"HIS ROOM is the same as it was when he passed away."

A response from the mother of a teenager, a victim of dengue haemorrhagic fever who died in 1995. Three months after the youngster's death, a family member and close friend told me: "The bedroom in which he studied and slept remains intact."

Today his school tie mingles with his clothes in a closet and the bed, deserted, as the parents continue to live with the memories of their beloved.

When I spoke to 34-year-old Andrea Deane earlier this week she expressed similar sentiments of love. For just over two months she did not disturb the bedroom of her 31-year-old brother Colin Patrick Deane who died last March 12.

And one of the reasons was - the constant wishful thinking of her seven-year-old daughter Tai-Anne that Colin "will soon come home".

Before he took ill - renal problems which kept him hospitalised since November last year - Colin shared the Jackson, St Michael home with Andrea and Tai-Anne.

Andrea told me: "My daughter would sleep with him and they became very close."

But Andrea, an employee of Sole 2 Sole in DaCosta Mall, did not prolong the painful memories. She explained: "Last week, I removed all his clothes and gave some to other family members while I kept some - some shorts and T-shirts for myself."

Colin, a former pupil of Buxton Primary and St James Secondary, had a wide circle of childhood friends.

And one Roger Gill had this to say: "During his time at St James Secondary he developed a love for the sea, thus it was inevitable that on leaving school, he found himself working on the beach as a watersports operator.

"Armed with a warm and affable personality Colin met people from all over the world, with whom he cultivated lifelong friendships."

One of those visitors bore him a son, Zyan, 20 months old, who lives in England with his mother.

Roger considered himself fortunate to have shared many happy memories with Colin.

"When he worked with Tall Ships, he encouraged me to go sailing, an enjoyable experiece that was. When he worked in the dive shop, he taught me to snorkel in Carlisle Bay - that beautiful reef.

"Then he got into fishing, again he persuaded me to no avail. But being the person he was, if he caught two fish, he gave me one; if he caught one he would frit it and give me a steak, that was Colin; my best friend."

He explained that although the last few months had been extremely difficult for Colin, he maintained a cheerful disposition and accepted things as they came, always trusting in the Almighty

And to Colin he said: "You always reassured me when I visited, that you would be safe. I admired your courage."

He recalled taking Colin to Rick's Supermarket during the early days of his hospitalisation. He termed this: "Another enjoyable journey.

"He was able to make me laugh even though he was the one in pain; how noble!"

Aunt, Judy King of Gibbons Land, Jackson, who raised Colin and sister Andrea after their mother Coral took up residence in the United States, had this to say of the youngster: "He was with me from age 12. He was a no-nonsense person.

"Because of the complication with his illness, we were expecting his death in November after he was hospitalised and summoned the family together.

"For the last two years of his life he was on the dialysis machine from time to time. Never once did he complain of any problems with the machine."