Richard Colin Roy Davies

Richard Colin Roy Davies 28th December, 2006. Age 27. Occupation - E Learning & Computer Information
Officer for Local Government.
Died after a short illness.

Greatly missed by Mother and Father, sister Kelly, Grandma, Uncles and Aunts, Cousins and his many
friends.

Richard you will be remembered forever by those whose lives and hearts you so deeply touched.

Richard was born with a serious congenital heart defect. Throughout his life he had a number of
operations, the first when he was four years old at the University of Wales Hospital. Then when he
was ten he was transferred to the Royal Brompton Heart Hospital, Chelsea, London where he underwent
further surgery. There were a number of times when following surgery we came so close to losing him,
but Richard was a fighter and he survived. He endured pain in his childhood no child should ever
undergo but he came through and smiled. Not once, throughout all the pain, did he ever say: "Why
me." He just gritted his teeth and endured it.

In November 2006 Richard, his Mother Marie and Father Roy together with his Uncle Michael went to
San Diego and Las Vegas for a holiday. We returned on 1st December, A week later he was taken ill.
Four days later he was admitted to the Royal Gwent Hospital and was in the Intensive Care unit and
was unconscious having been sedated. We were told to expect the worst on the first day - he had
septaceamia and pneumonia but he fought once again and over a couple of days, improved. He then
developed endocarditus and though he bravely fought for his life, unconscious throughout, his last
battle was fought. On 28th December, 2006, he died in the arms of his Mum and Dad, his sister Kelly
and his cousin and best friend Stephen.

He loved Christmas so much and it seemed to us who love him that he just wanted to live through
Christmas. It was on Christmas day, that he finally took a turn for the worse. Christmas is forever
over for us that loved him.

A more courageous, hard working man you could ever wish to meet. He never let his heart condition
get him down. He did not allow it to control him - he controlled it. Even with the severe
disadvantages of his health, he achieved so much in his life. Posthumously, he was awarded his
Masters degree in Business Administration which he was just 3 months from completing. (Not bad for a
kid who was told by his Careers Master at school that he was not an academic and should just go out
and get a job}.He travelled as much as he could and loved his holidays with us in the USA. He was an
excellent driver and drove in the USA and also navigated our way around America - again something he
excelled in. He was a real safe driver. With all the skill he possessed, he was so modest and did
not consider himself as being anything special - however, to us and all his friends who loved him,
he was very special.

He also went with his friends and cousin Stephen to Greece and Amsterdam but what goes on tour
remains on tour!! He loved life so much and savoured as much as he could in his short time on this
earth.

Richard left this earth at the age of 27 but he did more and achieved more in those 27 years than
some people do in their life time. We rejoice in what he did in life and are so glad he did all
those things and took all the chances he did - he was some daredevil. I recall how he asked his
surgeon if he could do a parachute jump. The surgeon looked at Richard, smiled, shook his head and
said an emphatic "No." I have no doubt that in spite of this Richard would have jumped one day - he
had such great determination.

A bright flame in our lives has now gone out, but we will always love him and remember and honour
him. Richard was so kind and gentle - a real gentleman. He so loved the world and to us who love
him, he was our world. Rest in peace our lovely, brave son. Our love forever, Mum, Dad, Kelly xxx.