Jason and Liverpool, united forever
2010/01/05
By Heidi Foo
SEREMBAN: Jason Samuels was an avid Liverpool supporter and that is how his father wanted him to be remembered. He died in March at the age of 20.
His contractor father Willi-am engraved his son's tombstone with two Liverpool emblems.
The 46-year-old father of five also painted four red columns around Jason's tombstone at the Sikamat Christian Cemetery here in the club's colours.
Jason suffered from muscular dystrophy (hereditary muscle diseases that weaken the muscles that move the body).
"It was always Jason's dream to watch a Liverpool match at the club's home ground in Anfield stadium, England, known as the Kop
"Football was his life because he did not have any other form of entertainment and was too weak to play games.
"He never missed a Liverpool match on TV and even recorded the scores in his scrapbook, which we still keep in his bedroom.
"The tombstone columns have small round balls to signify footballs. I painted it red as Liverpool's home jersey is red," said William, whose son was born on Sept 16, 1989.
William's wife, Shanthi Raman, 46, said Jason, who studied up to Standard Five in SK Dusun Nyior, was diagnosed with the disorder at the age of 5 and was bound to a wheel-chair at the age of 11.
"Jason's doctor told us that patients with this illness usually lived to the age of 25, so last year we fulfilled his wish and took him to watch Liverpool's home match against Aston Villa in March.
"The weather was cold but Jason was persistent, insisting on getting on the plane despite his condition.
"My husband's uncle lives close to the stadium, so we brought Jason there.
"He and my husband sat near the goalpost and watched their favourite team score five goals.
"They also obtained the players' autographs and visited the club's training centre and museum."
After the family returned from the trip, Jason, the third of five siblings, was admitted to the Chinese Maternity Hospital here with pneumonia and died three days later on March 29.
William said: "I will never forget how he cheered when Liverpool beat Aston Villa 5-0. His determination is an inspiration to all of us."
The family will hold a ceremony in March on the first anniversary of Jason's death.
