TRIBUTES to Newport boy Ieuan Thomas-Yendle and messages of condolence to his family have been left on our website following our exclusive story on his tragic death.

Thirteen-year-old Ieuan, from Millman Street, Pill, died last week at Ty Hafan children's hospice after a lengthy battle with an illness that gradually robbed him of his mobility, speech, sight and finally his life.

Many of the messages left both on our website and in the family notices section of the paper focus on Ieuan's bubbly personality amd particularly his smile.

Family, relatives and friends speak consistently of the former St David's RC primary and St Joseph's RC comprehensive school pupil's sunny character and of his "beaming smiles."

A former school contemporary, writing as MegganBaybe describes Ieuan as "always smiling, even if he wasn't feeling that good."

A message from "Angie" in Newport said Ieuan would be missed by all her girls who went to school with him.

Scarlet wrote: "Ieuan is my cousin but I loved him like a brother and he was my best friend. We were very close and I will miss him so much."

Ieuan was diagnosed as a baby as suffering from hypogammaglobulinemia, a rare immune deficiency which meant his body could not produce the antibodies necessary to fight infections.

This was caused by a deficiency in a protein called CD40 Ligand, but regular infusions meant Ieuan could live a normal life.

But when he was eight years old his parents Wayne and Rosemary Yendle began to notice problems with his movement.

During the following five years Ieuan lost mobility, speech, sight, and even towards the end of his life, the ability to swallow. He died on Tuesday July 3.

Mrs Yendle told the Argus that no-one knows why or how her son's deterioration began and it may have been a completely separate condition.

"In the end it even took away his smile, and that was awful, because he always had a smile for everyone," she said.

Ieuan's funeral service will be held at St David's RC Church, Maesglas, at 10am on Monday July 16. People are asked to wear bright colours in celebration of his life.

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