Obituary
It was a rainy windy Tuesday night on May 17th 1978, I was 9 months along into my pregnancy . I went to Long Island Jewish Hospital, thinking I was in labour I was monitored for hours and then sent home, with a diagnosis of false labour. A few hours home after getting settled I realized I was ready to have this baby. David arrived that very night at 12:00 am with the help of God and my 16 year old daughter Sharon and my 12 year old son Peter, I was able to deliver David. He was born a “blue baby” and in distress, our neighbor and friend Lois administered CPR until help arrived. The police officers of the 78th NYC Precint arrived on the scene to wisk David off to Methodist Hospital. I followed behind shortly after with the EMS.
From that point on, David entered the exceptional role of living on borrowed time. Peter was the time keeper and Sharon's hands were the first ones to touch him after he entered into this world. I lifted him up to God for His keeping power where he stayed for the rest of his life.
An attending nurse from India realized the challenge that baby David was facing and she told me to call him "David", because he would have to face the giant, Goliath. Thus his name became David Edward Sebastian Bandoo. God would have it so that the nurse's husband that transported me to the hospital was the EMT driver.
Dr. Michael Lacorte came to the Methodist hospital to take David to Brookdale hospital which specialized in Neonatal Cardiac Care, and I was taken to the unit to say goodbye to my baby who was in the incubator. The moment baby David heard my voice he opened his eyes and unclenched his little fists and his arms and feet began to move. He knew his mommy's voice and he was so excited! It remained so for the rest of his life. Although we had many little ups and downs which are a part of life, we had such a strong bond of love and experienced so much joy throughout his life.
Dave was Home Schooled for a while, but completed High School at Hungerford School in Staten Island, NY. David’s dad prceeded him in death in 1996 and it was quite a traumatic experience for him, but He embraced the Lord as his God and Father.
Dave became a candidate for a heart transplant in 1996 and we waited for two unsuccessful years for a heart transplant. We moved to Florida by the leading and opened door of the Lord. We came to Arnold Palmer Hospital and David was eventually transferred to Shands Hospital in Gainesville where he received a new heart on February 21, 1998.
The transplant allowed Dave a lot more freedom. He played a little basketball, learned to ride his bike and was able to help with chores around the house. He was Mr. Fix-it. He could fix anything, even tasks that required great attention to details.
One of David's hobbies was to build Star Trek model ships. He took great pride in putting on the lights and installing the decals which demanded a lot of time and attention. He didn't quit until the model was completed to perfection. David enjoyed all types of good music, but he mainly listened to gospel and classical music. David even memorized an entire Broadway Musical (Dreamgirls). He loved singing and dancing, and he was part of a large choir in New York.
David travelled to most of the 50 states in the United States as well as international locations such as Israel, Barbados, London, South America, and The Netherlands. Although David suffered a stroke at 10 years old, he excelled in his love for God, his family and people. He loved to make people laugh. David has often been referred to as a comedian.
As previously mentioned David faced many medical challenges in life, but he endured it all like a true champion. Never complaining, always smiling and putting forth his best effort. David’s life’s journey has afforded us the opportunity to meet so people from all walks of life. His life has touched so many people. We have endless stories of how God used him to bring joy to others.
David knew every album produced by the Brooklyn Tabernacle and memorized every song. He treasured his collection. He knew every title and every date that the albums were produced. David was a collector of stock cars, and various novelties of all kinds.
David became a member of Antioch Fellowship Baptist Church and was baptized there two years ago. David was part of the choir's music ministry. David was also an active volunteer in his community. He visited nursing homes and hospitals. Even when David himself was a patient at Shands hospital, he would sing at "Charlie's Corner" and uplifted many people around him. During that time he was also an active participant in the Arts & Medicine Program with Cathy Dewitt.
The year 2007 was very challenging for David, and the doctors said that he would not make it to 2008. But God, in His gracious loving kindness allowed David to come home and spend a glorious Christmas with his family. He was so very happy as the family simply showered him with love, prayers, and gifts. David knew that this was going to be his last Christmas and was not afraid to share that.
He went to church on New Year's Eve for ten glorious minutes. The church members were so overjoyed to see him and he was very thankful to be able to bring in the New Year as the church members all around him were on their knees praising God.
He spent his final four and a half days in the year 2008 with his family, and peacefully went home to be with the Lord within 30 minutes of his latest and final crisis, on January 5, 2008 at 2:15 pm.
David is survived by his precious beloved mother, his god-mother Reitha Gordon, his sister, Sharon Evans and family, his brothers Mike (his wife and three children residing in Jamaica, WI) , Stephen (his wife Sophia), Peter (and his children), Howard (and his son), and Conrad (his wife Myra and children). His nephews Adam, Aaron, Matthew, James, Joshua, David (Lil' Dave). His nieces Kristen, Lauren, and Tina. His grandmother, Mrs. Clarice Simpson, his auntie Alice Cammack, Liz Morton, Pastor Sandy Coleman, Lorna Silberbush, uncle Leighton Simpson, his beloved girlfriend Christina, and his best friend Reuben, along with numerous caring aunts, uncles, and cousins in the USA, Jamaica, London, and the Netherlands. David will be greatly missed by all of us, especially mom.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to everyone that supported David along this journey in prayers, thoughts, words, and deeds. We especially want to express our sincere gratitude to Pastor LaVaughn McNary and his wife, Minister Myra, and the members of Antioch Fellowship Baptist Church.
Favorite scriptures; Psalms 23, 27, 146, and 91. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8