Hello, my name is Matthew Turner.
I am the youngest child of Andrew Turner who on the 25th of August 2023 passed away suddenly from Sepsis at the age of 58.
My Mother Sandra was married to Dad for 37 years. Mum and Dad were always there for us and we always knew that we could count on them for anything. I have two siblings, Ashleigh and John, we knew that no matter what our parents were always there for us.
When my Dad became unwell I believed that he would be ok as not much ever kept him down. He lived with Rheumatoid arthritis for years yet he never would let that be a barrier for anything, he was always so strong and would continue on. It seemed as though he would only be in hospital for a short time, he was sick but he would be ok.
Even so I felt uncomfortable about the situation and decided to take work off just in case he needed me (maybe even just for some Macca’s instead of hospital food). I never did make it down to the hospital to see him before he passed because I thought he would be ok, I still regret this.
Only a few days prior John and I had been playing cricket with him and it was as if he’d been taking it easy on us forever, we had no hope of getting him out and he was having so much fun. It happens that quickly.
When my brother John came down in the early morning (around 2:45am) to tell my wife, Jess and I that Dad passed away it didn’t feel real and I don’t know if I showed much of a reaction, it didn’t sink in until we had just about reached the hospital.
Jess drove us and has been an incredible support to me. Anyone that knew my Dad knew they’d lost someone very special much too soon.
It has been just over a year since we lost Dad and it effects us all deeply still. I still struggle with sudden changes a lot, when there are milestones such as Birthdays, Christmas and graduations there’s a part of me that is excited but at the same time there’s another part that wants more than anything to see my Dad.
I hope that in sharing our stories about the impact Sepsis has on people’s lives that we are able to spread awareness on this disease and save the lives of many people.