It’s been forty days since Deden left, yet it feels as though the XSProject Foundation still bears the traces of his footsteps. From kindergarten through 11th grade, Deden grew up within the embrace of this foundation—a child who never caused a fuss, never was a burden, but was always there with a smile and a sincere dedication to every activity. If time had been just a little more generous, he would now be preparing for his final year at vocational high school in the mechanical engineering program, sitting side by side with Yoga and Galuh, two close friends who had been by his side for a long time. But he never got to experience that promotion to the next grade. Just a few weeks before that long-awaited day arrived, Deden passed away.
There is an old wound that quietly binds Deden’s story to a recurring fate. His mother had passed away when Deden was still in elementary school, taken by blood cancer. Who would have thought that, years later, the same disease would come to claim her son—the very same illness that had taken his mother’s life. It was as if there were an inescapable thread of fate, repeating the same grief within the same family.
It all began quietly in early 2026. Halfway through his junior year, Deden started getting sick frequently. No one knew for sure what was happening to his body—not even his own parents. His absences from school grew longer and longer, until Deden had been out of class for a full three months, just as his classmates were taking their midterm exams. Seeing this situation, the Foundation took action, trying to find an answer to what was actually eating away at Deden’s body.
A series of examinations at various hospitals followed, marked by Deden’s parents’ long struggle to secure financial assistance through BPJS. That winding process finally yielded a diagnosis that was hard to accept: Deden was suspected of having blood cancer—the same disease that had taken his mother’s life years earlier. Yet that diagnosis came amid a healthcare system that was unable to act as quickly as Deden’s body required. The time lost in that slow process gradually worsened his condition, until Deden’s body was finally no longer able to hold on.
On Sunday, May 31, 2026, Deden took his last breath, following his mother, who had gone before him. Now he no longer feels pain, no longer has to struggle against the exhaustion that wore down his body every day. But for those left behind—especially his father, who faithfully stood by his side every moment of his illness—his passing has left a void that will not be easily filled. If only the healthcare system had provided more comprehensive and timely care, perhaps Deden would have had the chance to keep fighting longer; perhaps he could still be sitting in his final class alongside Yoga and Galuh.
Forty days have passed, but to the friends and extended family of XSProject, Deden still feels so close—as if he had just stepped out of the room and would be back any moment. Perhaps only time can gradually ease the sorrow of losing a young man who was so kind, so calm, and who never once disappointed anyone. Farewell, Deden. You completed your journey with such gentleness, and now you have returned home to be reunited with your mother, who has been waiting for you for so long. All the mentors and every corner of the XSProject Foundation will always remember you fondly. Thank you for being part of our extended family.