08/31/2025
After being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and given a year to live, roughly 16 years later my mum has decided to take a much needed rest. The brightest and bravest soul there is, she was the truest example of how strong the human spirit can be. And how living with joy and love can defy the odds. She raised me on her own and it’s been her and I against it all and it’s my biggest privilege and honor to be her son. To take it all on together and that’s what we did. She’s my best mate and my biggest inspiration and she always will be. How blessed I am that she’s my mum, what a gift I got. I’m in a strange club now of only children whose parents have both passed. I don’t know what life looks like without her , I don’t need answers now. What I do know is I’m not alone, I have an abundance of love and support that I truly didn’t think was possible. They have not allowed me once to feel that I am doing this on my own. From Australia to LA etc they have shown up in a way I didn’t think was possible and I have no idea how I get through it without them. You all know who you are and I love you more than words. I can only speak of my experience but 16 years of in and out of the health care system non stop we experienced nothing but kindness and incredible care. From the nurses to drs, cleaners, admin etc you all keep us going and safe and I’m in awe of how you all do it. Thank you for doing what you do from the bottom of my heart. The last week was traumatic to say the least but I’d like to say a special thank you to the team at Warrigal who looked after mum when she went on palliative care treatment. It was by far the hardest thing I’ll ever go through just myself and her for her last hours but the way in which the staff treated spoke to and took care of my mum with such love respect and dignity is something I will never ever forget. It was the very best of what humanity can be in my opinion. Thank you for being so kind to my beautiful mother. Best thing I can do now is make sure I try and navigate life with the outlook and integrity she lived with, with the wonder and joy of it all and take her wherever I go. Thanks again to everyone who loved and supported my mum ###
