Inspiring love story of couple who met in hospital comes to heartbreaking end
A young cystic fibrosis sufferer, whose incredible love story made headlines around the country, has passed away with his wife by his side.
Matt and Kaila Maartensz met at Princess Margaret Hospital in Western Australia when they were just children, both battling cystic fibrosis - an inherited life-threatening disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system.
Kaila, 32, received new lungs in 2013 and just one year later so did Matt - later that week, he asked her to marry him.
In 2015, they walked down the aisle and said "I do" in front of family and friends but late last year Matt’s health began to deteriorate.
The 29-year-old was admitted to ICU and on 13 December where the doctors held a meeting and told Matt that there was nothing else they could do to help him.
“Kaila means the world to me and I want to do everything I can to keep me in her world,” Matt said from his bed at Fiona Stanley Hospital last month.
“I am not even 30. I don’t want to leave yet.”
But after an incredible fight, Matt passed away in hospital last week.
“I don’t even have the words to express how much I loved you, how much I’ll miss you and how heartbroken I am right now,” Kaila wrote on Instagram the day Mr Maartensz died.
“I will love you forever my fierce dinosaur.”
Matt will be farewelled by friends and family at a funeral service on Thursday.
A GoFundMe page set up to help the Maartensz’ said Kaila still has her own battle to fight, adding that any donations are appreciated.
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