BY MONIQUE DEVEREUX
Jonah Conrad, the young Taumarunui boy whose family's plight sparked an outpouring of generosity from Herald readers last year, has died.
Jonah was having chemotherapy for a brain tumour in Auckland's Starship last year when his grandmother's car was stolen from where the family were staying, near the hospital.
Christine Conrad had bought the $1700 car especially to make regular trips from Taumarunui to Auckland while Jonah needed treatment.
She contacted the Herald after the uninsured car was stolen, devastated that the family were stranded in Auckland.
The response was overwhelming. Two people donated $1000 cash each, and the family were loaned one car and given another. Clothes, books and teddy bears were also donated.
But almost exactly a year after the Conrad family went public with their story, Jonah's fight against cancer ended.
The 2-year-old died last Thursday in Taumarunui Hospital and his tangi was held over the weekend.
Christine Conrad said her grandson was "a wonderful little boy, a little light in our lives."
The family brought him home to Taumarunui in the past few months after Starship doctors told them nothing more could be done for him.
"Near the end Jonah lost the use of his legs and we had to carry him around," she said.
"He was only little but he knew there was something wrong. He really clung to his mother."
Mrs Conrad said she would never forget the generosity of Herald readers. The car she was given enabled her to travel back and forward to the Starship for many months.
"I just wouldn't have been able to get there without it. I can't thank those people enough for giving me that precious time with Jonah."
Jonah's mother, Angela, is expecting another baby this week.
Kindness lives on in memory of young Jonah
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