FORMER Horsham resident Cory Panozzo will be remembered as a brave and loving friend.
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The 22-year-old died on Saturday at his Ballarat home.
Cory was born with neurofibromatosis type 1, or NF-1 – a disease that causes tumours along the nervous system. The disease can cause mobility issues, debilitating pain and organ malfunction, and there is no cure.
Cory is survived by his siblings Emma Ward, Jodi Morgan, Rhyle Panozzo, Makale Panozzo and Keayra Panozzo.
Mrs Ward said her brother died peacefully.
“He had been at Gandarra Palliative Care Unit in Ballarat and then, because he improved and he was a fighter, he moved into a care facility for the disabled which is where he chose to pass away,” she said.
Mrs Ward said Cory was in pain for a long time, due to his condition.
“The tumours had clustered on his neck as well as his spine, which eventually stopped him from being able to walk. He had been in a wheelchair for the past four years,” she said.
“The disease isn’t talked about enough or very well known by doctors. They knew how he would pass away, but they couldn’t tell us when. It just slowly takes your body, but his brain and mind were never taken.”
She said Cory had many passions and hobbies.
“He loved cooking – that was one of his favourite things to do," she said.
“He was a animal lover and loved dogs; he loved art and poetry and even did a fair bit of poetry himself. Cory was also a massive Harry Potter fan.”
In 2014, the Wimmera community got behind Cory to help him fulfill his final wish – to raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.
His classmates at St Brigid’s College in Horsham helped raise money through various fundraising activities.
His wish to go to the Ballarat Show also came true.
“His body starting to deteriorate and they weren’t sure about his mobility or what would happen,” she said.
Mrs Ward said the family was overwhelmed with the messages of support they had received since his passing.
“The responses on Facebook since his passing has been amazing – especially from Horsham,” she said.
“They were all saying that he was a fighter – that was the main thing people were saying about him – and that he was a very strong boy.
“He had this smirk about him and had a great sense of humour. He was extremely caring, generous and always thought of others.”
Cory’s funeral is at St Alipius Parish in Ballarat on Thursday at 2pm.