Michael Pilaar will be remembered for his smile. Photo/Supplied
Michael Pilaar will be remembered for his smile. Photo/Supplied
When talented teenager Michael Pilaar found out he had skin cancer, he was determined to be positive, telling his mother "I've already had a good life".
The 19-year-old Rotorua musician, friend, brother and son who touched the lives of countless people lost his battle with melanoma on Friday.
The determined youngster had fought the disease but his condition deteriorated in recent months and he died at home in the early hours of the morning with his mother at his bedside.
Born in Rotorua, his parents Elizabeth and Christian Pilaar decided to homeschool their "timid" little boy for most of his schooling.
"We started homeschooling him because he was so shy," Elizabeth Pilaar said.
Christian Pilaar said they wanted to see their children develop character, love, kindness and faith - and in Michael they had seen that epitomised.
Michael began violin lessons at the age of 6 and within two years made the switch to cello. For several years the family travelled to Hamilton every second Monday for his lessons.
At 15 on a family holiday in France, Christian Pilaar went to a Catholic church and told the priest afterwards he had a son who would like to play the organ.
"So the next morning we went along to Mass. Afterwards he saw us in the back row and said 'the organ's up there if you'd like to start playing?'.
"Michael went up there and he started playing, and people gathered round and at the end he said this is where we keep the key, you can come down anytime you want to play."
Michael Pilaar with his cello. Photo/Makaely Wingate
At 17 Michael passed his ATCL music exam in cello - a high performance qualification from Trinity College in London.
"He went with the flow of the music, and that flowed out of him. It's something that you can't teach," Elizabeth Pilaar said.
Christian Pilaar said for him it wasn't Michael's musical talent that was important, but his talent for life.
"He wasn't defined by the music, that was just a bonus," he said.
"Even if he hadn't been musical he would have been amazing."
Michael had a melanoma removed from his leg in October 2015. By the end of May 2016, it had returned.
When Michael was diagnosed, his mum said she was "floored" by his response.
"He said to me, 'Mum I've already had a good life, I've done more than many people are ever going to do, I'm happy with the life I've had already'," she said.
"At the same time, he said 'I wake up in the morning and I decide I'm going to smile. The first 10 minutes are hard, then after that it's easy.' It was a choice of his to be positive.
"He lay on his bed, for three months without being able to move, in the end he couldn't move his legs and he could barely move his arms, and he didn't complain."
Elizabeth Pilaar said it was a journey she wouldn't want anyone to go through, but there were still a lot of good moments.
Michael Pilaar on a family holiday to the South Island. Photo/Supplied
"I'm very grateful for the 19 years we've had, and I just wish there were more of them," she said.
"I am really humbled and encouraged by all the people he has touched and you realise that actually he has already touched more people in his 19 years than some people ever do, and I am very very grateful for that.
"It still is a totally surreal experience to think that Michael is gone."
Music teacher at Western Heights High School, where Michael spent his last two years, Adam Hague, said it was quickly apparent Michael was not only an incredibly talented musician but he was also a remarkably likeable young man.
"I had the absolute privilege of being Michael's music teacher for two years and during that time developed a great respect for him as a person and a friend," he said.
"There was never a dull moment as he would always be working on some idea or jamming with whoever else happened to be making music.
"Even though he was already very advanced on the piano, organ and cello, Michael decided to start learning trombone as well as experimenting with guitar, drums and songwriting.
"Although Michael was only at Western Heights High School for two years, he had a huge impact through the many lives he touched not only with his talent as a musician but also his incredible kindness and friendly nature."
Michael performs the cello in St Lukes Church Rotorua. Photo/Thomas Falconer
Hague said it was hard witnessing his slow decline but his attitude was inspiring.
"He never complained and continued to be positive and kind in spite of everything," he said.
"On one of the occasions I visited him he was very proud to show me his brand new Martin & Co guitar. He laughed and said with his ginger hair, guitar and loop pedal he was pretty much Ed Sheeran.
"He has taught me more than I could ever have taught him and has inspired me through his unwavering faith and positivity. I will miss him greatly and forever cherish the memories I have of him."
