Obituary of Julian Daniel Klassen

KLASSEN: Julian Daniel Klassen, March 16, 2002 – October 29, 2009. Julian passed away in the arms of his parents and surrounded by family at his home just west of Brandon on October 29, 2009. It is with great sadness, even today, that we share with you the loss of our sweet angel. Julian, along with his twin brother Jackson, arrived healthy and safe March 16, 2002. Julian was a happy content baby, he met all his developmental milestones ahead of schedule and was determined not to be left behind by his brother Jackson. Julian liked to have fun joking, playing games and fooling with his brothers and later with his sister. Julian loved his family. In the fall and over the winter of 2004 – 2005 Julian seemed to struggle with a lot of colds and flu's. In March of 2005 his Mom pushed the Doctors to do some blood work, it revealed that Julian had ALL Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Julian began a journey of intensive treatment. Throughout the coming months he made the trip to Winnipeg up to three times per week, hospital stays, I.V's, nausea, losing his hair - all things he learned to accept as part of his life. Julian was never one to complain. Julian continued with his treatments and regular check ups and he remained in remission and things seemed to be progressing. In October of 2007 after a visit to Cancer Care, his blood work indicated he had come out of remission. He began a more intense treatment regime with stronger chemotherapy drugs, more time spent in the hospital but again Julian handled it well. Again things seemed to be working until December 2008 when he relapsed again and his only option was to try and find him a donor and proceed with a bone marrow transplant. A donor was found and after many delays he had his transplant on June 26, 2009. Julian overcame many battles and spent his first weekend at home. It was the long weekend in September and he sat on the edge of his seat all the way home in excited anticipation, having not been home since March. Julian continued to be on and off in the hospital through the next month with minor set backs, there was talk of his return to school in the New Year. On October 21, his parents met with a team of specialist and it was confirmed his cancer had returned and there was nothing more that could be done. Julian had asked for very little throughout his 4 ½ year battle but he asked that he be able to go home for his remaining days. Later in the day on October 21, Julian and his family went home where all of his aunts ands uncles, his grandmother and siblings gathered. Julian's circle of love remained constant over the next eight days, he told stories, watched movies, and told jokes, we laughed and we cried, but mostly we loved. Julian had visits from some of his special friends throughout that week and he never let anyone leave his side without wishing them well, he would say "hope you have a good sleep". Julian began to struggle the night of October 28 and mid morning October 29, once told that Mom and Dad would be okay, Julian our Angel left us to go to heaven to be with his Grandparents and other friends from Cancer Care. Throughout his journey, Julian was not one to sit around, in fact he did many things and at times others were surprised to find out he was sick as he didn't complain and he tried desperately to keep up with his siblings in all activities they were involved in. Julian played baseball, hockey, and soccer, skied and rode his horse, sang in the Singing Christmas Tree at Calvary Temple. Julian was on many family holidays, his wish holiday was to Give Kids the World in Florida, he was so proud that he could take his family on this holiday. Julian had been promised a party when he finished his treatments but he relapsed before that could happen, with the help of Westman Dreams for Kids, the party happened anyway at the farm with all his friends and many wonderful activities. Julian was to Banff skiing, Calgary to the Zoo, and to Drumheller. Julian had a wonderful sense of humour, he loved to play jokes and was known throughout Health Science Centre for his antics. Julian loved school and loved his teachers at Meadows school, he particularly developed a special bond with Miss Arthur, and every time he would see her face his face would light up like a Christmas tree, she made him shine. He even took Miss Arthur on quite a ride on his Dune Buggy that he had got for his 7th birthday. Even at the end he worried about falling too far behind in his schoolwork that he wouldn't catch up. Julian joined his Grandma and Grandpa Johnson and his Grandpa Klassen in heaven. Missing him greatly are his parents Terry and Cindy, brother Hunter, twin brother Jackson and sister Ava, his grandmother Isabelle and many aunts, uncles, cousins and the many, many people's lives he touched on his short time here on Earth. Please take the time to go to the following link to look at pictures of our sweet Angel Julian. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl74x-Y_tls