Tribute to ‘Our Little Prophet’, Liam Rangasamy |29 August 2022

Liam Rangasamy

The following article is a tribute to seven-year-old Liam Rangasamy who passed away on August 23, 2022. It has been written by Liam’s aunt, Jane Stravens. Liam was the son of Minister Billy Rangasamy and his wife Erica.

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I would like to let you know about a special boy, my nephew, Liam! He was so special that God wanted him in His Kingdom at the age of 7 years old!

This is the story of Liam Emmanuel Rangasamy, whom I had the privilege to spend time with in different stages of our lives when he came to Canada on holiday, for I was also there on a long holiday. I met him when he was one year old and at three years old in Canada. There was always a special bond between us, especially when he was three years old and onwards for Liam could speak and sing and we would sing together with his older brother, Eli, and sometimes with their cousins. We would be merry, singing the Children’s Gospel Songs. Both of them must have received the gift of singing from their parents, Erica and Billy Rangasamy! One of their songs is En Soley, composed by Fr. Gustave Lafortune, and sang and slightly modified by them. Actually, Eli and Liam are also featured in that video!

While the Rangasamy family would come to Canada on holidays, and sometimes when Liam’s parents and grandparents went out, I would say that I would like to catch up with my writings as an author. Liam would say to his parents that he would like to stay with me. Of course, there would be no writing for me; we will simply have fun, playing, drawing, and singing! I noticed that Liam had a special skill in painting, and since I have had the honour to attend the Academy of Fine Art of Brera in Milan, Italy, I told myself that I would like to transmit to my nieces and nephews what I have learned. Liam took the painting with both hands so to speak. Unfortunately, the holiday came to an end, nephews and nieces and auntie cannot be together, and we sort of lost contact.

We met again when Minister Billy Rangasamy took up the post of Minister for Land and Housing. His wife, my niece, and children could not come straight away because they had things to sort out before settling definitely in Seychelles. They arrived before Christmas 2020. When Liam arrived at my home, with a broad smile, I remembered, he said, “Seychelles is the best place ever!” and he continued, “Auntie Jane, I would like to paint all of that!” I said, “Think of your wish fulfilled! Get some drawing papers or better still some canvases, and we will start painting straight away.” Liam was then five years old, and together with Eli, eight years, we started our journey to meet every now and then and paint together, and we also find time to enjoy the sea. We would go swimming and jog on the beach. They were both showing much interest in Arts, especially in painting, and when I could not join them at their home, they would come to Anse Aux Pins to my home to finish their works.

Unfortunately, Liam started limping slightly, I would tease him, saying,“Liam, you have no reason to limp, you know that when I was a child, I limped too but I had my reasons, I did so because I didn’t have to do housework. You don’t have that problem, enjoy yourself!” Within a few days from that episode, Liam’s right hand was having some problems, it was getting numb. His parents took him to the hospital for a check-up. We were shocked by the result we heard. As we all have faith in God, we all prayed hoping Jesus will do a miracle upon him. The family left urgently to UAE with him for treatment. Billy could work from abroad and I personally would like to take this opportunity to thank our President, Wavel Ramkalawan to have granted him the time to spend with his family in that delicate situation, where the doctor had given Liam three months to live. We all kept on praying for his complete healing and keep expecting a miracle for Liam. Unfortunately, this did not happen; Liam’s health got worse and his body was losing its functions. Whenever Liam got back to Seychelles after treatments, he would insist on painting and I would go down to his place to fulfill his wish. I personally could never stop admiring his paintings!

I truly think that he has done wonderful works to leave a legacy not just in paintings but in willpower, perseverance, and faith in God always! Liam went to Toronto, Canada for treatment of this DIGP, there is no cure yet and it is very aggressive. Hope from above, he will be able to help find a cure for this disease. On his last trip abroad, I asked him, ‘Liam how are you?’ It broke my heart when he told me, ‘Now, I’m using my left hand, and soon I will not be able to use it anymore.’ I told him, ‘Let’s ask Jesus to heal you completely! Let’s sing this song which we used to sing together in Canada, Jesus Loves Me, Yes, I know!’ Then we sang ‘This Little Light of Mine’ and sang ‘We’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy down in My Heart!’ Liam has always shown much joy, and joie de vivre in his short life until he could not smile anymore due to his illness. Thanks to his devoted parents, especially Erica, his mother, with tender care and much love, had taken care of him. Meanwhile, he kept on painting and writing prayers with his left hand, therefore Liam was obliged to swap from being righthanded to lefthanded, and although his left hand was getting weak, and he could not sit anymore, with willpower and perseverance, he still wanted to paint, till he could not do it anymore and that was a month before he left for Heaven.

I felt blessed that on the night of his departure I was there, together with his loving parents, Eli, and his beloved Auntie Evelyn, and his physiotherapist, Tony, who came to help him breathe that night and often by massaging him, we were praying and singing and asking God for a miracle and of course, Thy Will be done. Special thanks go to all his doctors, his aunty Evelyn and everyone in the world who have prayed for him! God needed an Angel in Heaven! We will cherish the good memories we have had with you on Planet Earth, till we meet again our Angel, Liam! From the doctor’s verdict, we have enjoyed your company for more than a year, which has been a blessing for all of us! Now the Universe is your home! Intercede for us, Liam! You are forever loved!

(The accompanying photographs show some of Liam’s completed and unfinished paintings).

Jane Stravens

Photo source: Jane Stravens