MITCHELL Harrower has touched hearts on both sides of the globe since his death from a terminal illness earlier this month.
The seven-year-old Werribee boy lost his brave battle against Neumann-Pick type C on August 10 surrounded by his parents Douglas and Liat, sisters Rachael and Taylor and brother-in-law Bjorn, who were singing songs at his bedside as he slowly slipped away.
A rare condition, which affects only 500 people worldwide, Niemann-Pick type C sufferers slowly forget everything, including how to walk, talk, eat and breathe.
With members of the Harrower family living in Scotland, news of Mitchell's death even made it to the Edinburgh Evening News.
Closer to home, the Banner website received messages of sympathy from readers including Sue Peden, a mother of two children with the condition and Julie O'Brien, who described Mitchell as "a beautiful boy with a brave heart".
Mrs Harrower thanked the community for their support.
"We have been so touched by the response from the community following Mitchell's death," she said.
"The level of compassion shown not only by close friends, but complete strangers has been deeply moving.
"Messages have come in from all over the world in response to his passing, and his story has even been reported in newspapers in the UK which has been a very surreal experience for us.
"We have received letters from people telling us how much Mitchell inspired them - and continues to do so. It's such a wonderful and beautiful sentiment to be left with as his parents."
Mrs Harrower said the family was still coming to terms with Mitchell's death.
"Taylor is finding it very hard to be without her little brother, as we all are, and we find ourselves in tears," she said.
"Her teachers and friends at Werribee Primary School have been quite amazing, and very supportive to her.
"The school captains have decided to run a school disco in honour of Mitchell this week and will be raising money for the Very Special Kids hospice in Malvern where he passed away."
At Mitchell's funeral, his favourite moments from the movie Shrek were shown along with plenty of music and photographs, tears and laughter.
Mrs Harrower said children played a major role at the service, and joined together with adults for a memorable balloon- releasing ceremony.
"Many of his school friends wrote messages which they brought to the funeral service, some with pictures of his wheelchair on the ground and Mitchell with angel wings floating up to heaven, or pictures of him dancing and playing footy up in the clouds," she said.
"They all bear the common theme of how much they cared for him and how much fun he was. They also put messages on coloured paper hands and stuck them all over his coffin, so he was covered with love from his friends - it was such a beautiful sight."
Mrs Harrower said their memories of Mitchell's love of life, music and laughter would live on.
"As our minister David Withers said during the sermon: 'How long do you need to live a life fully, to completely immerse yourself in the beauty of the world, to make your mark, do your best, and leave the world a better place?'
"One year? Seven years? 80 years? The answer is, of course, a lifetime and that's what Mitchell had'.
"While it will take us a long time to get over the pain of losing Mitchell, knowing the foundation that bears his name is helping other families in similar situations makes us feel like he is still here making the world a better place."
The Mitchell Harrower Foundation was established to help families with terminally-ill children to obtain important medical equipment.
For more information call Carmel Hewett on 0417 393 032 or visit www.mitchellharrowerfoundation.com
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