A grandmother’s poetic love for Darcy
Darcy, who was a pupil at Donard School in Banbridge, was said to have brought untold joy to her mum Janet, dad Darrin, sister Jade and brother Josh. Doctors had predicted that Darcy, who suffered from Neonatal Adrenoleukodystrophy (NALD), a rare and incurable genetic condition, would not reach her tenth birthday. However, she proved to be a determined little girl, who was twelve years and five months when she passed away at Daisy Hill Hospital in the company of her parents on October 29.
The poem, entitled ‘My Darling Darcy’, was read out at the twelve-year-old’s funeral, which was held in Loughbrickland Presbyterian Church, by one of Darcy’s carers, Esther.
“Our little angel was born 3rd June this year
Among our excitement came lots of fear
Then I held her in my arms
Just wanted to protect her from all harm
As weeks and months went by I could see
She was special and loving as she could be
She will need our love, our prayers and our care
But the love she gives nothing can compare
She laughs and smiles she touches and feels
And her music and games are so important it seems
To watch her listen from ear to ear
The look on her face says yes I can hear
Her slummy cloth the laughs of delight
Her rolling in bed as we kiss her good night
God Bless my Darcy and keep her well
The reason she’s here God only can tell.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdRev Patricia McBride, who officiated at Darcy’s funeral, spoke of the close-knit Coyle family circle and they love they shared with Darcy. “The biggest lesson that Darcy gradually taught her parents, her big brother, her sister, family circle and an ever-widening circle of friends who were her ‘second family’, was that while she had special needs, even more – much more – she had special gifts. Indeed, that she herself IS a special gift – a very, very precious, special gift. Darcy loved to be loved and what love she helped to blossom in so many people. She has called so much love into this world – a world very much in need of love. She loved all the attention, which is really another way of saying she loved to be loved, and her family, carers, school friends and teachers just loved to love her.”