I don’t know much about Hannah’s earlier years, as I met her for the first time when she was 15 at youth camp in Wales. I was asked to give a talk to the participants. I then met her again at IUK camp in 2008 while talking about Participation. She was the second person I saw there. Everyone went to the seaside and because of her Cystic Fibrosis she stayed behind. She had some breathing difficulties and went back to her room for her physical treatments. Being with her, I had breathing difficulties too, not because of CF or my asthma; it was simply because she ‘blew me away’ like the Americans would say. A tiny girl with a slim built, beautiful red hair, warm blue eyes and a personality that was larger than life and which just oozed out of her. I was sitting there chatting with her, mesmerised by her mature way of thinking and enthusiasm. She wanted to do everything, in fact anything to make life better for deaf young people. Leaving the camp the next day, Hannah was all I could remember. We kept in touch by emails, facebook, text messages and we met a few times after that first meeting. My greatest disappointment was when she was not well enough to attend my book launch last year. Of course I understood but it felt so unfair that she had so many plans and these often had to be cancelled. Last year, my husband, David, and I went to visit her near her home for a meal at a nearby hotel and then to her home. I will always cherish that day, the last time I saw Hannah alive. I would like to share with you something Hannah taught me. Some of you may remember I was seriously ill in late 2009 with my gall bladder that needed removal. I lost so much weight and was not sure I would survive. I was feeling so low at the time and Hannah came up on MSN and we started chatting. I told her how I was feeling and although I don’t remember exactly the words she was using, she made me feel selfish and ridiculous. I was in awe - a young girl with such a mature outlook on life. She taught me a lesson in life – that is to make me appreciate life more and I am not embarrassed to say that. Hannah is truly one in a million, positive about herself and also about others – such an ambitious and motivated person if ever there was one. I could easily see her as the CEO of the BDA, which she was hoping to be, or even as an Assembly Member for Wales. If she could only get her lung transplants in time and given a chance to live her life the way she wanted. Sadly, it was not to be. I guess we were not the only ones who loved her; up there in the other life they want her too. She has joined many other well-known deaf and deaf campaigners who needed her there with them. Like some other young people who expressed their feelings about her in her Tribute - she became a star. Yes, more than that - a shining star. As the Vice Chair of the BDA, I would like to express deep condolences, on behalf of the BDA, to her family, friends and all those who were lucky to touch her life and be touched by her and hope you are comforted by the thought that we were all so enriched by meeting her. Personally I would like to apologise to the family for not being able to attend the funeral, as I needed to attend an important BDA Board meeting that day. I am sure it is to be a memorable day for all. Hannah, may your memory be blessed Eva Fielding-Jackson