I was there on the Saturday afternoon you were born and then on the Saturday you left us. It has been the thirteen longest years of my life and I mourn your passing every day. It is said that time heals all wounds but that is just a fallacy, this is one that wont heal until we meet again. I still feel an immense anger toward your treating Physician and his lack of concern on the day you passed.
The death of my son brought great sorrow to all those who knew him. He was a very strong boy and had the nick name of 'Boof Head'. This he earned during a junior football game when he carried a number of the opposition on his back and scored a try. His greater passion though was baseball. He commenced playing tee-ball at age 5 and continued on through to senior level. While as a junior he represented the local area in the 'State Cup' competition. My boy's other passion was his own son.
He passed away in February, 2006 after being in Hospital suffering from “Goodpasture Syndrome” in his lungs. For a month he was placed in an induced coma and was given chemo therapy, blood cleansing treatment, blood transfusions, treatment for this, that kind of treatment, nothing seemed to be fighting against this anti-body disease of unknown origin that had my son in it's grips. On January 30 that year while visiting him in Intensive Care, his mum, fiance and myself were taken aside, behind a curtain and I was to receive the worst birthday present any father could be given. The ICU Registrar advised us that because my eldest was so ill, he wasn't expected to make it through the night. A couple of weeks later they took him off the respirator and brought him out of the coma. The battle was over. My son had pulled through. As a celebration of his home coming, we all went for tea. It was a fantastic Friday night dinner. One I'll never forget.
He passed away the following day.
His funeral was held around 10 days after his parting. There were approximately 300 in attendance from all walks of life. School friends, baseball, work and even politics. I was amazed how many hearts he'd touched in some way in his short 23 years.
Mate your death has affected me in a way that is just so hard to explain. I look forward to meeting and being with you in the after-life. Be it tomorrow or whenever.
