Isaac’s Story
Our son, Isaac, was a healthy and adventurous little boy, known for his cheeky smile that could instantly brighten a room. He found joy in simple things, playing hide and seek, his collection of toy cars, and his favourite treats, ice cream and chocolate.
On December 29th, my birthday, our lives were forever changed. Shortly after moving into a new home, Isaac slipped through an unfenced gap and wandered into a neighbour’s yard, accessing an unsecured swimming pool. He was found unresponsive due to drowning.
Isaac was transported to Perth Children's Hospital (PCH), where he spent five days in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Doctors prepared us for the worst, and after five days on life support, we made the heartbreaking decision to turn it off. During the hardest time in my life, I looked to my faith, and an Imam came to visit Isaac in the hospital and performed du’a prayers alongside him. We were grateful for the support of Ronald McDonald House accommodation, which allowed us to be close to Isaac during his final moments.
However, once he had passed, we encountered a critical gap in bereavement services. We were given general pamphlets for support organisations but attempts to reach them during the holiday period were unsuccessful. When we sought immediate, specialised counselling for ourselves and our eldest son through PCH, we found a distinct absence of accessible and timely support for the trauma of the sudden death of Isaac. Because of this lack of support, this is the main reason I am very passionate about the bereavement FOOTPRINTS project. I do not want any other family to go through what I went through.
Leaving the hospital without our son was the most profound heartbreak and the start of an overwhelming journey through grief and guilt.
Visiting Isaac’s grave makes me feel closer to him and gives me a quiet moment to spend in his presence. My family and children, Daniel and Zain, have helped me cope with the grief and heartache. Life is still difficult, and with time grief comes in waves, each one feeling deeper than the last.
I hope that the FOOTPRINTS bereavement project will help other grieving families with the loss of their loved ones.
