David Cameron opens up about death of six-year-old son: 'Over time, happy memories come through'

Celebrities are normal people, beyond their fame. Sometimes, they go through dramatic life changes, such as losing a family member or a partner. Several celebrities have chosen to speak out about their grief, in the hope that other people can feel less alone. Such is the case for David Cameron, the former Prime Minister, who sadly lost his son a few years ago.

David Cameron lost his son in 2009

Speaking to LBC Radio on Wednesday 16 October 2024, David Cameron opened up about the death of his six-year-old son, Ivan, back in 2009. The young boy died due to a rare condition, called Ohtahara syndrome. The former PM explained the process of grief in his everyday life, and how it changed over time. He explained:

Over time, happy memories come through, and you have dreams and memories of them being happy, and the smiles they gave you and the love that you shared with them.

While some couples end up separating after the loss of a child, the tragedy can also bring the parents closer together. This was the case for David Cameron and his wife Samantha, as he told LBC Radio:

The first thing you learn is essentially how much you love your wife and how much you want to stay together through the most difficult times, and how you want to try and deal with it together.

I mean, we always had a happy marriage, but it definitely, you know, we felt we were Team Ivan trying to help him.

David Cameron was recently appointed chairman of the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Center's advisory council, which is an opportunity for him to raise awareness on new therapies for rare conditions.

What is Ohtahara syndrome?

At only six years old, young Ivan Cameron passed away due to a rare condition called Ohtahara syndrome, also known as early infantile epileptic encephalopathy. What is it exactly? According to the Child Neurology Foundation:

Ohtahara syndrome (OS) is a rare form of epilepsy that occurs in infants.

The condition is extremely dangerous, as it can cause seizures, developmental delays, and eventually death. It usually occurs in the first few months or years of life. As the syndrome is extremely rare, the causes are still unclear. Doctors believe it could stem from genetic mutations, metabolic disorders, or even structural abnormalities in the brain. It is almost impossible to diagnose the condition before birth.

How to recognize seizures

Seizures can look very scary, especially as a parent. How can you know if your child is having a seizure? Usually, the muscles in their arms or legs look like they are locking up, or stiffening. Asking them to smile can help you notice if it is affecting one side of their body in particular. However, one type of seizure is not commonly known, and that is atonic seizures. Indeed, the person who is having a seizure does not necessarily shake all over, they can simply go limp and fall down, all of a sudden.

If you have witnessed some of these symptoms in your child, please reach out to your GP as soon as you can, or call 999.

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Sources used:

Mirror: David Cameron opens up about death of six-year-old son from rare condition - 'I dream about him'

Child Neurology Foundation: Ohtahara Syndrome