Longford Little Blue Hero Max Wenman: Family strive to ‘live life to the Max’

Christmas is a time for celebration but for one Longford mother the festive season has taken on a different perspective.

Cathy Bermingham lost her son Max Wenman a day after his 8th birthday after he battled Neuroblastoma Cancer. Max was diagnosed two weeks after his second birthday and went into remission and relapsed twice.

The second time Max relapsed he went into palliative care and he passed away six weeks later on Wednesday, June 27, 2018.

Cathy said: “I celebrate his life rather than grieve his death. I learned so much from him and we went through such an amazing journey with him so I am lucky that I talk about him with a smile more than a tear.”

Max was known as ‘Mighty Max’. Cathy explained: “Max loved wrestling and his wrestling name was Mighty Max and everyone knew him as that. He was lucky enough he got to meet his favourite wrestlers such as John Cena who facetimed him.”

Cathy said; “Nobody thinks of when a child is diagnosed with cancer, the impact it has on their families as well as the child. It is such a financial strain, when Max was diagnosed both myself and my partner had to give up work and we were travelling up and down to Crumlin often so you have the expense of that. Parking is €10-15 a day and then you are living on takeout food and it all becomes a financial strain on the parents.”

Caption: Honorary Garda Angel Max Wenman RIP

She praised the Little Blue Heroes Foundation saying, “The charity is amazing for the parents but also for the kids as they make them feel so special.”

Max features in this year's ‘Operation Blue Light Heroes’ book and Cathy explained how ‘touching’ it was.

“I was so touched by it. We as a family all were. When your child has passed away, all you want is a memory of your child. The very last page of the book features Max and another little boy who passed away Luke and a guard dog from the charity who also passed away. The guard dog has angel wings and is carrying Max and Luke which really touched me I have to say.”

Cathy said Max’s legacy lives on within her and her family as they strive to ‘live life to the Max.’

“We try to do something every year on his birthday and anniversary to celebrate his life. Max had five brothers and sisters and they all loved him and will always remember him.”

For Christmas, Cathy and her family have a ‘Max tree’. “We buy a gift card and give it to a random stranger and on the note we say ‘have a gift, on Max’ or ‘we have lost our little boy and we can’t buy him a present so treat yourself’ and it means so much to us to carry on his legacy in such a positive way.”