Jade Goody rests after christening
Terminally-ill reality TV star Jade Goody was resting today after an emotional christening ceremony in hospital.
Goody’s two sons Bobby, five, and Freddy, four, were also christened with their mother yesterday during what her publicist Max Clifford described as a “very short and emotional service”.
Mr Clifford said: “As I understand it, she was sleeping most of the afternoon after everyone had gone.”
But he added the star was “awake and in good spirits” during a visit from friends last night.
He said completing the ceremony at the Royal Marsden Hospital in west London yesterday and getting married to Jack Tweed meant the 27-year-old had done all she wanted to do before she dies.
He said: “What she said to me was ’everything is in place now’.”
Around 20 people attended the service and Mr Clifford said he thought the “very pale and fragile” Goody was “saying a final goodbye to some people”.
Cancer-stricken Goody kissed the hands of her guests as she was wheeled out of the ceremony.
Mr Clifford said he did not expect Goody to be well enough to leave the hospital but added the 27-year-old star had a “smile and a kiss for everyone who was there”.
Goody, who has been told she has only weeks to live, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in August last year.
Husband Tweed, mother Jackiey Budden and her sons’ father, TV presenter Jeff Brazier, were among the guests who clapped when Goody, wearing her hospital gown with her drip still attached, and her sons were christened.
She sat in a chair for most of the service before being helped into a wheelchair by nurses at the end, Mr Clifford said.
“She finds it very hard to stay awake for more than a few minutes but she stayed awake for the 20 minutes of the service,” he said.
“It was a very positive atmosphere, after each of the boys were christened everyone clapped and after Jade was christened everyone clapped again.
“It was a very simple service. There were prayers and blessings and a few short readings.
“Jade was obviously very happy with the whole thing; Jeff was there on one side, Jack was there on the other side and it was a very short and emotional service.
“I think everybody knew just how important it was to Jade.
“I hope the boys get a chance to see her again. It’s the first time they’ve seen her this week. The two things she said to me were she wanted to get married and have the christening and she has done them both and done them her own way, with style.
“Sometimes when people are very, very ill they need to focus on something and it keeps them going.”
The service was carried out by hospital chaplain Chris Lee and Corinne Brixton, vicar of St John’s church in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, near Goody’s home.
She had wanted the ceremony to take place in a church, but she was transferred to the Royal Marsden Hospital after a bowel operation and has been heavily sedated, sleeping much of the time.
Goody has been determined to raise as much money as possible for her young sons through media deals in her final months.
Mr Clifford said photographs taken of the service would be published in OK! magazine at a later date.
“Obviously the money from this will go to her boys and that is what she’s always wanted,” he said.
He added he thought it unlikely she would leave the hospital.
“Speaking for myself, I’m no medical expert but I doubt she will leave,” he said outside the hospital.
“This is the best place for her; last week she was in a great deal of pain and nobody wants her to be like that again.”
He said it was unclear how long Goody would survive.
“It’s not something you can predict. Everyone is different.”
