Parents say they feel like their hearts have been 'stamped on' after their 'amazing' son sadly passed away. Taylor-James Tranter was rushed to hospital on Monday, December 19, by his dad Stuart Tranter, after his mum Vikki noticed that TJ was struggling to breath and his lips were blue.
The 13-year-old, of Spondon, who has Down's syndrome and autism and suffered from sleep apnea, a chest infection and heart problems, sadly passed away 26 days later on Saturday, January 14, whilst he was in intensive care at the Queen's Medical Centre. His parents have told Derbyshire Live that they are "gutted" but intend to carry on and live life to the fullest to make their son proud.
Mr Tranter, 42, said: "I feel like someone has stamped on my heart, it’s just awful. Life will be different, he was an amazing boy and loved by everyone but his disabilities needed 24-hour care. Everything was always built around him, and we did things that both we and TJ enjoyed.
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"It will be very different, and as a family we’ll honour him in the only way we know how: just to have the rest of our lives happy and live it to the max. We’ll make him proud, he was always happy no matter what. He loved swimming, anything like water play. He loved bowling and he loved soft play activities and stuff like that.
"But his favourite more than anything else was watching things on his iPad like CBeebies. His conditions meant he had the mental age of about four, but he was loving and caring and funny.” Mr Tranter decided to drive TJ to hospital after the family were told it could be a six hour wait for an ambulance to arrive, however he feels that if medical professionals had reached his son sooner, the outcome wouldn't have changed.
He said: “From what the doctors have said it [his death] was more because he has spent six months in intensive care before in 2021 to the detriment of his lungs. And with an infection on top it would take years for them to get back to normal. But he was a tough cookie.”
TJ's mum Vikki has written a poem in honour of TJ. She said: "You sprouted wings and left our sides. I can't even try to reason why. You are far too fun and far too young, but your light will never die.
"I wish we could have spoke just one more time, but you decided it was your time. Our final cuddle will forever be mine, but God do I want to hear you laugh just one more time.
"Your naughty side and dirty smiles made every day so fun and wild. We hope you're swimming in the sky. Please watch us from up high whilst eating chocolate, you're our world our hearts and our smile.
"I can't imagine what life will be but we will live it twice as hard for you. Daniel promises to eat your share of all the cake but please make him give it a break. Our tears and hearts will forever break because we will miss you our squishy mate."
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