Robert Ian McGovern

Robert was born when I was just 17yrs old. It was a traumtic birth, but as soon as I saw his beautiful face & flaming red hair I fell in love with him. He was such a good baby, always smiling and although I suffered from severe post natal depression, my love for him never faltered. We didn't have much as we were so young, but he was loved deeply. He had a fantasic sense of humour and he loved his football - especially manchester united which was difficult to understand as I was a city fan! When we told him that I was going to give him a baby brother or sister, he was so excited and couldn't wait to tell everyone. When Claire was born the first place we took her was to his school class to see his teacher and his friends - he was so proud of her. When she was toddling he loved to hold her hand and walk her to the shops, and he never knew this, but I'd be anxiously watching them both from a distance to make sure they were OK. Robert loved school. He loved his teachers, especially Mrs Bradley, and he enjoyed being with his friends. I was at work when I got the call to say that Robert had had an accident and I needed to go straight away. They gave me no other details. My Manager took me as I don't drive, and all the way there we were discussing what it could be - a broken limb was the worst thing we came up with. On arrival at the school, we were shown into the headmasters office where the teachers were gathered and were very grim faced. All they would tell me that Robert had been taken to hospital. The school secretary said he had fainted, so I assumed he had banged his head and it was just a precaution. His favourite teacher followed us to the hospital and I was shown into a relatives room where my then Husband, a friend who had driven him and a doctor were waiting. My husband Ian was crying as was Pete our friend. I looked around bewildered and asked if I could see Robert, and the doctor told me that he had died. I remember hearing someone screaming no, no, no over and over - and it was a little while before I realised it was me. There was no apparant reason for his death, he had just collapsed at his desk and he was dead before he hit the floor. Numbness & shock overtook us both and we went into auto pilot. I was asked if I wanted to see him but I declined - seeing him would make it real and I was in complete denial. I was physically sick. I couldn't imagine not seeing his lovely smile, or hearing his voice, or cuddling his body ever again. A post mortem revealed nothing, and an inquest was opened and adjourned so we could hold his funeral. It was a mass of red & white flowers and hundreds of people turned up to say goodbye. We had his favourite song The Snowman played and I still struggle to listen to it now.
Robert touched many lives in the short time he was with us, which leads me to believe he was only lent to me - and for that I am truly greatful. It will be 20 years this year since he passed away, and there isn't a day goes by that I don't think of him. The verdict at the inquest was natural causes - a virus had stopped his heart from beating, it was a million to one occurance. I love him so much and he will remain in my heart always.