A 26-year-old Inverness man has died after a battle with cancer – just days before he hoped to take part in a sky dive to raise money for other young sufferers.
Despite his illness, Stewart McIntyre, devoted his energy to supporting other patients at the Beatson Institute in Glasgow, where he underwent gruelling treatment for leukaemia.
Last night, poignant tributes were paid to the former Charleston Academy pupil, who was remembered by friends as “a wonderful, unconditionally caring person”.
Stewart had been planning to take part in the Teenage Cancer Trust’s Skyedive for Stephen event last Friday – in memory of Stephen Sutton, whose own fight against cancer has helped raise nearly £5million.
But Stewart’s condition rapidly deteriorated last week following a relapse several months ago and he died in the Southern General Hospital on Tuesday morning.
Before his relapse, Stewart had been making plans for the future and had been offered an interview at Glasgow University to study computing.
His parents Neil and May relocated from Scorguie, Inverness, to Glasgow to support their son’s fight against acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after he was first diagnosed in 2013.
They were at his bedside last week when he died and his mother May had fed him porridge just hours before his death.
As they plan their final farewell, the family, including sister Kirstie and her husband Lewis, say they are determined to celebrate his life
A funeral service at Inverness Crematorium on Wednesday will be a celebration of his life, with those attending asked to wear kilts or the colours of Mr McIntyre’s beloved Manchester United.
His father will be wearing his son’s football top, while his mother will wear a red dress picked out on one of their last shopping trips together.
Mrs McIntyre said: “He never complained. He coped admirably and took everything on chin.
“He was looking forward to the future.
“One of his fellow cancer sufferers called him ‘unconditionally caring” because he was a support to all patients.
“Stewart was also very loyal to his friends and his football club.
“He would not have liked us to be sad.”
Stewart, a former worker for Inverness-based Gapgemini, was first diagnosed at the age of 24 in December 2013.
The first signs of the disease was a nosebleed and his GP referred him immediately to the city’s Raigmore Hospital, where he was diagnosed with leukaemia and given chemotherapy.
Soon after he was flown to the Beatson Institute for specialist treatment, becoming an in-patient at the Teenage Cancer Trust’s centre.
The family bought a flat opposite the hospital to be closer to him, taking most of their furniture from Scorguie with them to create a “home from home” for Stewart when he was allowed out of the unit.
After months of treatment, he was declared in remission in September last year.
But three months ago, he discovered a lump in his groin and it was found that the cancer had returned.
His parents also praised healthworkers who cared for him during his 19-month battle with the disease.
Mrs McIntyre said: “He could not have had better care. Everyone was fantastic and I am sure they are all devastated.
“I could not fault his care all the way along and all the charities that have helped have been fantastic.
“We decided that the money should go to Leukaemia and Lymphona Research because they are trying to eradicate it.”
The service will be at the crematorium will take place at Inverness Crematorium on Wednesday at 2pm.
Family flowers only have been requested but donations are welcome to Leukaemia and Lymphona Research.