12 September 2002
I am writing this on the anniversary of her birthday 2 July 2019, she would have been 91 years of age, if she was still alive. But she was taken from us in 2002 by a brain aneurysm.
She collapsed whilst gardening at home. My sister who was at home at the time, heard a noise in the backyard and went to investigate. She found my mum collapsed under the washing lines. She performed CPR and asked Mark, who was also home at the time to call 000.
Ambulance took her to St George Hospital.
I was working at Burwood Library, in the back, when I got the phone call from home, telling me my mum was in hospital. I remember asking Mrs CarolTasovac, the library manager, if I could go.
My mum was on life support, when I saw her at the hospital. The doctors mentioned that if she was to regain consciousness, she would be in a vegetative state. Family discussion and we all agreed that she be taken off life support. The coroner's report said she passed away due to a sub-arachnoid haemmorage (blood clot on the brain).
Everything after is a blur.
I do remember at the funeral, I was asked to do a eulogy on behalf of the family. I also remember the support that was given to me by my Burwood library family.
She was buried at Rookwood, beside my dad.
We choose to celebrate Justin's birthday on this day, not the passing of her, as she would want us to celebrate the living, not the dead.
Also it was 1 day and 1 year to the date of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the States. The collapse of the twin towers in New York, such a tragedy, that we can't forget.
