'Enjoy the little moments': How heartbreaking couple spent their last few months together
The love story of Matt and Kaila Maartensz, the young Perth couple who met as children while receiving treatment for cystic fibrosis, touched hearts around the country.
A week after Matt's death, his grieving wife has paid a touching tribute to her late husband, posting words and images to social media about their final months together.
The couple, who first met met at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, became husband and wife in 2015.
Kaila, 32, received new lungs in 2013, and one year later, so did Matt. A week after that, Matt proposed.
They battled the disease, which damages the lungs and digestive system, together.
But in December last year, Matt's health began to deteriorate. He was admitted to ICU on December 13, and doctors told the couple the heartbreaking news: there was nothing more they could do for him.
"Watching someone you love waste away before your eyes is completely heart wrenching," Kaila Maartensz wrote on Instagram on March 27.
"Watching them lose parts of themselves slowly is total agony. Seeing them forget little things each days is more distressing than I can explain.
"But when they tell you that seeing you still makes them happy every single day despite all of the trauma that is happening to them it makes you realise you’re actually one of the lucky ones.
"To have a love like ours, even in a time like this."
On Facebook, Kaila managed to find something to joke about as her husband's condition worsened.
On February 27 she posted a picture of them together, then wrote: "3 months indoors and still more of tan than me?
"This is us right now. We were laying here chatting about funeral plans and ended up laughing because we have the same dark sense of humour.
"At the same time though I was thinking how the eff are we laying here even having to think about these things!
"Next month is our 3 year wedding anniversary and the month after that is Matt’s 30th birthday. We should be planning celebrations instead!"
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In a long and heartfelt Instagram post on Monday, Kaila shared some of her thoughts on the preciousness of life in the wake of her devastating loss.
"Things I’ve learnt over the past four months. ...Stay up late and chat to your husband about every little thing on your mind. Don’t worry about having to get up early. You can catch up on the sleep.
"Enjoy the little moments. It’s something you have to be mindful of doing but the little moments are some of the most special ones.
"Celebrate your birthdays. Don’t be sad about getting older. The alternative is much worse.
"Breathe. I don’t think there are many people who don’t take breathing for granted. Once a day take a deep breath and realise how lucky you are."
Matt’s funeral will be held on Thursday at the Royal Perth Yacht Club.
A GoFundMe page was set up to financially support the couple as they battled cystic fibrosis.
So far, the campaign has raised more than $42,000.
