Family devastated at loss of 'fantastic lad' to meningitis
The devastated family of a seven-year-old boy who died after contracting meningitis today paid tribute to their 'fantastic lad' and said his memory would live on.
Mason Timmins, a pupil at Little Bloxwich Primary School, died at University of North Staffordshire in Stoke on Tuesday after his parents Mark and Claire were forced to take the heartbreaking decision to allow his life support machine to be switched off. The youngster had been vaccinated against meningitis - but tragically, not the rare type which claimed his life.
His parents Mark and Claire today said the most fitting legacy their 'ball of energy' could leave behind is to remind people to live their lives to the full.
Mr Timmins, a 47-year-old welder and fabricator said: "We know we've lost Mason but his energy is still here - he's in every room, the garden, his school, everywhere.
"We want to let everyone know what a fantastic lad he was. We want to remember him and laugh about all the funny things he said and did.
"We know that people all over Bloxwich will remember his mischief, his sense of fun and the fact that he definitely left an impression."
Mrs Timmins, aged 34, said Mason had moaned about going to bed 'as he always did' last Sunday evening and had been sick and unwell later that evening.
"We're not the type of parents who panic at every cough and sniffle and I survived meningitis as a child so we were aware of the signs to look out for," she explained.
"He didn't really get any better and we took him to the doctors as he suddenly became really pale.
"He was admitted to Walsall Manor Hospital where he had to have various tests and was transferred to Stoke for more specialist care.
"Mason had been vaccinated against meningitis but not this particular type which is a rare type. We knew there was nothing more that could be done for him, we knew we had lost him and we didn't want him messed about with so allowed his life support machine to be turned off on Tuesday."
