Kadeem Michael Phillip was born in Trinidad and Tobago on November 1, 1996, and lived in Canada until his death on July 21, 2018. On the night of July 17, he was on his way home on his newly purchased motorcycle, when he lost control and sustained catastrophic injuries. He survived for 4 days at the Hamilton General Hospital, under the care of the wonderful medical staff of the hospital’s trauma unit and the overwhelming support of countless people with whom he came into contact, including friends from kindergarten to high school, the Oakville larger community and beyond. In spite of the staff’s extraordinary efforts to save his life, Kadeem succumbed to his injuries on Saturday July 21st, 2018 is a day that will haunt those whose life he impacted and whom he loved, forever.
Kadeem was a charmer with a warm smile and contagious laughter. He was a loving son, brother, a wonderful, caring, supportive friend to everyone he encountered, and a mentor to many and could be called upon at a moment’s notice for assistance. He inspired us all, a beacon of light, encouraging us to be the best we could be.
The family was humbled by the spontaneous response and outpouring of acts of kindness from the young people, especially, and others who visited him over the four day period of his hospitalization. For his final act of kindness, we agreed to donate his heart and eyes to benefit others in keeping with what he would have wanted.
In his memory, family and friends have set up The Kadeem Philip Fund to provide support to families whose loved ones face similar life-changing traumatic injuries. Please help us keep his light alive through donations and sponsorships, as we celebrate the first year’s anniversary of his passing. His sisters, for whom he cared dearly, Aaliyah and Arial, and I, would like to unite the community in which he played such an important role. We will be hosting a basketball tournament.
“I shall pass through this world but once, any good therefore that I can do,or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now, let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” Etienne de Grellet (1773-1855).
