From Emily Jade O’Keeffe’s Blog in the Courier Mail
or download the PDF of the article
I was very honoured to be able
to share in a more intimate ceremony held a week earlier at the Wesley Hospital
for Aidan and Aleisha.
As a fellow cancer patient it
meant so much to see Aidan having another rainbow to shine over him even though
the storm would soon come one final time.
I also attended his funeral
last week and was so touched to be a part of a celebration that honoured a
beautiful soul, a beautiful love story, and a beautiful life.
I will never forget Aidan and
Aleisha’s story. I have a bond with him mother Alison and know that this
family’s story is now a part of my own cancer story.
My thoughts are with the
Pirate Chef and his tiny dancer xo
Mon 01 Nov 10 (04:23pm)
Wow! So
brave and courageous.
So sad. I have no more
words…for once.
Very well written Em.
Very touching.
Jack McClane of Murrumba Downs
Thu 28 Oct 10 (07:25pm)
wow, reading
this has given me tears as do some of ur other postings.
absolutly beautiful i hope one
day that i feel that love for someone and they feel that way about me
Thu 28 Oct 10 (09:00am)
I don’t even
really know what to say here, except what a sad and beautiful story both at
once. I think that you were blessed to have them enter your lives, and
they were blessed to have you enter their lives.
Wed 27 Oct 10 (03:06pm)
Touched my heart !
Remember to say ‘I Love You’ to your partner, for one day he or she will be
there no longer
Appreciate your loved ones.
Not only tell them you love them, But most of all, mean it.
Wed 27 Oct 10 (02:07pm)
I was listening in the car the day you told this and i was so touched by this storym
the tears were flowing freely both in the wonder in and the beauty of the shoty
but also the bittersweetness of it all. It’s so personal yet touches all our
hearts. Now reading again the tears are welling, thank you for sharing it makes
you look at your love ones and hold them that bit tighter and tell them just
how much you love them even if you have already told them today.
Wed 27 Oct 10 (01:09pm)
EJ, Aiden’s funeral was heart wrenching yesterday. Your service was sad, touching but yet
encouraging. Aiden we will never forget your free spirit, courage and
determination and the adoration you had for your Mom.
Alison you are a tower of strength, I have the utmost of respect for you, my
dearest friend!
I am here whenever you need me.
Wed 27 Oct 10 (11:24am)
Oh, EJ! Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story. Like so
many others, this story made me well up with tears while I listened to you last
week.
I send so much love to both families, and everyone else who has been lucky enough to know the “Pirate
Chef”.
Wed 27 Oct 10 (07:32am)
I was lucky enough to of been part of Aidans life back in Cape town….now back with his
sister who he adored,but thats another story.Good bye my friend.C.
Wed 27 Oct 10 (06:14am)
Dear Emily,
Thank you for writing these words. Last night, very late, I came home from a trip to Tunisia, to find a
little candle light burning in front of Aidan’s picture wich was send to us by
Aleisha.
It told me that life is precious, joy and sadness close together.
My thoughts are with Aidan, Aleisha, Aidans mother Alyson and all family and friends that were there when
he needed them. Such also is life.
Thank you again for sharing with us.
Maarten from the Netherlands
Wed 27 Oct 10 (12:05am)
I knew Aidan and his family
and think it is great that this was read on the radio. I took his story, as
many of you I hope do to, as a reminder of how precious life really is.
I send my love to his mother
who is obviously still trying to see the sunshine in each day and also to
Aleisha. May you two strong women receive all the love and support you need and
deserve.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (10:01pm)
I just got back from Aidan’s funeral – EJs first as a celebrant. EJ, you did a great job
today, you will always remember this afternoon. Treat everyone you meet
with the same kindness and compassion you have shown today and you will truly
make a difference in peoples lives.
I am in awe of this beautiful
family. Alison, Aidan’s mum,is my friend. She is the most kind,
caring, compassionate and positive human being you could ever meet.
Sometimes life isn’t fair.
But, Aleisha and Alison and
the rest of Aidan’s family are not curled up in the corner crying. They
are celebrating. They know how precious love is. They have taught me to
NEVER, EVER take the love I have in my life for granted. Let those you love
know how special they are ….. now.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (09:16pm)
Aidan and Aleisha’s courage
and strength are testament to the power of true love. My love and thoughts are with you Aleisha.
Thanks for sharing Em x
Tue 26 Oct 10 (06:31pm)
A friend just sent me this story, i cried and cried. Thank you for sharing this amazing
story about this special couple, i will hold my husband tight tonight also.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (03:12pm)
Thanks Em for sharing their story.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (02:35pm)
Priviliged to have known “the Pirate” and his Mum Allison. Rest in peace mate, you
“Vasbyt-ed” long and hard. To Aleisha, you will forever hold him in your heart.
Love to all, from another Ex South African family.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (02:12pm)
Tears were rolling down my face as I read this beautiful love story. I hope everyone who
reads it is inspired to seize life with both hands, and not take their loved
ones for granted. My heart goes out to Aleisha.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (01:54pm)
RIP poor Aiden.
All my love to Aleisha as well.
EJ, people are so right, you were truly blessed having been asked to
participate in something that meant more to Aiden than life itself, making his
girl happy, if only briefly.
@Hugh Don’t often agree
with your comments but this one is a cert. Took so much more from this than
even EJ would hope.
Thanks EJ, xx
Chris
Tue 26 Oct 10 (01:28pm)
Beautifully
written EJ! Now I have to wipe away the tears and be thankful for all I and my
family have in life.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (12:32pm)
Ooooh… bittersweet… 🙁
Thanks for sharing EJ.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (12:23pm)
I hope some people will take away from this that life can be short and to treasure things that you take for
granted every day. Don’t save all your life for something you deserve now. Your
regrets won’t be what you did in life but what you wished you had done. A girl
once said to me,Life is short,eat your dessert first. I think about it often.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (11:59am)
What a beautiful couple. They are lucky to have found eachother. Many people live
until 100 and never experience such true and enduring love as these two.
One day they’ll be back together and in the meantime I bet the Pirate Chef will
be keeping watch over his beautiful First Mate.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (10:29am)
EJ I heard you tell this story last week while I was driving the kids to school. They
didn’t understand why mummy was crying.
Thank you for sharing their beautiful love story.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (09:50am)
Wow what a blog to start the day… I feel like going home and just lying with my partner
all day not doing anything. Thanks for a great blog EJ I had to keep
stoping trying to hold back tears!
Tue 26 Oct 10 (09:39am)
Aidan and Aleishas story is tragic yet so beautiful. It’s very sad they had such a short
time together but so lucky they got to experience that kind of love. Time or
distance can never dim the kind of love they have.
I had tears rolling down my cheeks this morning reading this. My little niece
was diagnosed with leukaemia last week and it really hit home to appreciate
what we have right now and enjoy being in the moment.
It’s our 9 year anniversary today so I am definitely going home to let my hubby
know how much I love him.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (09:29am)
Thankyou for sharing this true love story. A timely reminder of how blessed I really
am to have my wonderful husband.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (09:13am)
WOW! What an
amazing story of courage, hope and undying love. Brought me to tears. My
thoughts are with you Aleisha, you were a beautiful bride
xxxxxxx
Tue 26 Oct 10 (09:05am)
I am sure EJ,,you left them with beautiful memories and what a priviledge to be part of
something so personal..
Tue 26 Oct 10 (08:58am)
my little boy just asked me why I was sad…. thank you for sharing this story EJ.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (08:57am)
I just heard the story on the way to take the kids to school..thank you so much for sharing
Emily. Such a truly touching story and you told it in such a sincere and
beautiful way…R.I.P Aidan
Tue 26 Oct 10 (08:56am)
WOW!!! I don’t know what else
to say. This really touched my heart and I wish my man were home so that Icould hold him too
Tue 26 Oct 10 (08:56am)
Oh EJ, how wonderful and how sad at the same time. Love your work and my heart goes out
for Aiden, his new wife and their loved ones.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (08:55am)
My best friend did the exact same thing!
Sending huge hugs to Aleisha & to all the family & friends. My thoughts
are with you all at this sad time.
Tue 26 Oct 10 (08:54am)
So sad and touching
I can only guess this was something they thought might happen sooner rather
than later & they wanted to have their dream
Tue 26 Oct 10 (08:54am)
EJ your compassion touched my heart as I listened to you tell the tale of the lovely
couple that you helped marry just days before he passed away….. I was in the
lift at work with tears spilling down my cheeks…. lovely sentiment xxxxx
Tue 26 Oct 10 (08:53am)
EJ,
I was driving to uni the day you told this story on the radio. I got out of the
car wiping away tears. It really touched me.
You gave that couple a wonderful wedding, and I’m sure Aidan’s memory will live
on forever.
Your love of love, is inspiring xxoo
Tue 26 Oct 10 (08:35am)