Home / Health / Boy with 'biggest grin' dies at 19 months
Boy with 'biggest grin' dies at 19 months
24 Aug
Summary
- Ruben Cross, aged 19 months, passed away after battling a rare neurological condition.
- He suffered feeding and breathing difficulties, spending much of his life in hospital.
- His parents announced his death, stating he was comfortable and pain-free.
A one-year-old boy named Ruben Jude Cross has died at the age of 19 months following a difficult battle with a rare neurological condition. Ruben was born on Christmas Eve 2024 with enlarged ventricles in his brain, leading to a diagnosis of full-body dystonia shortly after birth. This condition caused him significant feeding and breathing challenges, necessitating frequent hospitalizations.
Ruben's parents, Jules Ellis and Bradley Cross, announced his passing on August 14, 2026, at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Somerset, where he had been receiving end-of-life care for approximately a month. His mother stated that Ruben was comfortable and free from pain at the time of his death. The family had taken significant time off work to be by his side.
Doctors reportedly exhausted all available treatment options for Ruben's condition, which involved enlarged ventricles putting pressure on his brain and causing breathing issues. A GoFundMe has been established to support his family with funeral costs, travel, and lost earnings. His father fondly remembered Ruben's "biggest grin" and the immense joy he brought during their 19 months together.
