Prime Minister Gordon Brown has sent his condolences to Tory leader David Cameron after his son died today, aged six.
Ivan Cameron suffered cerebral palsy and epilepsy and died this morning at St Mary's Hospital in London after falling ill during the night. Cameron and his wife Samantha were at his bedside.
David Cameron is the favourite to become the next British Prime Minister after the next General Election, which is most likely to take place in May 2010.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown also knows what it's like to lose a child. His 10-day-old daughter Jennifer Jane died in 2002 when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer.
There was an air of mourning in Parliament today, with Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs), which normally takes place every Wednesday and is broadcast throughout the nation live on TV from the Commons, cancelled.
Brown pays tribute to David Cameron's 'precious' son Ivan after six-year-old dies suddenly
By Niall Firth, Alex Millson and Ian Drury
25th February 2009
Daily Mail
Conservative leader David Cameron with son Ivan at their home in 2004
Gordon Brown spoke of his sadness this afternoon at the death of David Cameron's eldest son Ivan.
The Prime Minister, whose own baby daughter Jennifer Jane died aged just 10 days in 2002, expressed his and his wife Sarah's sorrow at the six-year-old's sudden death.
The Tory leader and his wife Samantha were at Ivan's hospital bedside when he passed away this morning.
The youngster, who suffered from cerebral palsy and epilepsy, was taken to St Mary's hospital, north-west London, after falling ill during the night.
Mr and Mrs Cameron have two other children, Nancy, five, and Arthur, three.
Mr Cameron, 42, and his 37-year-old wife returned home to mourn in private.
In poignant scenes, the Tory leader was seen collecting Ivan's specially-adapted wheelchair from the family's people carrier outside the house.
He wheeled the empty chair back into their family home after briefly speaking to a colleague outside.
At Westminster, the normal hurly-burly of politics came to a shocked and sympathetic halt.
Friends said there was no sign yesterday that Ivan was about to suffer a seizure. One said: 'It was a perfectly normal day.'
Ivan was the Camerons’ first child, born at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital in London on 8 April, 2002. He suffered his first seizure within weeks and was in and out of hospitals all his life.
Ivan was classed as a quadriplegic and could not crawl, walk or talk and was never expected to be able to.
His condition was described as 'rare with poor outcomes' and although he could interact with his parents he was often in pain.
Mr Cameron is expected by senior colleagues to be off work for a fortnight.
At Cameron's suite of offices in the Commons there was an air of mourning.
Several staff were in tears at the death of a child they had all come to love.
David Cameron walking through the village of Chadlington near his Oxfordshire home with his wife Samantha and children (from left) Ivan, Nancy and Arthur last year
Gordon Brown was visibly moved as he led tributes in the House of Commons where business was suspended briefly as a 'mark of respect' following the Tory leader's loss.
Mr Brown was joined at noon by Mr Hague and Liberal Democrat deputy leader Vince Cable in delivering sombre messages of sympathy and condolence.
William Hague, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, said the Camerons had passed on their thanks for all the messages of support.
Mr Hague added: 'Ivan's six years of life were not easy ones.
'His parents lived with the knowledge for a long time that he could die young but this has made their loss no less heartbreaking.'
He added: 'Ivan suffered much in his short life but he brought joy and love to those around him.
'As David himself has said in the past, for him and Samantha he will always be their beautiful boy.
Mr Hague said the Camerons were 'hugely grateful' to the NHS care workers who 'not only did their utmost for their son this morning but have helped every day since he was born'.
The premier, wearing a black tie, told MPs: 'I know that the whole House will want to express our sorrow at the sad death this morning of Ivan Cameron at the age of just six years old.
'I know that in an all too brief life, he brought joy to all those around him and I know also that for all the days of his life, he was surrounded by his family's love.
'Every child is precious and irreplaceable and the death of a child is an unbearable sorrow that no parent should ever have to endure.
Gordon Brown makes a statement in the House of Commons after Prime Minister's Questions was suspended today following Ivan's death
This Cameron family photograph was used for their Christmas card last year
'Politics can sometimes divide us. But there is a common human bond that unites us in sympathy and compassion at times of trial and in support for each other at times of grief.
'Sarah and I have sent our condolences to David and Samantha and I know the whole country - our thoughts and our prayers - are with David, Samantha and their family today.
Mr Cable added: 'I think everybody in the House has experienced bereavement, but there is something especially sad and shocking about the loss of a child.
'We recognise, I think all of us, that this is something that is especially difficult to cope with.'
Speaker Martin then told MPs: 'This House will share with me its sadness at this news and our hearts and sympathies go out to David and Samantha and to Nancy and Arthur.
Samantha Cameron with her son Ivan at a Yoga Centre in October 2007
'As a mark of respect to Ivan this House will suspend until 12.30pm this day.'
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, whose wife gave birth to their third son at the weekend, said: 'My heart goes out to David and Samantha at this incredibly difficult time for them and their family.'
Ivan Reginald Ian Cameron was born at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in London on April 8, 2002.
His condition was diagnosed just days after he was born and he required 24-hour care throughout his life.
St Mary's hospital said in a statement: 'It is with great sadness that we can confirm the death of Ivan Cameron at St Mary's Hospital at 6.30am this morning.'
'Ivan, who suffered from a severe complex neurological disability, was taken ill overnight.
David Cameron, pictured with son Ivan, who died this morning
'Ivan has been a patient at this hospital for some time, and is well known to staff.
'Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with David, Samantha and their family at this saddest of times.'
Recalling the moment he found out his son was disabled, Mr Cameron said the news had hit him 'like a freight train'.
Mr Cameron said: 'You obviously worry about everything as a parent and you start asking questions.
'Initially, we were told it was fine, then we went to hospital and they ran some tests and we were told he had a very rare condition which has very poor outcomes.
He added: 'You are depressed for a while because you are grieving for the difference between your hopes and the reality.
'But then you get over that, because he's wonderful.'
Ivan, who was quadraplegic, was known to suffer from Ohtahara Syndrome - a very
rare epilepsy syndrome that occurs in childhood.
In this type of epilepsy, seizures start before the child is three months old and usually in the first 10 days after birth.
David Cameron with sons, Ivan (left), and Arthur speak to Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu on Christmas Day last year at York Minster
Most babies have an underlying structural brain abnormality which may be caused by genes or brain damage before or around the time of birth.
All babies with this syndrome are neurologically very abnormal, according to the charity Epilepsy Action.
Mr Cameron often spoke publicly of his love for Ivan and his gratitude to the NHS for the care it provided.
Ivan was frequently taken ill with fits and required emergency hospital treatment, sometimes forcing the Conservative leader to miss engagements.
Colleagues of the Tory leader have said that the constant care that Ivan needed throughout his short life influenced Cameron's political views.
Ivan's condition meant he required care at night, with Mr Cameron and his wife often taking turns sleeping in his room.
Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague (above) and the Liberal Democrats' Treasury Spokesman Vince Cable as PMQs were suspended
The Camerons had to adapt their home in west London to accommodate Ivan, who needed a special lift to get him in and out of his bath.
The Tory leader told Radio 4's Desert Island Discs of when they first realised that there was something wrong: 'We noticed he was having these very strange movements - sudden jerky movements.'
Speaking about his son in 2006, Cameron said: 'He is a wonderful boy. He has got the most lovely eyes and he definitely interacts with us in the way he looks at you and the way he moves his head, but he often is in a lot of pain'
Last year the Tory leader voted to allow controversial research on hybrid human-animal embryos in the hope it would lead to the development of treatments for his disabled son.
Mr Cameron never shied away from allowing pictures of his family, including Ivan, to be shown in the media.
Only last Christmas, the Camerons' annual festive card featured a photograph of the family, with Mr Cameron gazing fondly at Ivan as he held him in his arms.
Conservative Party leader David Cameron with his wife Samantha and their daughter Nancy (on shoulders) and sons Ivan (left) and Arthur shopping in Portobello Market in London
He has spoken recently of the joy of taking his son out into the snow when blizzards struck Britain earlier this month.
In an interview with the Daily Mail in September, he rejected Gordon Brown's charge that he used his disabled son as a 'prop'.
Defending the decision to use pictures of his family on the cards Cameron said: ‘Some people criticise me for talking about Ivan, but he is an important part of my life.
'My view is that this whole thing of children and wives – do what you feel comfortable with and let people judge you.’
Last year, Mr Cameron said of Ivan's birth: 'We did go through a very difficult time after we had Ivan. I have heard it likened to a period of mourning.
'You are mourning the difference between what you thought was going to happen - when you imagine yourself having children, you always think of bouncing them around, running with them, playing football.
'When it becomes clear that isn't going to be the case, there is huge disappointment and uncertainty.
'It's funny, but I find it quite difficult to remember how stressful it all was. You do adapt.
'When the first person says to you "Some good will come out of this", you want to smack them hard in the face, but after a while you accept that they are right.'
Cameron said that he and Samantha had feared having other children, not knowing whether they would also suffer with the condition.
He said: 'We were nervous. We had some sort of vague genetic counselling, but there were no certainties. They never did get to the bottom of whether it was genetic with Ivan.
'If it was, there was a one-in-four chance that subsequent children would be affected. If it wasn't, there was only a one-in-a-million chance.
'The best they could tell us was that it was probably something like one in 20. There was no test we could have. We crossed our fingers and prayed.
'It meant the arrival of our other children, while joyous occasions, were very difficult times, too. You are so nervous, watching out for odd signs, wondering...'
Reverend Dr Elizabeth Thomson, vicar of St Mary's Church in Witney, Oxfordshire, where the funeral may be held, said: "It is very sad. The community offers the Cameron family our deepest sympathy.
"They are all in our prayers. The family are very popular in the village and we hope they know we are all thinking of them at this very difficult time."
Today the church - of which Mr Cameron is patron - held an Ash Wednesday service where prayers were said for Ivan.
This Morning presenter Philip Schofield offered his condolences via his Twitter account and said: 'We at This Morning are very sad to hear of the death of David Cameron's 6 year old son Ivan. Sending all our love to David and Samantha.'
Downing Street also announced that the formal unveiling of a new portrait of former prime minister Lady Thatcher, which Mr Cameron had been due to attend at Number 10 later, had been postponed.
The charity Young People with Epilepsy, of which Mr Cameron is Vice President, said: 'We're very saddened to hear this news. We express our deepest sympathies to David and Samantha Cameron and their family.'
dailymail.co.uk
Ivan Cameron suffered cerebral palsy and epilepsy and died this morning at St Mary's Hospital in London after falling ill during the night. Cameron and his wife Samantha were at his bedside.
David Cameron is the favourite to become the next British Prime Minister after the next General Election, which is most likely to take place in May 2010.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown also knows what it's like to lose a child. His 10-day-old daughter Jennifer Jane died in 2002 when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer.
There was an air of mourning in Parliament today, with Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs), which normally takes place every Wednesday and is broadcast throughout the nation live on TV from the Commons, cancelled.
Brown pays tribute to David Cameron's 'precious' son Ivan after six-year-old dies suddenly
By Niall Firth, Alex Millson and Ian Drury
25th February 2009
Daily Mail
- Camerons' agony at their eldest son's sudden death
- Couple were at his bedside when he passed away
- Youngster suffered cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy
Conservative leader David Cameron with son Ivan at their home in 2004
Gordon Brown spoke of his sadness this afternoon at the death of David Cameron's eldest son Ivan.
The Prime Minister, whose own baby daughter Jennifer Jane died aged just 10 days in 2002, expressed his and his wife Sarah's sorrow at the six-year-old's sudden death.
The Tory leader and his wife Samantha were at Ivan's hospital bedside when he passed away this morning.
The youngster, who suffered from cerebral palsy and epilepsy, was taken to St Mary's hospital, north-west London, after falling ill during the night.
Mr and Mrs Cameron have two other children, Nancy, five, and Arthur, three.
Mr Cameron, 42, and his 37-year-old wife returned home to mourn in private.
In poignant scenes, the Tory leader was seen collecting Ivan's specially-adapted wheelchair from the family's people carrier outside the house.
He wheeled the empty chair back into their family home after briefly speaking to a colleague outside.
At Westminster, the normal hurly-burly of politics came to a shocked and sympathetic halt.
Friends said there was no sign yesterday that Ivan was about to suffer a seizure. One said: 'It was a perfectly normal day.'
Ivan was the Camerons’ first child, born at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital in London on 8 April, 2002. He suffered his first seizure within weeks and was in and out of hospitals all his life.
Ivan was classed as a quadriplegic and could not crawl, walk or talk and was never expected to be able to.
His condition was described as 'rare with poor outcomes' and although he could interact with his parents he was often in pain.
Mr Cameron is expected by senior colleagues to be off work for a fortnight.
At Cameron's suite of offices in the Commons there was an air of mourning.
Several staff were in tears at the death of a child they had all come to love.
David Cameron walking through the village of Chadlington near his Oxfordshire home with his wife Samantha and children (from left) Ivan, Nancy and Arthur last year
Gordon Brown was visibly moved as he led tributes in the House of Commons where business was suspended briefly as a 'mark of respect' following the Tory leader's loss.
Mr Brown was joined at noon by Mr Hague and Liberal Democrat deputy leader Vince Cable in delivering sombre messages of sympathy and condolence.
William Hague, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, said the Camerons had passed on their thanks for all the messages of support.
Mr Hague added: 'Ivan's six years of life were not easy ones.
'His parents lived with the knowledge for a long time that he could die young but this has made their loss no less heartbreaking.'
He added: 'Ivan suffered much in his short life but he brought joy and love to those around him.
'As David himself has said in the past, for him and Samantha he will always be their beautiful boy.
Mr Hague said the Camerons were 'hugely grateful' to the NHS care workers who 'not only did their utmost for their son this morning but have helped every day since he was born'.
The premier, wearing a black tie, told MPs: 'I know that the whole House will want to express our sorrow at the sad death this morning of Ivan Cameron at the age of just six years old.
'I know that in an all too brief life, he brought joy to all those around him and I know also that for all the days of his life, he was surrounded by his family's love.
'Every child is precious and irreplaceable and the death of a child is an unbearable sorrow that no parent should ever have to endure.
Gordon Brown makes a statement in the House of Commons after Prime Minister's Questions was suspended today following Ivan's death
This Cameron family photograph was used for their Christmas card last year
'Politics can sometimes divide us. But there is a common human bond that unites us in sympathy and compassion at times of trial and in support for each other at times of grief.
'Sarah and I have sent our condolences to David and Samantha and I know the whole country - our thoughts and our prayers - are with David, Samantha and their family today.
Mr Cable added: 'I think everybody in the House has experienced bereavement, but there is something especially sad and shocking about the loss of a child.
'We recognise, I think all of us, that this is something that is especially difficult to cope with.'
Speaker Martin then told MPs: 'This House will share with me its sadness at this news and our hearts and sympathies go out to David and Samantha and to Nancy and Arthur.
Samantha Cameron with her son Ivan at a Yoga Centre in October 2007
'As a mark of respect to Ivan this House will suspend until 12.30pm this day.'
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, whose wife gave birth to their third son at the weekend, said: 'My heart goes out to David and Samantha at this incredibly difficult time for them and their family.'
Ivan Reginald Ian Cameron was born at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in London on April 8, 2002.
His condition was diagnosed just days after he was born and he required 24-hour care throughout his life.
St Mary's hospital said in a statement: 'It is with great sadness that we can confirm the death of Ivan Cameron at St Mary's Hospital at 6.30am this morning.'
'Ivan, who suffered from a severe complex neurological disability, was taken ill overnight.
David Cameron, pictured with son Ivan, who died this morning
'Ivan has been a patient at this hospital for some time, and is well known to staff.
'Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with David, Samantha and their family at this saddest of times.'
Recalling the moment he found out his son was disabled, Mr Cameron said the news had hit him 'like a freight train'.
Mr Cameron said: 'You obviously worry about everything as a parent and you start asking questions.
'Initially, we were told it was fine, then we went to hospital and they ran some tests and we were told he had a very rare condition which has very poor outcomes.
He added: 'You are depressed for a while because you are grieving for the difference between your hopes and the reality.
'But then you get over that, because he's wonderful.'
Ivan, who was quadraplegic, was known to suffer from Ohtahara Syndrome - a very
rare epilepsy syndrome that occurs in childhood.
In this type of epilepsy, seizures start before the child is three months old and usually in the first 10 days after birth.
David Cameron with sons, Ivan (left), and Arthur speak to Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu on Christmas Day last year at York Minster
Most babies have an underlying structural brain abnormality which may be caused by genes or brain damage before or around the time of birth.
All babies with this syndrome are neurologically very abnormal, according to the charity Epilepsy Action.
Mr Cameron often spoke publicly of his love for Ivan and his gratitude to the NHS for the care it provided.
Ivan was frequently taken ill with fits and required emergency hospital treatment, sometimes forcing the Conservative leader to miss engagements.
Colleagues of the Tory leader have said that the constant care that Ivan needed throughout his short life influenced Cameron's political views.
Ivan's condition meant he required care at night, with Mr Cameron and his wife often taking turns sleeping in his room.
Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague (above) and the Liberal Democrats' Treasury Spokesman Vince Cable as PMQs were suspended
The Camerons had to adapt their home in west London to accommodate Ivan, who needed a special lift to get him in and out of his bath.
The Tory leader told Radio 4's Desert Island Discs of when they first realised that there was something wrong: 'We noticed he was having these very strange movements - sudden jerky movements.'
Speaking about his son in 2006, Cameron said: 'He is a wonderful boy. He has got the most lovely eyes and he definitely interacts with us in the way he looks at you and the way he moves his head, but he often is in a lot of pain'
Last year the Tory leader voted to allow controversial research on hybrid human-animal embryos in the hope it would lead to the development of treatments for his disabled son.
Mr Cameron never shied away from allowing pictures of his family, including Ivan, to be shown in the media.
Only last Christmas, the Camerons' annual festive card featured a photograph of the family, with Mr Cameron gazing fondly at Ivan as he held him in his arms.
Conservative Party leader David Cameron with his wife Samantha and their daughter Nancy (on shoulders) and sons Ivan (left) and Arthur shopping in Portobello Market in London
He has spoken recently of the joy of taking his son out into the snow when blizzards struck Britain earlier this month.
In an interview with the Daily Mail in September, he rejected Gordon Brown's charge that he used his disabled son as a 'prop'.
Defending the decision to use pictures of his family on the cards Cameron said: ‘Some people criticise me for talking about Ivan, but he is an important part of my life.
'My view is that this whole thing of children and wives – do what you feel comfortable with and let people judge you.’
Last year, Mr Cameron said of Ivan's birth: 'We did go through a very difficult time after we had Ivan. I have heard it likened to a period of mourning.
'You are mourning the difference between what you thought was going to happen - when you imagine yourself having children, you always think of bouncing them around, running with them, playing football.
'When it becomes clear that isn't going to be the case, there is huge disappointment and uncertainty.
'It's funny, but I find it quite difficult to remember how stressful it all was. You do adapt.
'When the first person says to you "Some good will come out of this", you want to smack them hard in the face, but after a while you accept that they are right.'
Cameron said that he and Samantha had feared having other children, not knowing whether they would also suffer with the condition.
He said: 'We were nervous. We had some sort of vague genetic counselling, but there were no certainties. They never did get to the bottom of whether it was genetic with Ivan.
'If it was, there was a one-in-four chance that subsequent children would be affected. If it wasn't, there was only a one-in-a-million chance.
'The best they could tell us was that it was probably something like one in 20. There was no test we could have. We crossed our fingers and prayed.
'It meant the arrival of our other children, while joyous occasions, were very difficult times, too. You are so nervous, watching out for odd signs, wondering...'
Reverend Dr Elizabeth Thomson, vicar of St Mary's Church in Witney, Oxfordshire, where the funeral may be held, said: "It is very sad. The community offers the Cameron family our deepest sympathy.
"They are all in our prayers. The family are very popular in the village and we hope they know we are all thinking of them at this very difficult time."
Today the church - of which Mr Cameron is patron - held an Ash Wednesday service where prayers were said for Ivan.
This Morning presenter Philip Schofield offered his condolences via his Twitter account and said: 'We at This Morning are very sad to hear of the death of David Cameron's 6 year old son Ivan. Sending all our love to David and Samantha.'
Downing Street also announced that the formal unveiling of a new portrait of former prime minister Lady Thatcher, which Mr Cameron had been due to attend at Number 10 later, had been postponed.
The charity Young People with Epilepsy, of which Mr Cameron is Vice President, said: 'We're very saddened to hear this news. We express our deepest sympathies to David and Samantha Cameron and their family.'
dailymail.co.uk
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