Originally posted by NZ_Ross Thank you Hayden for doing this for me. I am running out of words, and broken at the moment guys.
Matthew died of heart failure as a result of an underlying infection. Too many questions about this, but we are working with the coroners office to get to the bottom of it.
I've only just seen this now. I don't really know what to say, but I'm really sorry for you and your family.
I was not much older than your son when I got meningitis almost 20 years ago, and it was touch and go that I made it, my organs were starting to fail, and the only reason I made it to hospital was an elderly friend showed up and made sure I got there after I'd already been extremely sick for 24 hours.
Somehow I made it through, although I still have the invisible scars as the infection destroyed one of my ears so I have no directional hearing, and somewhat less balance than when I was younger.
I still don't know why I got a second chance at life, and why someone like you has to lose a son to some infection.
---------- Post added 08-27-17 at 09:34 PM ----------
It's not photography, but I sometimes indulge in other creative pursuits, so I thought I might share something I wrote just over a week ago, in case it's perhaps relevant.
The Fantail.
Consider the fantail,
a cheerful, fearless little bird,
though she endures but a few cycles of the seasons,
before her chatter is forever stilled.
Our lives are little more to the trees,
who count centuries to our decades,
if in jealousy we do not force them to share our fate.
When like the fantail I fall,
mourn not my passing,
but recall what joy I shared,
and bury me not among the dead,
but amongst the living,
so perhaps one day above my head,
in leafy branches a fantail might sing.