By Cheryl Wood

A FIFE teenager has lost his battle with a rare genetic disorder which left him unable to walk, see or speak.

Kieran Duncan (15), of Anstruther, passed away in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, on Saturday, eight years after suffering a stroke-like episode and being diagnosed with MELAS syndrome, a degenerative disorder which affects energy production in body tissue.

Yesterday his parents Geordy and Brenda told how he died with a smile on his face and paid tribute to a son who was cheeky and mischievous but who also had an incredible fighting spirit.

Kieran defied medical staff who sent him home from hospital to die over a year ago by rallying round from a serious infection.

However, he fell ill again just over three weeks ago and succumbed to pneumonia which was brought on by a chest infection.

Mrs Duncan, a social care assistant at a local home, said, “It was just too much for him this time, I think he just decided he had had enough.”

But she said the family was grateful to have had another year with him.

“Since last Easter we have known each time he went into hospital with an infection this could be it.

“It’s been a really good year for us after being told he wasn’t going to be with us.

“He seemed so happy and he was laughing—we hadn’t heard him laugh for a good couple of years.”

Kieran, who lived with his parents and brother Ryan (18) in Mayview Avenue, was a pupil at Hyndhead School in Buckhaven.

He liked music, especially rock, McFly, Robbie Williams and Michael Jackson. He liked films with Will Smith and Jim Carrey and at one point had his hair died blue and red.

Mr Duncan, who gave up work as a fisherman to look after Kieran, said his youngest son had a wicked sense of humour and was full of devilment.

Mrs Duncan added, “No one has a sad thing they remember about Kieran.

“People knew Kieran for Kieran, not the boy in the wheelchair.

“He had his own personality and he had a smile that could light up a room but it was also a mischievous grin.”

She said Kieran refused to let the seriousness of his condition get him down and was defiant until the last.

“Kieran never let the illness get the better of him.

“When his balance went and he couldn’t ride his bike he asked for stabilisers to be put on.

“When his eyesight started to go he said ‘buy me a bigger TV.’

“Whatever happened he found a way round it.

“He never said ‘why me?’”

Before he lost the ability to walk, Kieran continued to run around with his friends, who would slow down and stop when he tired and later he would go out and play with them in his wheelchair.

Even being admitted to hospital didn’t concern him. Brenda said, “Going to hospital wasn’t like hospital for him—we called it Hotel Ninewells.”

Over the years, Kieran became a favourite with the staff at Ninewells high dependency unit (HDU) and Mrs Duncan thanked them for their support.

Kieran’s funeral takes place tomorrow at Cellardyke Parish Church.