It is with great sadness and a deep sense of loss that the mother of Byron Ball, Maggie Bailie, announced Byron’s death earlier this week.
Byron (27) was the subject of many previous Record articles on brain cancer and cancer treatment. He passed away on Monday 9 May after an aggressive sick-bed.
Byron raised in excess of R170 000 in 2015 to undergo CyberKnife treatment at Healthcare Global (HCG) in Bangalore, India. This is one of two venues in the world where radiation could be targeted directly to the pineal germinoma he suffered from. After receiving CyberKnife treatment in June, Byron returned to HCG in October, where he was given a clean bill of health. The tumour dissolved completely and he was ready for life without cancer.
From India: Byron recovering after brain cancer treatments
The Record’s last interaction with Byron was in December. A zesty 26-year-old beamed as he told of all the things he wanted to return to. His passions and hobbies included angling and exploring the great outdoors. He also looked forward to entering the workforce again. Byron had minor success working as an electrical engineer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo before his diagnosis. Unfortunately, his deteriorating health determined a different course for him. During radiation therapy at the Joburg General in 2013, his brain cells were damaged and burnt. “Basically, an irreversible burn scar formed at the top of Byron’s brain,” Maggie told the Record at the time.
Byron starts his brain campaign after treatments
Byron starting feeling ill and weak again in January, when he started to experience astigmatism of his eyes. He returned to Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital (formerly the Joburg General) several times over the past few months where PET scans confirmed the cerebral blood vessel damage to his brain due to the radiation therapy he’d undergone in 2013.
Byron’s big C could be treated in India
In February, thanks to a generous sponsorship, Byron and his mother went on an MSC cruise to Mozambique and the Portugeuse Islands. Byron’s continuing deterioration brought Maggie to the realisation that they had limited time together, so she decided to embark on a journey to complete Byron’s bucket-list.
“His list was short, but rich in experiences – see, Byron thought he’d have a lot more time to complete it,” she said.
His list included getting a puppy, making a trip to Port Elizabeth and Cape Town and swimming with the dolphins. They set off on 18 March and made a pit-stop at a house in Pretoria where Byron was surprised to find he could choose his own puppy. “He repeatedly told me ‘Mom, we’re not allowed a dog where we stay’. I told him that didn’t matter to me. I said ‘Pick any doggy you want’.”
He settled on a Pekinese pup and named her Blossom. They visited family in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town and returned home and to the hospital, where doctors told him they could no longer help him.
“It took a lot to organise a visit to the dolphins at uShaka Marine World, but we made it happen,” Maggie said.
On their way to Durban, Byron fell very ill and they were forced to stop over. “At this point he was feeling very weak and asked me, ‘Mom, do you really want me to live like this?’ ‘Of course not’, I said. He told me he was at peace and ready to let God take over. He wanted me to make peace, he told me that night.”
Shortly after returning home to Horizon View, Byron went deaf and could not recover from his other symptoms. He took his last breath on Monday, 9 May.
Byron jetting off for treatment
“I’m grateful that Byron could experience so much in his last couple of months. He was an adventurer and would have liked to do so much more, but he realised time was short. He was such a brave soul,” Maggie concluded tearfully.
Byron is survived by his mother, his father, Derrick, sisters Priscilla (37), Janine (34) and Maricha (21), and a brother named Jason (15).
A memorial service in celebration of his rich life is being held on Wednesday 18 May at the Horison Methodist Church, 52 Cutten Street at 12 noon. The service is open to the public.
“I encourage everyone planning to attend to wear fishing or hiking gear – that’s what he loved doing,” Maggie said.
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