PENGE: Tribute to boy who 'made every day happy' (From News Shopper)

PENGE: Tribute to boy who 'made every day happy'

9:14am Wednesday 1st September 2010 in

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THE family of a nine-year-old boy who collapsed and died after playing football has paid tribute to him.

Joshua Wright was born with three holes in his heart and underwent surgery at 12 months old which repaired two of them.

After that operation he was able to live life as a happy normal young boy and yearly checkups revealed he was living healthily.

But after playing football with his friends near his home in Queen Adelaide Road, Penge, he collapsed.

Attempts to resuscitate him by his mother Vanessa and emergency services were unsuccessful and the Royston Primary School pupil died.

Ms Wright said: “He meant everything to me, he was such a special little boy.

“He just made every day happy.”

The 27-year-old added: “I have not been coping well.

“The nights are hardest and getting too sleep is hard.”

His grandmother Velma Wright says he was waiting for a letter from Evelina Children’s Hospital, central London, about when he would need another operation on his heart.

But she says he had always been well.

The 44-year-old, of Thesiger Road, Penge, said: “After the surgery at one he was fine so it’s devastating, absolutely devastating.

“He was an absolutely lovely boy and very playful.

“At school he was a bit of a leader and people followed him.

“It has been devastating but the support from the community has been fabulous, that has been good for us.”

Joshua’s funeral will take place on September 10.

Call H Copeland & Sons funeral directors on 020 8650 2295 for details.