Troy Lovegrove, the seven-year-old son of one of Australia's most well-known AIDS victims Suzi Lovegrove, died in his sleep last night at his eastern Sydney home of AIDS-related illnesses.
His father Vincent, 46, and half sister Holly, 17, were at his side, a family spokesman said yesterday.
Troy contracted the AIDS virus from Suzi at birth and both were the subject of an acclaimed documentary', Suzi's Story, aired in more than 50 countries since it was first shown on Australian television in mid-1987. Suzi died on June 14 that year.
Troy's father took him from the Prince of Wales Hospital two weeks ago so he could die at the family home in Randwick. He had been in hospital for three weeks.
Troy had made the decision to forego medicines, hospitalisation and feeding drips. In the last days of his young life, he could not move without extreme pain. His weight dropped to 12kg.
At 1am one day as he neared death, he said to his father, "When I leave my body I want poor people to have my clothes and my toys [although] there probably won't be much to go around.
"When I get cremated, will you put half my ashes with some of Mummy's and dump them from the helicopter at The Gap (a popular tourist attraction at Sydney Heads) at exactly the same spot as her other ashes were spread from the helicopter at The Gap.
"The rest of the ashes you can mix with Mummy's and put on a gardenia bush when you finally get some land and a home."
"If my spirit doesn't leave my body by this Sunday can we go to Chinatown and have some yum cha [Troy's favourite food]."
The comments are likely to be included in a 52-minute documentary, covering the last year of his life, to be screened nationally on the ABC in August.
Calling him a teacher, Mr Lovegrove said yesterday that Troy's courage, valour, zest for life and deep spirituality were examples of strength and learning for those who knew him.
"I am saddened by the loss of my little wise old man, my closest friend. I am elated that his beautiful spirit finally defeated the AIDS virus by leaving his deteriorated body to join his mother's spirit. Suzi and Troy have been waiting far too long to reunite."
Mr Lovegrove said he and Holly had received nothing but warmth, support and love from the general community. "It has been overwhelming and we will always be indebted to and inspired by the hundreds of thousands of people who have sent us their love."
However, he said some small sections of the medical profession had shown shameful discrimination, prejudice, distortions, pediaphobia and political agendas.
A private cremation service will be held today, followed by a public memorial service next week at Sacred Heart Church in Avoca Street, Randwick.
'Lovegrove, Troy Vincent (1985–1993)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/lovegrove-troy-vincent-19017/text32114, accessed 5 December 2024.
photo supplied by family
25 June,
1985
Paddington, Sydney,
New South Wales,
Australia
3 June,
1993
(aged 7)
Randwick, Sydney,
New South Wales,
Australia
Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.
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