TW: death and grief When I first met my brother, I was 3 years old. I still remmber my grandma and grandpa leading me through the halls of a large, white, building with a lot of windows. In the center of it all sat a gigantic, cylinder fish tank fillled with reef fish so that the sick children could marvel at wonders they otherwise might never had seen. They lead me futher up the stairs, and I meet my brother. My brother was born with a life threatening condition called mitochondrial disease. It effects the mitochondria, (the part of your cells that make energy) which can create major issues for organ function. When he was born, my mother, a hospital worker, was concerned about his behavior. She talked to the nurse and they had tests done. We found out that he couldn't hear us, and that his heartbeat was weak. We also found out that his strain was severe and not genetic, he never would live past three years of age- no matter how much treatment he received. It took him 3 weeks to finally come home, and I remember the photo we took the following morning. Considering the situation my perants had two options- 1 Give treatment continuously in the hope he would live a little longer. 2 Ensure he had a short, but amazing life. we chose option 2. We took my brother to many beaches, all around Australia, he meet his entire family and experienced Easter and Christmas with all of them. He meet his cousins, who played games with him, grand and great grandparents who cherished him, and 14 uncles and aunties, who adored their nephew. And just one big sister, who had always and would always love him. Though he couldn't live for ever. And on the 27th of May, my little brother found his way to heavens gate at seven months of age. It changed everyone in my family, forever. But whilst I miss him, I find myself simply regretting that he will never live a life like mine. He will never play like any other boy his age. We will never squabble and fight like other siblings will. He will never become a stupid teenager that worships Michael Jordan. He will never go to college. I regret what he couldn't have but I could never regret him coming into this world, and one day I'll find him in the one that lies after ♡ ══════════════ After ═══════════════ Everybody in my family, the cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents, and many friends supported my family through grief. A year after My perants walked their first bloody long walk, a fund raiser for mito. This year I'll be walking 40 km with them as well I ask you not to have read this and feel sad, but instead feel gratitute for what you get to experience, and leave this post with compassion to any child struggling with a terminal illness. You have the most amazing gift, to live a full and beautiful life, and that life is invaluable. Be courageous, considerate, and make the world remember your name. Walking on the moon. Reaching the deepest ocean trenches. Climbing mount Everest. They were all impossible. Until someone did it. Achive all you can- “Live life to the fullest because it only happens once.”
For more information about Mitochondrial https://www.mito.org.au/
