Montana’s Story

Hi, my name is Montana and this is my story. 

My dad had been in and out of hospitals for my entire childhood and my teenage years battling Marfan's Syndrome (a connective tissue disorder that affected his heart) which he had been diagnosed with when he was in his early teens. Dad was put on the waiting list for a heart transplant in 2015, which led to many hospital trips and a lot of time missing my dad. 

In 2016 my dad was told if he didn't receive a heart by Christmas that it would be his last. This was absolutely heartbreaking news to receive and caused a whole lot of stress for the entire family. 

In July of 2016, Dad received a phone call that changed his life, there was a beautiful heart that was on its way from Victoria to Sydney to be transplanted that day. 

Mum and Dad stayed in Sydney while my brother and I stayed home in Newcastle going from house to house of family members while Mum was there with Dad. Mum would visit when she could but we didn't get to see Dad for 2 months as he wasn't in a state for us kids to see.

A few years later we ended up meeting the parents of the angel that donated his heart to save my dad's life. We still communicate with them to this very day and love them very dearly.

In 2020 Dad was diagnosed with skin cancer, it began as cancer that could be cut out but then turned extremely aggressive and Dad began to run out of options which led Dad to be diagnosed as a terminal patient. 

The medication that Dad was taking for his new heart to stay healthy was feeding the cancer meaning he was dammed either way.

In 2023 Dad was put under palliative care and was told he needed to make the most of the little time that he had left. Mum and Dad set off for their trip of a lifetime, traveling Australia and ticking off Dad's bucket list. 

They returned home on Sunday and Monday got told that Dad had 8 weeks left. We cared for Dad at home as his wishes were to pass away at home. 10 weeks later we lost Dad in the middle of the night. 

I am only early into my grief journey but in a way have been grieving Dad my entire life. I have been so privileged to have been raised by such an amazing man who has taught me so much about life and so much about myself. I am also so privileged to have been shown what real love is, mum never once left Dad's side throughout his entire journey. 

I hope one day I will be able to find a love like the love that my parents shared. Life is so incredibly short, feel life in all of its beauty and tell the people around you how much you love them.

Thank you for listening to my story.