Tom Westmoreland,
6th August 1967 to 20th December 2008
Tom was diagnosed with CF from birth and had major bowel surgery at 3 days old, but despite this he lived a long and active life with the disease. He had a normal upbringing, attending main stream schools/colleges, playing football and acted at the school.
Despite bouts of ill health over the years, he traveled the world, visiting America, Canada, Europe and the Canary Islands. He had a variety of jobs but worked in the printing industry for many years, although his main passion was music.
He eventually made a career as a jazz musician/composer playing the bass guitar but with the ability to turn his hand to a variety of instruments. He played in a variety of local bands and even toured Belgium in 1999. Over the last few years he worked as a session musician in a local studio and also set up his own home music studio, writing, playing and producing music for him self and as background music for his fathers photography business.
We met in 1995 and eventually married in 2001, and had many happy years together. In 2004 his health started to deteriorate but this never stopped us from doing anything, we still went on holidays in the UK and planned for our future together, this included him studying for a degree and trying for a family (via IVF) but unfortunately, we suffered a miscarriage and Tom died before we could try again.
He was assessed for transplant in 2008, but turned down due to complications and unfortunately following a bout of infections he lost his battle with CF, aged 41 on 20th Dec 2008.
There were so many people at his funeral, standing room only, and it showed what a very special person he was. No one ever had a bad word to say about Tom, and many of his friends never knew about his CF or that his health was deteriorating. He never wanted anyone to feel sorry for him or make exceptions.
His friends and music colleagues are now putting together a CD of music and a benefit evening to raise money for the hospital that treated him.
He was my soul-mate, best friend and husband and I miss him but am so glad I had him my life
Dawn Westmoreland
