Help after the loss of our beloved Tage

On the 25th on January this year I went down to my son’s room to wake him up because I thought he had overslept for work. I could see his silhouette in the dark bedroom but he didn’t answer so I turned on the lights and I immediately saw that his lips were blue and his skin was pale. I screamed his name over and over and tried waking him up as my girlfriend called 112 (the Swedish equivalent of 911). His body, that I have hugged so many times in his 19 year old life, was already cold and lifeless. According to the doctor who examined him a reason for why he died can't be determined. He was a healthy happy boy with the rest of his life before him one day and so abruptly taken from us the next.

If feels like a part of my soul has been ripped out.

Tage was an amazing person. So many of his friends, teachers and family members have written on his memorial page with stories about what a loving, funny, intelligent, supportive friend he was. When he was in 9th grade he received a “Best friend in school”-award at spring graduation. And he truly kept on earning that award throughout the years. I don’t think there was a person who met him who didn’t like him.

He was effortlessly intelligent. Loved learning new things. Was planning on studying in Paris. Loved music and singing. Had more friends than I ever had at his age. He worked part time at a gym in Stockholm taking care of kids when their parents were working out. He jokingly got the nickname “The baby whisperer” because he was so good at comforting the kids. He would have made a fantastic dad one day.

He was all that is good in life and I will miss him with a burning sadness for the rest of my life.

Arranging a funeral was very costly but we managed mostly with the help of my parents. We are now in the process of the next costly part which is ordering a gravestone. On top of that work has suffered quite a bit. Both me and Tages mother are freelancers and keeping up the energy and will to both maintain and find new work has been very low. I am kindly asking for help with funds to ease on the financial burden of life in general and for the gravestone in particual. We could absolutely manage the costs with savings and/or other help but if we can get help here some of that money could go towards providing for and making nice things for Tage's three siblings.

Thank you so much

Filip, Tage's dad