26th May, 2013 a brave little boy lost his fight and left a close knit family network reeling and looking for answers. Grasping for answers.
Carter Desmond was that little boy. Born just four weeks before, his fight for life started at the beginning. He fought infection. He fought sickness. He fought internal organs that wouldn’t work. He fought a heart that wouldn’t function. He faced almost daily operations. He fought bravely for every day of his short life. Until that day, when he lost the fight.
Life can be unfair. Answers were nowhere to be found.
Carter left a legacy. The impact he left was immense. The extended family and friend’s community rallied around the young couple, who were simply a rock throughout. Understandably the grief was obvious, but from the grief came a legacy.
A new resolve was born when Carter passed. Carter had only known love in his short time with us. And from that love came the legacy. The legacy of Carter.
You find your own meaning when there are no answers. Life isn’t fair. Four week olds’ aren’t meant to leave us. They are not meant to pass away. Four weeks of fight, fighting for the very basic tenements of life, that so many of us take for granted. He fought to breathe by himself. He fought for his organs to work by themselves. He fought for his heart to beat.
Yet how many of us have given up on life, and have all those things that Carter fought for.
Are you fighting for your life?
Are you creating a legacy?
Carter did. This year will see a fund-raising lunch in memory of Carter earn much needed funds for a children’s hospital charity. We know that this lunch will become an annual event and will grow.
But this is only part of the legacy. Those impacted from Carter are living the legacy daily. Carter forced those close to face up to the lives they were living. They have stopped settling for second best. They have stopped taking life for granted. They have become more grateful for every gift of a day they are given. They understand that life is frail and can be taken in an instant.
They now:
- Live life to the fullest. Maximise their potential. Don’t take the basics of life for granted
- Love friends and family unconditionally
- Chase their dreams
You may not have known Carter, but you can take on his legacy.
Live Life. Fight for life. Every day is a gift. Don’t take it for granted.
