Mason Jones, from Barry, who was born with Down Syndrome and congenital heart disease which he underwent multiple surgeries for from four months old, was put into a coma three days after his big birthday
A ‘bubbly’ teenager who had big dreams of becoming a DJ has died just weeks after turning 18.
Mason Jones, from Barry, who was born with Down Syndrome and congenital heart disease for which he underwent multiple surgeries for from four-months-old, was put into a coma three days after his big birthday. The 18-year-old, who was set to work as an apprentice in a café for sixth form, passed away on Christmas Eve after contracting multiple infections and sepsis.
His mother, Samantha Fry, 35, who was a full-time carer for him, said: “My son was the best person. He had the funniest, most bubbly, sense of humour. He always loved to make people smile and laugh, play jokes, little tricks on people and mixed it up with love to make sure everybody else was happy and okay rather than himself.”
Samantha explained: “He was born with Down syndrome and he was born with a congenital heart defect. He had his first heart operation at four months old, where they repaired the holes in his heart. Then his second heart operation was at four years old, and then his third operation was at ten years old, in 2017, where they put a mechanical valve replacement in his heart.”
Mason fought hard against illness throughout his life, and but he never let it affect how he treated others. His mum, Samantha explained: “Mason fought all his life, he suffered with pneumonia, he suffered with his bowels, his kidneys but Mason would never, ever let any of his illnesses put him down.
“He was always so happy, even when he was poorly, he was the happiest person. He would always want to make people happy. He would speak to anybody, he would make friends with anybody. He was so loved by everybody. Even if it was a hello in the streets, Mason could light up anyone’s day.”
Mason was a student at Ysgol Y Deri Special Education Needs School in Penarth, and loved music and cooking. He had been helping in the school’s kitchen for past two years as his mother explained: “He loved to be in that kitchen and cook.”
Samantha said: “He was into cooking, he loved cooking. He would have been starting next year in a cafe with sixth form as a work apprentice. Then he was actually into music. So he loved singing, dancing, playing with the decks and stuff like that. His favourite song was Sweet Caroline.”
For his birthday on December 4, Mason was gifted a DJ set-up, voice changing box, a microphone, and ‘everything he ever dreamed of’. Sadly, he had to be taken to the hospital on December 7, before he was put into a medically induced coma on December 8. After contracting multiple infections and sepsis, Mason tragically passed away on Christmas Eve, December 24.
Along with his mum, Mason’s memory will love on through his two younger siblings, Chelsea Jones, 13, Coen Blu Jones, 7, his father Matthew Jones, and his grandmother with whom he was living. Samantha said: “It is so difficult because it was so sudden that he passed, and so soon after his 18th birthday. The other two children, of course, they’re just so lost. And I don’t think at the moment anyone knows what to do.
“Mason actually lived with my mum for the last five years of his life. Obviously, me and my mum were both his main carers, but he absolutely adored his nan. She was like his best best friend in the whole world. [She is] very emotional, sad. I think because he was so young and it was unexpected… we’re in shock at the moment.”
Speaking about Mason’s popularity in the local community, Samantha added: “Everybody absolutely adored Mason. We would walk through our local town and Mason would see someone and he would run to them and light up their day.
“He was the type of person that even if you didn’t know him, he would walk up to you and say, ‘Hi, how are you? Have a nice day’. He absolutely loved to make sure that people are happy. And if Mason knows that he put a smile on someone’s face, he would be happy for the rest of the day.”
Although the family have to wait until the end of January, Samantha wishes to give Mason a send off he would have liked. She said: “I would absolutely love to give Mason a horse and carriage, I would love that. I would love for everyone to be able to walk behind the horse and carriage through our local town.
“Mason’s favourite thing was to walk through our local town, see people, and just speak to them, say hi to them. That was one of his favourite things. So for Mason, I would love to walk him back through town.” You can help the family organise Mason’s funeral by donating here.