Mum says farewell with a final song

9:58am Thursday 24th January 2008

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MUM Jo Buechel has paid tribute to her 19-year old son Rick who died at the weekend.

Rick suffered from pulmonary hypertension, an incurable heart disease.

Mrs Buechel, 45, of Eastern Avenue, Chippenham, sang Rick his favourite song from the children's TV show Barney the dinosaur before he fell unconscious on Sunday night.

She said: "Rick loved Barney and we used to sing the theme tune in the bath every night."

She described her son as "the biggest person in the world trapped in the body of one of the smallest.

"He was the linchpin of our family and was so full of life despite his constant, relentless pain," she said.

"He loved life so much and didn't waste time feeling ill or down - he was my little man.

"Every time we would go into the town, people would talk to Rick who used to love to kiss their hands.

"Everyone who met Rick never forgot him and said that he was one of the happiest boys they had ever seen.

"Rick surprised everyone by how brave he was and how he coped - he suffered with pain every day of his life.

"Although he had a mental age of four, he knew who his family were and he loved all of us - including our dog Jake.

"He lived in fast forward and absolutely loved life.

"We have a huge hole in our life now, but at least my little man is no longer in such constant pain."

Rick's brother Brad, 22, and sister Kaiya, 17, are using donations made in memory of their brother to publish a book about him.

Tributes have been pouring in since Rick's death.

Dawn Johnson, the manager of Cannons House centre in Devizes where Rick went for respite care, said: "Rick was an inspiration and will go down in history as one of the most memorable children to come through here.

"He was a constant ray of sunshine and always knew if someone was sad and could cheer them up straight away.

"He was an entertainer and a joker who loved his ever-changing hairstyles and Barney, the TV dinosaur.

"We are going to have a Barney-themed party here next week and it will be our way of saying goodbye to a phenomenal person."

His GP, Dr Robert Muir, said: "Rick was an extraordinary person who had complicated and severe difficulties. He will be enormously missed by us and all of those who ever had the pleasure to meet him. He was a wonderful bloke."

Those who knew Rick are invited to his funeral at St Andrew's Church, Chippenham next Wednesday at 2pm, on one proviso. "I want everyone at the funeral to wear purple or green to represent Barney the dinosaur and to celebrate Rick's life," said his mother.

Friends and family are invited to a party held at Cannons House afterwards.