He has died peacefully in the hospital at London on the 6th of July 2013 and hence he was a Deaf Lithuanian, well-known at all Deaf communities, a talented soliloquy, a people person and a ‘Heart of Gold’ personality.
His whole passion was roaming around with his motorbike, his true love to Lina Kankeviciute and his whole family were at the safe hands of his.
Since I have learnt that he is no longer with us and I have found it so hardest to believe – Of course it is so devastated for all of us so it got me looking back about how we have met and what we had been up at our various ways.
As I have became a Deafblind human being at Northern Ireland where there was NO Deafblind issues for instance awareness except I am only one who have been attempted to develop a topic of ‘Northern Ireland Deafblind awareness’ at 2004 – In the same year, Vitalis came along and spotted me using a Deafblind communication with a local signer – He came to me keenly, ‘Wow! I never see Deafblind communication before – Teach me how!’ At the moment I just knew that he was just a warm-hearted creature!
As soon as we had became in a true friendship contains man to man conversation, good companyship included with his help; a relay interpreter, a Deafblind translator, a travelling guide, an adventure guide and a communicate guide – You see, these items that he had done so much for me and how can I thank him enough? What would I give anything back for him? Yet, he once said to me, ‘Don’t worry! I don’t want anything but you still my best friend! Don’t feel bad! Please ask me anything – you want my help? I am very happy I can drive up your house and help you – I know you Deafblind hard but I be there help you for friend – You smile then I smile!’
It is not that I had relied on him so much but what he had done the wonderful helps for me – Although I kept telling myself that I should give anything back for him but how?
However in my highlight that I eventually gave something back for him:-
In the early Christmas 2010, there was a Deafblind community in London that by lovely Stella Mqadi had organised a special occasion of ‘Ushers’ Christmas meal’.
It was Vitalis and his fiance Lina’s first visit at the Deafblind community!
I had introduced Vitalis to the Ushers – I had watched how multi-confident he was doing with them and they were very bewildered about his knowledge of Deafblind awareness! At end, in my heartful praise for him, ‘Vitalis, I am very proud and impressed of you for what you did brilliant today – Look what the Deafblind poeple and Ushers gave heaps of compliments about you! Without any doubts, I just know that you are my most perfect guide – I am sure that any other Deafblind ones or Ushers eagerly want to hire you to work for them! And between you and me, I am very glad and lucky to have you as my best guide! Oh – Of course my best friend too!’
His smile went wide as ear to ear and had celebrated for his triumph!
About nearly two years ago, Vitalis and Lina have moved in London and Vitalis was working at the centre of Signhealth where the poeple with learning difficulties, health problem – A few of them are Deafblind Vitalis once told me that according to his manager that these Deafblind ones went in a big improvement by his help!
Vitalis Katakinas, you’ll be very sorely missed because I justly know that things won’t ever be the same without you and there’ll never be another one like you such as for my Deafblindness, you are the God’s Gift and my true friendship, you STILL are the bestest friend to me!
From my family members, local friends and I, through our hearts, we would never forget about you forever and we all truly love you.
Rest in peace, Vitalis.
JohnBoy
(John Nicholl)
Vitalis Katakinas 