DYING Jade Goody and her two beloved boys were christened together yesterday,
with their mother telling them: "Through Jesus, we can stay together."
A small group of close family and friends sobbed at the emotional service, cut
down to just 20 minutes in light of
Jade's rapidly deteriorating health.
But the plucky
Big Brother star defied exhaustion to complete the christening-her final wish.
The touching ceremony was attended by new husband Jack Tweed, TV presenter
Jeff Brazier-the father of her sons Bobby, five, and Freddie, four-and her
mother Jackiey Budden.
After the service in the chapel at London's Royal Marsden Hospital it emerged
that, with her now just days rather than weeks to live, Jade has still not
told her children she is going to die.
She and Jack, 21, have been discussing with grief counsellors how to deliver
the news to the boys.
Gown
Jade's spokesman Max Clifford said: "They do not know how bad their mum is.
"They know she is very ill but that is something that has to be handled very
delicately."
Talking about
Jade's reference to Jesus, he said: "She told me, 'I want the
boys to be christened. Hopefully they will get to know Jesus and we can keep
in touch when I'm gone somewhere else.' "
We can also reveal that 27-year-old Jade has asked to be allowed to die at her
home in Buckhurst Hill, Essex.
An insider said she told relatives: "I want to die at home. Please let me go
home."
Jade was taken to the chapel for the service in a wheelchair, still wearing
her hospital gown but without the make-up she had applied for her wedding
just two weeks earlier.
Her spokesman confirmed she is a pale shadow of the woman who defied the odds
to walk down the aisle.
He explained: "She is noticeably physically different. At the wedding she had
makeup. She didn't have makeup on today. She finds it very hard to stay
awake for more than a few minutes but she did stay awake for the 20-minute
service and was kissing people on the way out, obviously very happy that she
had done what she set out to do."
"She was pain-free during the ceremony. You could tell that she was smiling
and very happy that now she's been christened."
Tears
The TV star was said to have been highly emotional when she said goodbye to
her sons after the service yesterday. One pal said: "Every time she sees
them she fears when she says 'goodbye' it will be for the final time. It is
very difficult. There are always tears."
One of the first guests to arrive for the cermony was Jade's close pal,
personal trainer Kevin Adams.
Shortly afterwards her ex Jeff turned up with Freddie and Bobby, tenderly
holding their hands as they climbed the steps to the hospital entrance.
Next to arrive were four of Jade's bridesmaids, including Living TV producer
Kate Jackson and her best friend Jennifer Smith.
Just before 11am, new husband Jack arrived with his mother and father. He had
his head in his hands and was visibly distraught as the family's green Mini
pulled up.
Minutes later, Jade's mum Jackiey arrived in a large black people carrier.
When she left later, she wore dark glasses but they couldn't hide the tears
rolling down her cheeks.
The ceremony, modified so weak Jade only had to answer yes or no, was
conducted by hospital chaplain Chris Lee and Reverend Corinne Brixton, vicar
of St John's Church in Buckhurst Hill, Essex.
A selection of prayers and blessings were read out, including the Lord's
Prayer.
Describing how tears mixed with smiles during the poignant service, Jade's
spokesman said: "It was lovely. It was very happy.
"No one else spoke other than the vicar and the chaplain. It was a very short
service. Jade was laughing so it wasn't that bad."
Jade chose family members, trainer pal Kevin and two photographer friends as
godparents.
Clapped
Before the service there had been fears that Bobby would create a scene
because of his fear of water. Whenever he is splashed, he usually strips off
all his clothes.
Anxious Jade gently asked him not to be upset when water was poured on his
head.
As it turned out it was Freddie who reacted slightly when he was anointed.
The spokesman said: "The boys were a bit worried about the water put on their
heads, but they put up with it and everybody clapped.
"Jade was obviously very happy with the whole thing. Jeff was there, on one
side, and Jack was there on the other. Everybody knew how important it was
for Jade and we were just happy to see her happy as she was so fragile.
"Jade had been asleep for most of the morning up until half an hour before.
"There were blessings and prayers and all three of them are now baptised.
"It was a very lovely service and one that anyone who witnessed it was very
happy to be there for.
"Bobby was sitting on her lap throughout most of the service. Freddie was
sitting next to Jack and Jack was next to Jade.
"It was just close family and friends, mum, her bridesmaids and obviously the
people she wanted to be around her."
Despite her frail state, Jade was determined to greet and thank everyone who
attended.
Her spokesman added: "She spoke to everybody and thanked everybody as she was
coming in the wheelchair.
"She had a smile and a kiss for everyone. She got out of the wheelchair and
sat down with the help of nurses and when she was coming back after the
service everyone was kissing her and saying goodbye.
"You can make of that what you will. It was in my mind that as she was kissing
people and saying goodbye to people that for some it would be the last time
they saw her." Most of the guests left the hospital just after midday but
Jade's sons, along with their father, stayed for a further hour before being
taken off for a christening party.
The spokesman told us: "After the service, the boys went up to speak to Jade.
I imagine they will be back to see her tomorrow. They will be as close to
her as possible for as long as possible. Now they are going to be taken out
in the West End for a party to celebrate."
The boys left for their party in a cab. Freddie's forlorn face peered out of
the window, above a slogan which said, poignantly, "Who's helping you?"
Restrained
After leaving the Royal Marsden at around 2pm, Jack and several friends walked
to the nearby Crown pub where they stayed for about 90 minutes before taking
taxis to Knightsbridge for lunch at the Chicago Rib Shack.
At the restaurant they joined Jackiey, Kevin Adams, Jack's mum and Jade's
bridesmaids where they stayed until 5pm.
After the meal a clearly distressed Jack had to be restrained by a female
friend after getting into an argument with another man at a London
Underground station. He was seen arguing with the passenger while they
queued for tickets.
The pair exchanged words until the pal dragged Jack out of the man's way.
Later, Jack and his mother arrived back at their home in Essex in time for
his 7pm tagging curfew.
Last night Jade's friend and life coach Sue Stone told the News of the World
that, despite her grave condition, the star was still praying for a miracle.
he said: "Jade has found comfort reading the Bible and it was very important
for her to be christened.
"It was something that would link her to the boys. It's something to help her
and help them.
"I met Jade before she was diagnosed and I loved her right from the moment we met.
When she found out she had cancer I tried to keep her thinking positive
thoughts.
"She was looking to her faith to find inner peace and strength. She met with a
spiritual healer and she was open to a lot of different ideas. She firmly
believes it does not all stop when you pass away. She doesn't see it as the
end. She believes her spirit will still be there guiding the boys. I can't
believe that we are going to lose her. But she is prepared now. She wanted
to get married and christen her sons.
"She feels good that she has provided for the boys' education and that she has
had the christening almost to say goodbye to people."
Sue also said she hoped to visit Jade today with a healer who she believed had
the power to help ease her pain.
Thanks
Meanwhile, Jade's spokesman revealed the reality star had asked him to pass on
her thanks to the thousands of well-wishers who have contacted her.
He said said: "She asked me to thank the thousands who have written to her,
not just from this country but from all over the world, in the last few
weeks. It's meant an awful lot to her. There has been so much support from
so many people all over the world, they have shown so much care for her." He
said photos of the christening would now be published in a magazine next
week.
Jade, he said, asked for them to be taken so the money they raised could go
towards her sons' education and future.
He added that the coverage of the christening was likely to be the last time
media were granted access to Jade before her death.
Aware that some have criticised Jade's decision to play out her tragic battle
for life in public, he added: "She had
her photo taken.
"I asked her just before it started, 'Are you sure?' She said, 'I want to have
photos done'.
"She was very clear. The photos will be published and, of course, money from
that will go to the boys."
He said of the christening: "This was the last thing she wanted. But Jade
being but Jade, she changes her mind. We'll have to see."
