PARENTS of a six-month-old Dalmuir boy who tragically died just days before Christmas have spoken of their determination to carry on his legacy.
Cheryl Murray and Graeme Fraser's worlds were turned upside down on December 19 after their young son Grayson stopped breathing.
Cheryl told the Post that he had been ill with what doctors suspected to be bronchiolitis for a number of days prior to his passing.
The mum-of-three said: “We thought he had a wee cold as he had stopped eating. We took him to the doctors and the hospital and they said to us it looked like it was possibly bronchiolitis and he should be fine in a couple of days, that was on the Thursday.
“But on the Saturday he still wasn’t eating. He was a chunky wee boy, he loved his food so I knew there was something not right.
"He still had a temperature so we took him to the hospital again and they said ‘we think your doctor was right, it is bronchiolitis’ and they sent us home with a link to a website.
“The next day he didn’t have a temperature and he took a couple of ounces [of milk] so we thought he must be getting better.
“We took him down to watch the football with his dad that night as it was the World Cup Final and we sat and watched that. He was playing with his tambourine and we sang Christmas songs to try and make him smile as he looked so fed up.
“That night Grayson was sleeping in my arms and I woke up in the early hours of the morning to check if he was breathing, it’s a habit I’ve done with all of my kids, and he wasn’t breathing.
“We phoned an ambulance and his dad tried CPR but we realised nothing was going to work.
"That was less than 24 hours from coming home from A&E and being told he would be okay in a couple of days and we were now left with not having our son anymore.”
The devastated parents explained that during their darkest hours, the local community rallied around them, providing incredible support and strength.
The couple is now on a mission to give back through an initiative titled ‘Grayson’s Gift’ which will see them spread joy throughout the area in memory of their “happy wee boy”.
Grayson’s Gift will be run in partnership with local food bank Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels (OKFP) as one of the couple's last memories with Grayson was taking him to see Santa at the charity's hub.
Cheryl said: “I remember how his wee face lit up and I also saw all of the gifts that were lying there waiting to be delivered to children.
"Grayson was such a happy wee boy and all he knew was love. I thought, to keep his memory alive, 'Why don't we donate to the charity and attach a wee card to those presents telling people a little bit about Grayson and why they are receiving that gift'.
"That's why we've titled it Grayson's Gift.
“We want to try and help other families at what is going to be the hardest time of the year for us.
"It’s not going to be a happy time for us but I remember how happy he was and if we can spread some joy through him that’s what we will do.”
To help kickstart their fundraising mission, family friends Denise and Derek 'DJ' Campbell came up with a high-flying idea.
On November 19, 11 months after Grayson’s passing, Derek is planning to do a skydive in his memory.
A fundraising page has been set up ahead of the jump, which will be taking place in Glenrothes, and is already sitting at around £1,500.
To visit DJ's GoFundMe page visit HERE.
Denise said: “We grew up with Cheryl and know the family really well. Derek has always wanted to do a skydive and on Grayson’s headstone, it says ‘We’ll see you on the other side of the stars’ so it was kind of fitting.
“He isn’t nervous he’s actually excited and we just want to help get it started. The community has been amazing.
“The charity [OKFP] will be covering Derek’s jump but we will be paying to get the video of it so we can go back to OKFP afterwards where friends and family will be waiting to watch him do it on the big screen.
“Then the plan is to go out on Christmas Eve donating Grayson’s Gifts with the money raised.”
Maureen Cummings, founder of OKFP, told the Post “there wasn’t a dry eye in the house” when Cheryl and Graeme first raised the idea with her.
Maureen added: “Grayson’s Gift will run throughout the year and any money that is raised specifically for that appeal will be logged separately from our other fundraising.
“The idea is that anyone we become aware of who needs a wee pick me up whether it is a child, elderly person, or family could be treated to whatever it is that they need for example clothes, or a cinema day, etc.
“The presents will then be packaged up and will have a card attached to it with a wee story about Grayson, it’ll be a beautiful thing to be involved in.
“We’re excited to be part of Grayson’s legacy and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Cheryl asked me.
"It’s a very emotional thing to be involved in but it’ll bring joy to so many people.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here