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| Talin’s hand painted rose – a symbol of hope |
I sat and sobbed at my kitchen bench this morning, those big, heavy, ugly sobs that wrack through your body and make you think your chest might just explode. News filtered through that the brave little boy I blogged about early last month, Talin Hawkins who at the tender age of 5 was diagnosed with an aggressive – an therefore tragically inoperable – brain tumour had succumbed to this battle and passed away.
I’m not sure why this story of a stranger struck such a chord with me – perhaps it is as simple as the empathy you bubble over with when you become a parent, and you easily find affinity with any tale that involves a small child. This was a little boy who was the same age as my nephew, lived within suburbs of him, and was once as fresh faced, cheeky and innocent as any other child his age. He became like my little moral, subconscious compass – at times when I was sweating the small stuff he’d pop into my mind and I would remember… What have I to worry about really in comparison to what his family were suffering through so bravely, so openly, always with positivism and hope?
I kept watch over Talin’s facebook page compelled to keep he and his family constantly in my thoughts and prayers, hoping that there would be some sort of miracle come to pass that would see this sweet little boy returned to full health. But so sadly, this was not to be the case. 3 months and 4 days on from his mother receiving the most horrific news of this completely unexpected illness and his family were being forced to say their untimely goodbyes.
Facebook has been awash with sympathy – you might notice many of “Talin’s Rose” paintings popping up (like I’ve displayed above) on your page to help honour his memory. And if this is the first time you have come across this story, please watch this beautiful piece on Talin’s tale here – then go and hug tight someone you adore. Go and chase that dream, go and live your life while you have breath inside you and health to define you.
Farewell little Talin Hawkins, aged 6 years, one month and 3 days… Although that is not nearly enough time for which to have graced this earth, I am sure your presence will be forever felt. Fly freely with your angels wings, far from pain, secure in eternal love x
A beautiful tribute Donna. What heartbreak.
So heartbreaking. I sobbed again this morning when I read about how his incredibly brave mother explained death and heaven to him – and he asked her if she could go with him 🙁 What sad, gut wrenching words to hear from your baby when you know you can’t go with them and can’t do anything to save them. Indeed may he rest in peace and fly high with the angels.
This struck a chord within me as well. I have nearly 6yo, and nearly 14yo sons, that adore each other. As I looked through the photos of Talin and his big brother, my heart hurt deeply. The fragility of life became so incredibly focussed.
Unfortunately I looked too close, and saw the anger and rawness that are raging in both his mother and father, an anger that has evidently been there way before Talin became ill. My heart hurt even more that both of them were unable to put aside their anger, and just be his mum and dad. I know how hard that is to do, my own relationship with my big kids father is estranged to say the least. I just pray that I never find myself in this situation, or if I ever do, that both myself and my ex husband are able to put our differences aside, and just be MUM and DAD.
Everything about this is tragic and heart breaking. For everyone.
No way am I clicking on your link to see Talin’s story. Your post was poignant and tear-jerking enough. I can’t even begin to imagine how his family is feeling. So quick. So tragic. Gah! And I was determined not to cry when I started reading this!