THE heartbroken mother of a York teenager has told how she dreaded the festive season as it marked the first anniversary of the stroke which claimed his life.

Kyle Mcfadyean, described as a “popular and fun-loving son” who was glowing with health, suffered a massive stroke at his girlfriend’s home on Christmas Day last year.

The 18-year-old from Haxby bravely fought the effects of the stroke, brought on by a blood clot in his head, for four days at York Hospital before passing away a year ago today.

His organs were donated in the hope of giving the gift of life to people needing urgent transplants.

Kyle’s mother, Valerie Gillespie, of Oaken Grove, said this Christmas was devoted to remembering her son.

Valerie said: “While other people look forward to Christmas I dreaded it really as it was obviously a year ago that Kyle died.

“We just did things a bit different this year. We went out for something to eat rather than have dinner at home as I could not imagine sitting around at the family table at Christmas without him.

“We all still miss him so much; his family, his girlfriend and his friends. The day was about reflecting on Kyle – it always is.”

Valerie said the family would get together today to visit his grave, and then have an open house for any of his friends.

She said: “The day will be tough to get by. Everybody loved Kyle. He was fun and funny – a lovely boy. He loved socialising and had so many friends. He was always the one cracking the joke and the life of soul of every part.

“Everybody still really misses him.”

Valerie said she received an emotional call last month from friends of Kyle, who used to attend Joseph Rowntree School, who wanted to organise a sponsored leg wax to raise funds for a memorial bench for the school garden.

“They wanted to have somewhere they could sit and think about him,” said Valerie.

“It was emotional really that they wanted to do that.”

She said through sponsorship the pupils had raised hundreds of pounds for the bench which should be in the garden in the new year.


Fact file

The Stroke Association encourages people to use the “FAST” test to detect symptoms of a stroke.

The test requires an assessment of three specific symptoms.

F – facial weakness – can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?

A – arm weakness – can the person raise both arms?

S – speech problems – can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?

T – Time to call 999.

• Source: Stroke Association