with his many friends and supporters, the teen is being lovingly remembered.
Reflecting on how the family have been coping in the months since losing Blake, his mum Christine told Belfast Live: “We’re holding it together. Blake was always so upbeat, even though he was in and out of the hospital for so much in his life. He had one hospital stay that was extended over three years, and he never once gave off or complained.
“As much as the grief is so heavy, it would be wrong of us to let it take hold of us. There’s so much that happens around the week or so when a loss happens, but life changes after that.
“We’ve gone from a house where we had nurses in five days a week for eight hours a day, and then you go from that to the door not knocking for a while. He had five different medical devices in his abdomen and was fed through his heart, directly through a line. When you go from that level of 24/7 care to nothing, it’s a huge void, but now Pixie wants to channel her energy and help others.”
Following Blake’s passing, 15-year-old Pixie set up a charity in her brother’s name – Blake’s Lasting Legacy – to help other families living with children who are medically complex and also walking alongside those families navigating the loss of a child or young person.
Christine told us: “Pixie has also been distributing memory boxes to hospital wards, nursing teams and funeral directors who then pass these on to the family on the loss of their child. Inside are numerous items to make lasting memories at such difficult times.
“She’s also making sibling packs which are given out to brothers and sisters who have lost a sibling, and these are filled with books, fidget toys and treats to remind people that we are there for them.
“With Blake’s Lasting Legacy, we plan to create even more memories for families by offering meet-ups, family nights out, bereavement support, and flower-arranging courses so they can make their own displays for their loved ones’ resting place. This is all whilst letting families know that they never have to walk alone.”
The proud mum added: “Pixie wants to drive his charity and drive our grief into something positive for other families and to let other people see that they’re not alone, because it can be such a lonely place. I think your biggest fear as a parent is them being forgotten, so we’re trying to push ourselves.
“Pixie and her daddy have started doing park runs and 5Ks, just finding a new way of life, because we were so medically heavy with Blake. We’re very lucky with both our kids, and Pixie has always been the upbeat one, pushing us on and wanting to do more for other people. It makes her heart happy to know that she’s doing something good.
“We’re very proud of her, and it’s a lot because she’s navigating her own journey after his loss. She tells us: ‘You knew life before Blake – I never knew life without Blake’.”
Next Sunday, June 14, the McCaughey family are inviting people to come to Craigavon Lakes to walk part or all of Blake’s 18 miles for 18 years of Blake’s life.
Christine explained: “Blake loved Craigavon Lakes and that’s where his first sponsored walk was when he was aged five for a wheelchair. The whole theme is blue skies, clouds, rainbows, and red hearts, because that’s just what Blake was all about – bright, colourful, fun.
“It will be six laps, but people can join in and drop out as and when they wish. Each lap will start on the hour from 12noon and everyone is welcome to come along, join in on the fun, meet some special guests and celebrate Blake all whilst raising vital funds to help families in Northern Ireland.”
You can donate to Blake’s Lasting Legacy here.
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