The story of one man's battle with cancer has proven hope and love can bloom alongside suffering, in a tale which has gripped the hearts of communities not just across the Riverina, but Australia-wide.
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Hillston's Deyan Cashmere lost his fight with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia at Griffith Base Hospital, flanked by his beloved family and new fiance on Tuesday.
Yet the 20-year-old's heart-broken family say this is just the beginning of his legacy, as they pledge left over fundraising money to assist others going through similar medical trials.
Remembered as courageous, thoughtful, generous, and incredibly hard-working, no-one will forget his strength of spirit.
"He was my rock," his mother Kelly Cashmere said.
Confronting two major events outside of his treatment, dad Bruce Cashmere will always admire Deyan's resilience in adversity.
Discharged from Sydney's St Vincent's hospital after a nine month stint, his son wanted some fresh beach air and decided a trip to Bondi beach was the first port of call.
Meant to be a jaunt relishing freedom, Deyan and Bruce were first on a scene as a body washed up on the beach.
"The first time after nine months out of hospital he gets confronted with that," Bruce said.
"And then when we went to America he went through it all again."
Stunning community fundraising efforts like 'Live on the Lachlan' featuring Shannon Noll, and a grant from Farrer MP Sussan Ley gave Deyan the chance to get breakthrough Car T-Cell treatment in Seattle, after exhausting options in Australia.
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"We were in the Seattle accommodation watching a crane work outside the window only 100 metres from us, and I said to Deyan, this is going to fall down," Bruce said.
After his regular treatment they were sitting and having coffee that afternoon, when his fateful prediction came true.
The crane crashed down, killing four people in an accident which became international news.
"We were straight down in amongst it all. It certainly was an experience for Deyan."
Despite having to continually face the finality of life through these traumatic events, Deyan managed to find and hang on to something many can only dream of: the love of his life.
The story-book romance began when Janaia Booth started fundraising for his treatment.
Not knowing him personally, she reached out to him over the phone in July, 2018.
That one call was enough to know they "just clicked".
His new love joined the family to support him with further treatment, and Deyan gave her the strength to continue after her pop's funeral.
"On the 27 of November he asked me to be his wife. I cried. I asked if he was joking, because he would always pretend to ask me.
"We picked out the ring, and it was one of the best days of my life."
Mere days after the proposal, the tight family unit was back Sydney and were told to prepare for the worst. Back home, he made Christmas, then New Year's Day, and said he wanted to make mum's birthday.
He made that and then some, until his last breath with them all by his side.
His mum, dad, family, myself, we are just beyond proud and so grateful he fought another seven months and put his body what he went through to be with us as long as he could.
- Janaia Booth, fiance
"His mum, dad, family, myself, we are just beyond proud and so grateful he fought another seven months and put his body what he went through to be with us as long as he could," Janaia said.
"He will forever be our angel."
With money remaining for his treatment, the family have pledged the money and fundraising efforts for others.
"We want to keep it rolling for him and the community. It's just sad that it had to happen this way," Janaia explained.
"I want to sincerely thank absolutely everyone for their support. Deyan, Bruce and I are very grateful to everyone who got us overseas," Kelly said.
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"Even though it didn't work we gave it our best shot, and we look forward to helping people out in the future through Deyan's legacy."
Deyan's funeral will be held at the Hillston Lawn Cemetery on January 29 at 11am, followed by a reception at the Exies Club catered by the P and C. Everyone is welcome.
"Please wear green or orange, as green was his favourite colour, and orange is the leukemia colour."
To help support Deyan's Dash, click here.
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