Tucker James Robinson Whale

Tucker aka Tuck, Chum, Nook or Nookie was born on a hot day in July of 2006, a beautiful boy and the last of a good thing as the youngest of 5. He was an easy baby, toddler and young child, something he carried into adulthood.

Tucker was diagnosed with duchenne muscular dystrophy at 3 years old and from then, we knew his life would be different and his life line shortened. Despite many health hurtles, Tucker never lost his zest for life and often was the comfort we needed-he was strong for us because he had a heart of an empath.

Tucker was a lover of all living things; there was not a plant, animal, baby, child or person who could resist his charm. Tucker was called the baby whisperer and any little soul he held knew he was pure of heart and felt it. Tucker had many fur babies in his life but none loved him more than his girl Jez who more often than not would be found curled up on his lap whether in his wheelchair or bed. Jez was a stray we rescued and the way she loved Tucker has her missing her human.

Tucker was a Toronto Maple Leafs fan and watched until he grew too weary. His favourite player was Matthews and yes, Matthews scored the first goal in game 6 just for Tucker with a shutout he would have loved to have seen. Tucker was a fan of horror movies he would watch with his brothers and Aunt Sherri who was his second mother. Tucker was a fan of The Walking Dead, Darryl Dixon and Rick Grimes his favourite characters and he was a faithful watcher even into the spin-offs. John Wick was a favourite and he had been looking forward to the new movie coming out. His world was physically small but through his Xbox, he met and touched people all over the world. Tucker was a music lover of all genres and his bedtime playlist wouldn’t have made sense to anyone but him.

Tucker believed there was good in everything, and had a heart of pure gold. If you had the pleasure of being loved by him, you felt a love that paled in comparison to any other.

Tucker was hospitalized twice in the last 2 1/2 years of his life for 6 weeks and fought valiantly through lengthy stays in hospital PICU’s miles from home. He would always ask how the other children were on the ward and felt bad when his pain would have him use colourful language he knew little ears shouldn’t hear. All Tucker wanted was to be at home and he was able to get here and stayed in his safe haven until he took his last breath surrounded by family and his fur babies Jez and Indy whom he lovingly referred to as “the pug”. In the weeks before Tucker left us, he had to say goodbye to 2 of his fur babies, his cat Julie and dog Molly. This gives comfort because we know they waited to accompany him home to where pain doesn’t exist and he isn’t bound to a body with limitations.

Tucker had a large family with some chosen extended members because the universe put people in his path who needed love and were loved by him. Auntie Sandy (RIP) loved Tucker and his siblings like her own, Lisa was our neighbour when Tucker was a baby and continues to be a light for our family, Tucker loved his honorary brother Adam and his sister in law Danielle and their 6 children- he loved being Uncle Tucker to Tyler, Aiden, Ariel, Tyson, Ryder and Hailey. Kevin was there from before the beginning and was lovingly called the Candyman because he always had a sugary treat at the ready. What a profound blessing to have raised a young man with such a large heart for others; Tucker was as close to an angel on earth as anyone could be and his light will remain in many hearts forever.

Tucker was predeceased by an angel sibling and cousin; what a glorious reunion it must have been for those 3 souls who are together now in the glory of the spiritual realm. Tucker was predeceased by his great Nana (downstairs nanny) and grandpa Tom who knew him earth side.

Tucker will be greatly missed by his beloved parents David and Tracy Whale, siblings Cody (Taylor), Riley, Caitlyn and Hunter, nephews Denim and Easton, cousins Rick, Michelle (Matt) and their children Cameron and Kieran, Nathann and his son Kashton, Robby, Dan, Ann and her children Natasha (Braden), their daughter Aurora and Matthew, grandparents Wayne, Shirley and Loretta, Aunts Sherri and Darlene and uncles Rob (Bev) and Glenn (Tammy).

In lieu of flowers and in Tucker’s memory, donations to The Aspdin Wildlife Centre, A Wing and a Prayer or any other animal charity of your choosing would be appreciated. He often said if he could save them all he would and he would be profoundly touched knowing in his death, lives were saved.

A memorial will be held on Thursday July 10th, what would have been Tucker’s 19th birthday with details to follow at a later date.

Tucker would want all of us to keep living on in his memory; he would say “I’m not gone, I just left before you” and to quote Matthew McConaughey from Dazed and Confused “You just gotta keep livin’ man, L, I, V, I, N’”