Tribute to Dean Grange

The story of Dean Grange and his family touched the hearts of many people. The family were devastated when he was left in a vegetative state after a car accident. Their tribute to their son:

It has stood as a heartbreaking tribute to a much-loved son. But a website which charts the progress of Dean Grange after he suffered brain injuries in a car accident, will now be his lasting memorial.

Dean's suffering came to an end last Wednesday, less than a week after his 25th birthday. The former Gloucester student was just 21 when he was involved in a horrific crash in August 2002.

Dean, who was a passenger in a friend's car, suffered serious head injuries including a swelling on the brain.

As his family struggled to come to terms with the fact they could lose him, or that he would be seriously brain damaged for the rest of his life, they set up a website.

The aim was to let friends and family be part of Dean's fight for survival.And in the darkest of hours, Dean's parents Paul and Veronica, of Thompson Road, Stroud, have been writing regular progress reports on the website dedicated to their son.

They share their mixed emotions at watching their fun-loving, strong and independent son struggle to do the most basic tasks.

And people from across the world have followed their journey from the initial shock and doubts that he would survive, through their hopes for recovery - moments of joy and unswerving love for Dean.

Across the website they urge motorists to cut their speed.Dean's dad Paul said: "Since the accident, it has really taught me and the rest of the family that we should treasure each and every moment.

"We are trying to hold on to all those memories we have of him before the accident. He could be a pain sometimes, but we loved every moment we spent with him."

Now his parents, brothers Darren, 27, and Robert, 20, and his nieces Shaneen, 10 and nine-month-old Ellie and nephews Caine, seven, and one-year-old Ronan, want to remember the lively lad Dean was before the accident.

Mr Grange said they all kept a bedside vigil throughout Dean's ordeal.

He spent hours tending his son throughout his time in various hospitals and care homes - cutting his hair, brushing his teeth, massaging him, trimming his nails and even taught him to wipe his mouth.

"I wanted him to be at the very high standard of cleanliness which he kept himself," said Mr Grange.

The family are experiencing a tremendous mix of emotions of grief and heartache - relief that Dean's pain is over and joy that they still have so many fond memories of their son.

"He was a real joker," said his mum. "We argued furiously but I'm sure he would start it just to get a hug afterwards.

"He loved to make people laugh and he had so many friends. He was very proud of his appearance and had a real eye for the ladies.That's what we want to remember.

"That was what was really frustrating - after the accident he just had an empty expression."

His dad said Dean was very fit and strong and keen on body building.

"He was a chunky as a baby," he said. "I remember as though it was yesterday, picking him up in my arms and thinking it. He was multi-talented and could do whatever he put his mind to. We took him water skiing a few years ago. He had never done it before and everyone else was struggling but he was like a duck to water.

"We tried to throw him off with a few quick turns but he was too good!

"He loved fast cars and pretty women and I suppose that was what got him in the end."

Dean was born on January 13, 1981 at Stroud Hospital.The family lived in Stonehouse before moving to Wellington Street, Gloucester.Dean went to St Paul's Primary School, where his head teacher summed him up as "a likeable rogue", and Beaufort Community School but had home tuition from the age of 13.

He later moved to Hull, and Leeds, but came home in December 1999 to his parents' current home in Thompson Road, Stroud.

At the time of his accident, Dean seemed to have found his niche and was renovating a home for a friend's father, who had nothing but praise for his hard work, strength and good spirits.

He was also planning to create self-build homes in Tenerife with friends, and had been making his car roadworthy but was unable to afford the insurance.

On the evening of the accident, Dean and his dad, who has suffered from heart problems due to the stress of the accident and its aftermath, had a disagreement before he went out.

Mr Grange said Dean was unaware he was upset and left happy, with a great big smile, pleased to be going out with friends.

But less than an hour later, the phone rang with the devastating news about the crash.Mr Grange, 46, said Dean, who had suffered fits since 2003, died on Wednesday after a severe fit at Badgeworth Court care home the previous day. Dean had bronchial pneumonia.