Adorable Danny had 'a heart of gold and a will of iron'

Danny Norris, a seven-year-old boy who captured the hearts of the community during his brave battle with cancer, will be “forever missed”.

His funeral Mass on Monday morning in Fourmilewater was a celebration of the sense of joy and friendship he displayed during his short life.

At the request of his family, mourners wore Christmas jumpers to reflect the sense of fun Danny had in life. The mourners listened to his heartbroken parents Lar and Lisa pay tribute to their wonderful son.
From the altar, which was covered in stars hung by Danny’s classmates in Ballymacarbry National School, Lisa paid a moving tribute to Danny.

Danny, she said, “had a heart of gold and a will of iron”, and he would be “forever missed”.
Lisa told the congregation of the incredible courage and bravery Danny showed throughout his illness and he displayed a “strength of character way beyond his years”.
She said Danny was bright and funny and his sense of fun and infectious friendship would be his lasting legacy.
Lisa said having Danny at home before he passed away meant a lot to the family.
She thanked all the people who were with them on their journey since July 2020 and thanked people all over the country and beyond who supported Danny to give him the opportunities to access the care he needed.

Danny had returned home to Glasha, located between Ballymacarbry and Clonmel, from Crumlin after the family had won their battle with the HSE to provide palliative care for Danny in his own home.
In early November the HSE had refused to provide such care as the service had been withdrawn from the area since 2017.

A letter from Lar and Lisa pleading for the home care service for Danny was read out in Dáil Éireann by Deputy Michael Lowry.
The home care was provided the next day and Danny was able to spend his last days surrounded by his loved ones in his own home.

It is the wish of Lar and Lisa that the paediatric home palliative care service is available for any family that needs it regardless of where they live in the country.
Before Lar and Lisa spoke to the congregation, symbols of Danny’s life were brought to the altar.

Those included a Nintendo Switch, a photo of Danny’s family, a card from his classmates, a Nire /Fourmilewater GAA jersey and a Little Blue Heroes medal awarded to Danny by An Garda Síochána.

A turtle and a zookeeper outfit were also brought to the altar as Danny loved animals and in particular pandas.
In his homily Fr Micheal Toomey told mourners that nothing he could say would ease the pain.
“Danny’s storybook was filled with love and laughter, with family and friends. Nothing I can say can reverse the pain you are feeling. He had a wise old head on such a young pair of shoulders. He could easily read a person in but a moment.
“He once showed his love while on a trip to a petting zoo, when his older brother Shay was looking forward to petting the rabbits, but they were not allowing it on that day.
“Danny had a cunning plan. He would use his condition finely to his advantage.

“He took off his hat to show off his bald shiny head and it melted the hearts of the staff. It melted the hearts of the staff and the petting took place.
“What made him such a formidable character was not his illness. This was not what defined him — it was his strength of character which defined his illness,” said Fr Toomey.

Fr Toomey said Danny “rewrote the rulebook” taking on board every treatment and that he “never complained”.
“He was wise, he often insisted in having the treatment in his buggy because he once realised that if he ended up in bed he was staying. He always wanted to come home and be in his own bed.

“To Danny, on behalf of all of us here we just want to say ‘thank you’.
“Thank you for touching our lives, for being the character you are and for the millions of memories you left us and the hundreds of pandas who went with you. Thank you for being a part of the story of our lives.
“Keep that lovely smile as you now look at the face of God. May he Rest in Peace.”

At the service, guards of honour were formed by pupils of Ballymacarbry National School and by members of An Garda Síochána as Danny was an Honorary Garda.