Ipswich teen Cameron Ripia dies from Leukaemia

“I am grateful”: The brave words penned by a teenager as he faced his final days have been shared by his proud family following his death this week.

Ipswich teen Cameron Ripia is being remembered as a hero following a three-year battle with Leukaemia. Picture – Facebook/Cameron Ripia.

The heartbreaking words of a young man on his death bed have been revealed by his grieving family as they prepare for his funeral.

Nineteen-year-old Ipswich man Cameron Ripia died Monday, March 13 after three years of battling Leukaemia.

Mr Ripia died peacefully in his Ipswich home, surrounded by the people who loved him most.

According to loved ones, he took his last breath at about 7.13am, after bravely fighting the disease since the age of 17.

His mother, Lyn Bellis, shared a tribute to her boy, saying he would be ‘forever 19’.

“I’m so so proud of you,” she said.

“You fought so hard until the very end.

“Love you forever and a day.”

She also shared a stirring letter penned by her son in the lead-up to his death.

“Hey my name is Cameron and for the last three years I’ve been fighting an aggressive strain of leukaemia,” he said.

“A very rare cancer that takes everything from you, your time, your belief, your mental health and so much more.

“I’ve kept quiet the majority about my disease because I thought I could beat this with enough resilience and power.

“Thank you for all of the good times and the bad, it made me who I am. God allowed me to spend this much time on earth in which I am grateful for.

“God is good … goodbye.”

Mr Ripia’s uncle Fran Swaa referred to him as his “hero”.

“My hero may have left this earth but he will always be with us in spirit,” he said.

It was a common reference for the beloved young man, with loved one Addie Miller saying “our hero grew his wings”.

“Thank you for teaching me the importance of life,” Ms Miller said.

“At 19 you’d already battled so much more than most have in 60 years. Thank you for being you.

“I’m forever grateful that I was able to hug you and hold your hand for a few hours today before it was time for you to go.

“If I could describe you in one word it would be ‘life changing’ because you’ve changed my life.

“I love you forever, little brother. You’ll always be our hero.”

Ipswich teen Cameron Ripia died from Leukaemia. Picture – Facebook/Cameron Ripia.

Redbanks Plains Rugby League Club today shared a tribute to “one of our own”.

“Cameron and his family have been apart of our Bears family over the years and he loved playing amongst his mates and always gave 100 per cent to his team,” the club said in a statement.

“On behalf of our club president and all of our Bears family we send our sincerest condolences to Cameron’s family.”

Ella Tosi started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Cameron’s funeral in the wake of years of costly treatment.

It brought us joy to see Cameron back playing with our colts early last year despite the health complications he was facing, a true competitor and fighter right till the end.

“At only 17 years old, when Cameron should have been focusing on school, footy, girls, parties … he was told, he probably didn’t have long to live,” she said.

“Cameron Ripia was a fighter. For the next three years, he battled this relentless disease, with the unwavering love and support of his mother and two brothers.

“Cameron had good days and bad, but sadly, on March 13, Cameron Ripia’s defeated body could take no more.”

She said Cameron touched the hearts of everyone around him with his strength and will to survive.

“We couldn’t be more proud of the fight he gave,” she said.

“We are absolutely devastated by Cameron’s passing and due to the high cost of years of medication and treatment, we are not prepared for the cost of a funeral service.

“Cameron deserves a memorial worthy of the hero he is.

“We are reluctantly asking for donations to help cover the costs of Cameron’s funeral service. Please consider donating if you can, as any amount will truly help our family during this difficult time.”

Cameron’s funeral service will be held at Centenary Memorial Gardens on March 23.