This memorial website was created in the memory of our beautiful son, Jamie Alexander Barguss-Richards who was born at Solihull hospital on Friday November 26, 1999 weighing 11lbs 10oz! He came into our world and changed our lives forever.
Jamie so very sadly and suddenly was taken to the angels on June 4th, 2004 at the age of just four and a half. We will remember him forever and cherish the precious memories we have of him.. 

Jamie was the lovliest little boy, full of laughter and such fun. With a 'chilled out' attitude, he was so caring and calm.
Jamie was 'mini' mad, totally crazy about the 'Italian Job' movie and now we watch it and remember him with pride and love.
Jamie, our 'little mate' gone from our arms but never our hearts. We cry because he has gone, but smile because he was here.
Mommy, Daddy and Elliot x x x

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

Sunday June 4th 2006

Today marks two years since we lost our  precious little boy, Jamie.

We are holding 'A Day for Jamie' and invited friends and family to  be with us to remember him and celebrate his short life. We also hope to raise some money for the charity 'Cerebra' who support brain injured children and their families. This seems like a positive thing to do in Jamie's memory.

'Missing you more than ever sweet boy and thinking of you always. Sent to us for such a short time but bringing us so much love and happiness. You live on in us Jamie and all that we do. We love you.'


July 5th 2006

A great big thank you to all of those people who came to 'A Day For Jamie' on June 4th. The day was a great success and everything that we had hoped for. The kids had a fantastic time on the bouncy castle and having their faces painted!

Phil and I were so overwhelmed with the amount of love and support shown by our family and friends. It was so perfect to remember our precious son with our loved ones and to celebrate his short life together.

We released blue balloons, 'sending them to Jamie' at around 5pm. We felt that this was very emotional and was lovely for the many children there to be able to do and that it made them feel part of remembering Jamie.

We are very proud to tell everyone that was succeeded in raising a thousand pounds for the charity 'Cerebra' supporting brain injured children and their families. This, we feel, is a fabulous tribute to our little boy and it feels very positive to be able to help other children in his memory. Thank you to everyone who donated and we willl let you know a bit more about where the money has gone exactly sometime in the near future.

We hope to continue with events in the future to remember Jamie and to raise money for other children.

25th november 2006

Our precious son should be turning seven years old tomorrow.........................
His sister, Lola Grace, was born just five days ago, so very bitter sweet. She is gorgeous, we only wish her biggest brother was here then everything would be complete.
We will be remembering Jamie's birthday with a special cake and some balloons, chosen by his little brother Elliot, which we shall 'send' up to him. It will be a special day as, although so sad he is not here, so poignant and memorable as it marks the day that he came into our lives. 
A complete mixture of emotions for all of us this week as we are celebrating the birth of little Lola and getting used to having her home. At the same time we are thinking about jamie and missing him more than ever. We know he is watching over us and his little brother and sister, making sure that they are okay. We will celebrate his life and the day he was born tomorrow and remember the sweetest little boy ever.

Happy birthday little mate, we love you so very very much and miss you more than words can ever say.......... One day we will all be together again, in the blink of an eye. Until then sweet boy, you are with us always in our hearts and minds and we treasure the precious memories we have of you. Love and kisses, Mommy, Daddy, Elliot and your new little sister, Lola x x x x


A child that lose a parent is an orphan,
A man who loses his wife is a widower.
A woman who loses her husband is a widow.
There is no name for a parent that loses their child,
For there are no words to describe the pain......

22nd May 2007

It is fast (and scarily) approaching Jamie's third anniversary. I can't quite believe that it's been three years................ Although when I think of when I last saw him it feels like a lifetime ago. I've tested out the 'time is a healer' theory and sadly it is not true. Three years on and the pain of losing our son is as strong as ever. Time only teaches you to deal with it better and, maybe, gives you chance to gradually 'forget'. Memories sadly fade and that is why 'time' scares me so much. I struggle to picture Jamie's face sometimes, I haven't seen him for so long and prehaps the brain blocks out painful things............ I try to think of what it will be like in ten, fifteen, twenty years, will I barely remember him?

I am only glad that I have so many gorgeous photos of my son and some video/dvd footage (although I am so afraid to watch it).

We have decided to be together as a family on Jamie's anniversary this year. There is never a 'right' thing to do, we just have to go with whatever feels right at the time. If the weather is nice we thought that we might go to the seaside for the day. My good friend Sarah gave me the idea of writing Jamie's name in the sand and, as usual, we will send him some balloons. This way the children are involved and it makes it fun. I will put some pictures of the day on the site so everyone can see what we do.

We have been thinking about organising another charity event to have in Jamie's memory and may do something in the next few months or so. It always helps us to remember J by helping others and we drew amazing strength and support from our many family and friends who stood by us at 'A Day for Jamie' last June. We would like to something else like this in the future as it was such a great day and was fabulous to raise cash for a deserving charity.

I am a bit 'all over the place' at the moment with the impending anniversary. It is just another day but so poignant and brings back so many very sad sad memories for me. I will try to make it as nice as possible and that is why doing something as a family such as the seaside feels so lovely.  I'm sure Elliot and Lola will do a great job of remembering their big bro in style! 

Claire

11th November 2007

Coming up to Jamie's birthday we are finding things very hard. I can't quite believe that he should be eight years old in a couple of weeks (26th November). I feel as though we should mark the day as we normally do and want to do something positive in my little boy's memory. We are supporting the Salvation Army's Christmas Present appeal in Jamie's memory. This is a way for the people that may miss out on gifts this Christmas being able to recieve one. Anyone who would like to do this as well in memory of Jamie can take an unwarpped gift for either an adult or a child to an Asda store between 23rd November and 16th December. Anyone who wishes to buy a gift can give it to us and we will take it for you. Together we can help to try to make someones Christmas a little brighter. We will be using some cash already in Jamie's fund to buy gifts on his birthday. For more information  see www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/christmaspresent
We would love you to let us know if you will be supporting the appeal. It really helps us to know that positive things are being done in Jamie's memory. His birthday is very special to us and it really does help to know that people have remembered him and are thinking about us......... a simple message or card has a big effect and it is a comfort to know that people remember and care.

Time goes on and the pain of losing our precious boy doesn't go away. Sometimes I feel stronger, as though I am learning to cope and live with it. Sometimes though, like now, it just hurts too much................
Lola is one year old next Tuesday so we are trying to focus on that and making her day very special. It's a very emotional time of year, especially with Christmas being so near too. I am hoping that Lola will have a great birthday and we can then focus on Jamie's eighth birthday just six days later and doing something special to remember him by, helping other kids in the process.

"My sweet sweet boy J-Bird, I love you and miss you more than ever. Sending you a million hugs and kisses and hoping that you catch them x x x"

Fun Run for Jamie!!!

We are doing the Dorridge Fun Run, as a family, on Saturday 7th June. We will be raising money for Edwards Trust, who support bereaved families, and Cancer research. It feels like a good way to channed our grief around Jamie's fourth anniversary, and to do something positive in his memory.  

www.justgiving.com/funrunforjamie

www.dorridgefunrun.org

We are extremely grateful to those supporting us, and enabling us to raise some money in our son's memory for some deserving charities. 

16th June 2008

We completed the Dorridge fun run last saturday, 7th June in memory of Jamie, raising over £500 for Cancer Research and Edwards Trust! We're so proud! Elliot did really well, only a few shoulder rides off daddy, and Lola, well she was asleep the whole way! It was great fun! Thank you to everyone who supported us and those of you who came to see us finish!

26th November 2008

Today would have been J's ninth birthday, it seems quite strange, although I do now imagine him older. I never thought that I would, I thought that he would 'always be four and a half years old'. Somehow though, he has grown up in my mind and is now a skinny nine year old with a cheeky grin and blonde spiky hair........

It was a sad day, thinking of the things that we, as a family should have been doing, planning a party, buying prezzies. Most of all, just being with our son and celebrating his birthday. But of course, we couldn't do that. We opened up the chest in Lola's room where lots of Jamie's 'memories' are, things like school work, special clothes, his glasses and cards and things from his funeral. We al had a good look (and a good cry)and I showed the children Jamie's memory books and the books that the children in his nusrsery made us to thank us for the train and dressing up set. Elliot was really interested and loved seeing his 'big' brother's special things, Lola loved all the pictures but obviously didn't really understand. We then decided to go out for the day and do something special to celebrate and remember a very special day and a very special little boy. We took the children to Thomas the Tank world at Drayton Manor and had a fabulous time. It was a lovely day, hard and sad at times, but not unlike any other unfortunately. We spent the day together as a family and did something that Jamie would have really loved.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMIE! WE MISS YOU! X X

Almost five years.........

Jamie we miss you more than ever and wish that you were here with us. Unfortunately time does not heal our pain we have just  got more used to life without you. Sometimes life is so hard and the pain is so exhausting. We are determined to make you proud though and to live full and happy lives, even if it means doing it without you.

There isn't a day goes by when we don't think of you Jamie, you are everything to us and still very much a part of our lives, our family. It is so important for us for it to be that way. Your memories are the only thing we have  of you and we need to keep them alive and keep part of you w ith us always. You walk on with us Jamie, and one day we will see you again, that we have to believe.

Loving and missing you for ever and a day sweet little one. 

Always.

Mommy, daddy, Elliot and Lola x x x x