Through fought-back tears the mother of an inspirational Tandragee teen told mourners at his funeral that just last week he put his head on her chest and asked, “Mummy, am I your angel?”. She replied, “Blake, yes you are.”
And while his passing will have come as a shock to many, she said “we had this prepared and planned. While I was never going to be ready, he made me ready and for that I am grateful”.
Eighteen-year-old Blake McCaughey passed away suddenly on January 17. In the hours and days that followed, the full impact of the young man’s short life became clear.
Blake was born into this world on October 31, 2007 with rare genetic conditions. He endured years of complex medical treatment and mobility difficulties, yet remained a constant source of inspiration to so many and that courage and spirit he displayed touched countless lives far beyond his home town.
Gathered together in Ballymore Parish Church, mourners watched on as Blake’s coffin entered, draped in his Portadown True Blue’s Flute Band uniform, Liverpool FC and Belfast Giants jerseys, to the tune of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.
Several members of the Belfast Giants ice hockey team were in attendance with other members of the congregation, all also wearing jerseys in honour of Blake.
Leading his Funeral service, the Venerable Elizabeth Cairns called Blake’s sister, Pixie; uncle Neil and mum Christine to say a few words.
Pixie – proudly wearing a fleece Blake had hand-designed in November – bravely spoke first, saying, “How do I even describe my relationship with Blake? Blake wasn’t just a brother, he was my best friend, my biggest supporter and my hero. Being Blake’s sister is the most honouring thing I could ever have been.”
Adding of is profound impact on her life: “You have shown me to never give up and shown me what a true gentleman looks like. You make me so proud and I am beyond grateful to be called Blake’s sister. I love you Blake and I always will.”
Blake’s uncle and Godfather, Neil, called it a “privilege” to have held those titles for 18 years. He said: “It was a role that brought more joy, more laughs and more memories than I ever imagined.
“Blake, you truly had me wrapped around your little finger,” taking a brief moment to regain composure, Neil continued, “I will always remember the pride of sharing the rope together as we proudly paraded with Portadown True Blues. We went to the Giant’s games and went on so many adventures I will always treasure.
“Blake, you gave me 18 years of loving you and I will carry this with me for the rest of my life. Love you, bye.”
After a brief embrace, Pixie and Neil left Blake’s devoted mum, Christine to give her eulogy.
She described always wanting to be a mummy and said that from the moment he entered the world, he had one plan to cause “absolute and utter chaos and mayhem”.
“You entered the world sick and within seconds had a room full of women running after you. Truthfully though, we all know that didn’t really change in those 18 years.
“We knew you were going to be special Blake, but boy-oh-boy did we underestimate just how special you would be.”
Christine said that when she was young she always wanted to be a nurse but never felt “brave enough” or “smart enough” to go after that, but in “true Blakey style” she added, “you made me not just your mummy but your nurse, your carer, your pharmacist, your advocate and this next title I’m giving to myself… you made me a Professor of Blake”.
Putting her hand on her heart, Christine said she knew with 100% certainty, that, “If I didn’t know it when it came to Blake then it wasn’t worth knowing.”
Pixie, she explained, came along because they knew Blake needed a “sidekick”. Christine kept Pixie’s true birth date a secret, so that when she was born herself and husband, Andy arranged to have Blake brought into the delivery suite and put Pixie into his arms.
At that moment, said Christine, “I knew that she had the greatest gift of her life and likewise you for her.”
Christine described an incredible bond between the pair that grew “stronger and stronger” over the years. On his 18th birthday party, Blake danced with Pixie in a white dress because, as Christine explained – her voice breaking – “secretly, you and I knew you wouldn’t be here for her wedding day… and that Pixie will have forever.”
They “stopped counting” hospital admissions and appointments, said Christine. “It wasn’t all plain sailing.”
But as his mum, she constantly fought hard for his care, especially when she felt she “wasn’t being listened to” often seeking “second and third opinions”.
“Only the very best got to be involved in Blake’s life,” she said. “You took no fools and if you didn’t like someone you made that very clear. That was minimal but there were a few.
“We battled through some very tough times together but through every trial you would smile and say, ‘You ok, ma?’ and I would smile and say, ‘Yes’.”
Speaking to those from Blake’s school – Ceara in Portadown – Christine said that when he was enrolled there at just two years and 10 months old, they “hit the jackpot”.
The school closed today so that all could be in attendance and Christine thanked them all for “nurturing” him into the young man he became and caring for him like he was their own.
“We did everything to celebrate you, Blake because in our eyes you weren’t disabled,” continued Christine. “You were just differently able and if that meant changing things up a bit to suit you then we sure as heck made that happen.
“We lived this life with you, Blake like every day was our last. For that I am so glad. We squeezed in countless concerts, trips, experiences, whatever you wanted we did and loved an adventure. You loved to plan and together we made all the memories to keep us going in the rest of our journeys.
“You were never to be pitied. Pixie used to give off and say ‘Mum that stupid head tilt people do and say aw’ when they saw you. You didn’t need pity from anyone because in this earth you lived life to the maximum.
“I used to laugh because Blake used to get all these extra gifts and extra things just because he was in a wheelchair and that was seen as a disadvantage. But that boy of ours was truly just sitting in his throne, being escorted to wherever he needed to be or wanted to be.”
He joined Portadown True Blues with the presentation of his own T-shirt in 2013, “buzzing” he couldn’t wait to “walk them roads”.
He was so proud of the band, the most loyal of members even “urning his head not to look” at the Portadown Defenders, she joked.
To Belfast Giants, and Adam Keefe – Blake’s own “hero, his best friend, his idol” – Christine said, “Hopefully with Blake’s impact on the team over the years, it will give them the drive to go on and win even more trophies. But more importantly to show up, to fight for your mates, to be strong and to never ever give up.
“Thank you for giving us something we all enjoyed. And, boys when you walk past Blake’s seat every game going forward before going onto that ice to fight for points and score goals give Blake’s seat a wee fist pump and get on there and do him proud.
“He showed us what it was to fight and get out there, we need you to do that for him. Take Blake on that ice with you and do him proud.”
Drawing towards the end of her eulogy, Christine said knowing Blake is now in Heaven with her dad and his beautiful dog, Rocco, is “giving me comfort”.
She added: “He never asked for materialistic gifts in this world, all he wanted was your love and your time.
“We were the lucky ones, he chose us.”
Following his funeral, Alderman Paul Berry said: “Today the town of Tandragee came to a complete standstill for the funeral of Blake who was well loved and respected in the town.
“The streets were lined and the shop owners and workers all stood to pay their respects as the cortege passed.
“There was a real sombre and stillness along the streets and people shedding tears at the passing of young Blake.
“Blake was a remarkable young man and a local legend who was such a shining example of someone who smiled in adversity and one who led a great life to the last.
“He touched the lives of so many across Northern Ireland and to see the Belfast Giants, Portadown True Blues and other Bands represented and Ceara School all in attendance was so touching and the Church and Hall were both packed to capacity.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Andy, Christine, Pixie, Uncle Neil and wider family and friends who will miss him greatly as he was such a light and hope in their lives.”
