This is an essay written about Calum by his official unoffical cousin Sarah Berry. I think it gives you a great description of Calum's effect on other people. The Person who made an impact in my life was my cousin. Calum was an exceptional teenage boy. He was hardworking, smart, funny and caring. He had spikey blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Calum died in October 2007 of Meningitis, two months before his 13th birthday. At 3.00am on Wednesday 10th October he woke up complaining of a very painful headache. He was in such distress that my Auntie and Uncle took him to their local hospital. The doctors there instructed them to take him to Yorkhill Hospital for Sick Kids. Three hours later he was on a ventilator and a life support machine. The doctors told my cousin’s family that he was brain dead and that there was nothing else they could do on Thursday 11th October. His Mum and Dad agreed to donate his organs to help other people. They then had to wait until all of the medicines had left his system and the doctors could take his life-saving organs. He was pronounced dead on the Friday at around 1.00pm. Calum’s organs saved the lives of 6 people. He was so kind that he would have wanted his parents to agree to the organ donation and I think that they made a very brave and kind sacrifice. When Calum was in hospital I was waiting at my Gran’s for news from my Mum and Dad who were with my Uncle Sinclair and Aunt Kim. I jumped everytime the phone rang. When my parents came home and told me that he was going to die I realised that no matter how much I had dreaded hearing those words nothing could compare with how bad it truly felt. His funeral was a day I’ll never forget. There were hundreds of people there and so many nice things were said about him and the great thing was that they were all true. They weren’t just saying nice things because he was dead but because he was truly exceptional. His kind-heart and thoughtfulness made him stand head and shoulders above many of his peers. Every time I went to Calum’s house he was always playing some kind of video game or playing on his computer. Whenever I think of Calum I always think of Bracken, Calum’s dog, or games he used to play on his Nintendo Wii, Play station, Game Cube or X-Box. Calum and I used to play Rayman Raving Rabbids, Mario Kart or Wii Sports but he always beat me. The sounds I always associate with Calum are his video game sound effects and Bracken, barking in the background. Whenever we visited Calum’s house, we had our dinner with them so I associate the smell of bolognaise and roast dinner. I loved visiting Calum’s house because it had a good atmosphere and it had real warmth to it. I still love to visit their house and spend time with his family but his absence is felt by everyone and we all miss him terribly. I enjoyed Calum’s company because we always had a laugh and we got on really well. Calum’s death taught me to not take my life for granted and always make the best out of life. Calum did just that. I just wish his life hadn’t been cut so short. I am proud and honoured to be his cousin and have many happy memories to share with our families.