A young boy known for his joyful smile has passed away at the age of one after a courageous battle with a rare neurological disorder. Ruben Jude Cross, who faced feeding and breathing challenges throughout his brief life, spent much of his time in hospital care.
Born with enlarged ventricles in his brain, Ruben was soon diagnosed with full-body dystonia. His heartbroken parents, Jules Ellis and Bradley Cross, shared that he died at approximately 9pm on 14 August.
Ruben had been under end-of-life care for about a month at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Somerset. His mother, Jules, conveyed that their son was comfortable and free from pain at the time of his passing. She said: “I’m so sad to announce that our baby boy passed away last night around 9pm. He was comfortable and pain-free. He fought a long and hard fight, and we are so proud of how strong our little boy has been. We love you, Ruben Cross, forever and always.”
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According to a GoFundMe created to support the family, Ruben’s enlarged brain ventricles continued to expand, exerting pressure that led to breathing difficulties. After medical teams exhausted all treatment options, he was placed in palliative care to ensure his comfort.
Born on Christmas Eve 2024, Ruben received treatment at hospitals in both Taunton and Bristol. His parents took significant time off work to be by his side throughout his illness.
Remembering her son, Jules’s partner Bradley expressed the immense joy Ruben brought into their lives. He said: “What a boy you have been. There are no words to describe the amount of joy you have brought me this past 19 months. I love you, little man, and I’ll treasure every second I ever got to spend with you.
“You inspire me so much with all the s*** you had to deal with in such a short life. You always had the biggest grin on your face. It was so fitting after it all that even when you were fighting everything, you’d give the world two fingers.
“The world wasn’t good enough for you. I love you so much.”
The fundraiser has been set up to assist Jules and Bradley with funeral costs, travel expenses for hospital visits, and living costs. It will also help compensate for the income lost while they were unable to work supporting Ruben.