DESPITE his debilitating illness, Jamie Browning tried to live life as an ordinary teenager.

He had lots of friends, had just finished a college course and was known for making people laugh with his quick wit.

But the 18-year-old had battled the muscle-wasting disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy since childhood.

And today, friends and family will say a final goodbye at his funeral.

Jamie had tried to fight a chest infection for a month before he died at his home in Abingdon on August 26.

His mother Jane Browning, who lived with him in Curtis Avenue, said: “He just couldn’t shake it off.

“It was gradually taking everything out him. To be honest, you keep pushing it under the carpet saying it is not going to happen. But it has run true to what the prognosis was.

“I am totally lost. I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it. You know it is going to happen but when it actually happens it just breaks you. But I have to carry on.”

Jamie, a former Larkmead School pupil, was left needing a wheelchair when he was nine.

His 53-year-old mum said despite his illness he was an ordinary teenager, adding: “Now it seems so quiet in here.

“The hardest time is going to be after everything is finished and I have to get back to some kind of normal life. Whatever that is.”

Sports fan Jamie was fond of the South African national cricket team, as he was born in the country, and was also a keen supporter of Arsenal Football Club.

Mrs Browning added: “Everybody says they remember his smile.

“He was always a strong little character. He had physical problems which were becoming quite profound but mentally he was on the same level as you or I – way ahead sometimes.

“He was quiet with people when he first met them but once he got to know people he came out in his usual way. He was quite quick witted. People loved him.”

The Abingdon and Witney College pupil had recently found out he had passed his business Btec with a merit.

His mum added: “He was chuffed he had managed to achieve that. The fact he had done them was amazing in itself considering his problems.”

The former Thomas Reade Primary pupil was to start a book-keeping course at the college this month.

Mrs Browning expected dozens of people to attend today’s funeral at Trinity Church in Conduit Road, Abingdon at 1pm.

It will be followed by a cremation service at Oxford Crematorium at 2.15pm.

The family asked for any donations to be made to the Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary as Jamie loved animals.