Lyn Bellis speaks out about her son, Cameron Ripia’s death

“My baby lay in my arms”: A devoted mother has told of her final act of love for her dying son, telling paramedics not to resuscitate him. WARNING: CONFRONTING

Nineteen-year-old Ipswich man Cameron Ripia. Picture – contributed.

An Ipswich mother has shared the harrowing final moments she had with her 19-year-old son, before he died peacefully in her arms.

Nineteen-year-old Ipswich man Cameron Ripia died Monday, March 13, about 7.13am, after three years battling leukaemia.

His mother Lyn Bellis said her son’s health had started to decline rapidly this year.

Cameron had been at home on an oxygen machine since January and had gotten to a point where he was struggling to speak in coherent sentences.

His mother spent every waking moment by his side, and slept in his bed at nights to “always keep an eye on him and be there if he needed”.

Nineteen-year-old Ipswich man Cameron Ripia. Picture – contributed.

Ms Bellis said early Monday morning she had gone back into his room to check on him when things started to unravel.

“He was sitting on the side of the bed. He didn’t have his oxygen mask on so I put it back on. He took it off and shook his head,” she said.

Cameron tried to stand and instead collapsed on to his mother.

“I knew he was gone as I now had dead weight on me,” she said.

Lyn Bellis with her son's Dylan and Cameron Rippia. Picture – contributed.

When paramedics arrived they told Ms Bellis Cameron may have had a stroke.

“They asked if his heart stops do they resuscitate? I said no,” Ms Bellis said.

“As hard as it was a decision, I knew he wouldn’t come back the same. And he would have hated to live like that being dependent on me.

“The paramedics gave him two doses of morphine 20 minutes apart then medazalom 20 minutes later also … this put him to sleep.

“Near the end, I lay near his chest looking in his eyes taking in his features and told him it was OK to go. He took his last breath a minute later.”

Nineteen-year-old Ipswich man Cameron Ripia. Picture – contributed.

Overcome with emotion, Ms Bellis said it was the most gut-wrenching minutes of her life.

“Although my heart is shattered, I’m at peace now knowing he is free,” she said.

“He wanted to live badly, but he wasn’t living.

“He was secluded at home having no immune system … it was too risky to go out as infection could kill him.

“He’s at peace now.

“My baby lay in my arms until he took his last breath.”

Cameron was Ms Bellis’ middle child, and she said ever since he was just a boy they had a very close bond.

“We were both introverted and kept our feelings to ourselves a lot,” she said.

“But towards the end with being together 24/7 we bonded even more.

“I never left his side and always stayed with him.”

A young Cameron Ripia. Picture -contributed.

Ms Bellis said he was always a “mumma’s boy”.

“I’d take him to school and he hated leaving me. He’d run straight out of class back to our car just as I’m about to leave,” she said.

“He had strong mentality. I was in awe of it. I could see him getting sicker and sicker and always told him if he wanted to stop, we will stop.

“He loved his footy and basketball.

A young Cameron Ripia with his maternal grandmother. Picture – contributed.

“I had the perfect son. He had goals mapped out for his future. He wanted to work hard, travel New Zealand and Australia, then buy a house.

“If you needed help with anything he’d be the first to help. He had a cheeky respectful nature.”

His mother said at heart, Cameron really was an old soul.

“He never got to really live his life,” Ms Bellis said.

“I miss my boy so, so much but I’m at peace he's no longer trying to win a losing battle.

“He is free now.”