It sounds incredible, but as mother Patricia tells about her son Marciano who died in October 2022, he seems to have lived almost a lifetime in his short, twelve -year life. He was her care child, but made fun, love and a smile. That was his motto: whatever happens, always keep laughing.
Marciano was born on December 7, 2009 and lived with big brother Dylano, sister Jailey, mother Patricia and (step) father Mark in Eindhoven.
Unfortunately, soon after his birth it became clear that something was not quite right, says mother Patricia: “Marciano had Williams syndrome, a developmental disorder. We also found out during pregnancy that he had a hole in his heart. So there was really something going on, but we were confident that it would all be fine. “
Even when Marciano after the heel prick, who have all newborn babies, turned out to have a delayed thyroid gland, Patricia accepted that as a given. “Thanks to medicines, we also got this well under control. And Marciano was such a wonderful, sweet, cheerful baby, that might also make it easier to accept that he was a care child. ”
“Marciano was a fighter and came on top.”
Just before his third birthday, a period of great worries started. “He got an epileptic attack and it was so serious that he was admitted to the Intensive Care in Maastricht. Then I thought for the first time: this will not be fine anymore. And for the first time I was really afraid of losing him. That feeling never completely left. “
But Marciano was a fighter and came on top. He developed into a kid that made everyone happy. Because of his optimism, jokes and beaming eyes.
Patricia: “Of course he had his limitations, but could and did everything and went through life laughing and singing. He loved going to school and was loved there, with teachers and classmates. They called him ‘the boy with that beautiful smile and beautiful blue eyes’ and yes, he was. A very beautiful, sweet boy. ”
“He lubricated shoe polish on binoculars.”
In addition to being sweet, Marciano could also be naughty and would like to get some mischief, says Patricia. “Oh, we enjoyed that so much. He made up everything and, for example, stuck tape on a door frame so that you stayed on it or lubricated shoe polish on a binocular. Of course we always played the game, just to see how he was double laughing. ”
Marciano preferred to laugh and sing. Singing still had an edge for. “He sang the day. And preferably songs from Bassie and Adriaan and from John de Bever. John was really his big idol and the song ‘You don’t get that smile from my face’ his big favorite, his body song. We played it at the farewell of Marciano, when he is worn inside. Because he always laughed and because we knew he would have loved it. ”
After there were already indications in 2020 that Marciano’s heart was not doing well, a very bad, irreversible diagnosis was made in July 2022. In the intervening period he had to be admitted to the hospital several times.
“His heart was gone.”
“In July 2022 we heard that it was really wrong,” says Patricia. “His kidneys failed, his heart was up and then you know that the worst is about to happen. We had to prepare for his last phase of life. That is very difficult And you are in shock, but you have to do that.
That beautiful last period is not least thanks to John and Kees de Bever, the Wensbulance, PSV, the motorcycle club that came to bring him a final greeting and Efteling. They all made their contribution to that.
“We have done so many fun things between July and October. But especially John’s visit to our home made a big impression on Marciano. When he heard that he could be seen in an episode of the beavers it couldn’t go wrong at all. “
Nice memories of Marciano are plentiful. And Patricia is very grateful for that. But still. It must be difficult that he has only turned twelve.
“That’s for sure,” she says. “That you live longer than your child is simply not to accept. Never. But he has taught me to be positive in life. “
She continues: “He was so wise, so special. That he, when it went wrong in July 2022, went into the ambulance so much about him. He sang the song ‘Bye boyfriends, day girlfriends, this was it again, day friends and girlfriends until next time againfrom Bassie and Adriaan. ”
“The most important thing I learned from him? Whatever happens, always keep laughing. ”
Marciano died on October 5, 2022.