Caleb Thorburn (affectionately known as Cal) was born on the 7th of October 2000, our first born child and now brother to Gemyah and Sweeney.
From that day forward Caleb set the pace, boundless in his appreciation for life with stamina to match. Every moment with Cal was fulfilling, abundant, spirited, captivating and well lived. Cal was a happy, confident and cheeky little boy with a fondness for music, all things outdoor, boyish adventure, dancing, ball sports and assisting around the house, readily equipped with a broom, mop, hammer or wheelbarrow to manoeuvre.
Cal was a tall, strong and charming looking little boy. Smiling and laughing wasn’t just his response to entertainment it was his gift. With great big blue sparkling eyes, a hint of mischief and spirited twinkle, Cal had a vitality that was so endearing. His persona was beyond his years and more beautiful than his shell was his soul. Laughing, hugging, kissing, excitement, roughing it up, sharing, racing to the front door to greet our visitors, listening for Daddy’s truck, running up and down the verandah……….we saw our boy embrace life with awesome enthusiasm. With a joyful radiance Cal was at his happiest in the company of others. Greater than any material pleasure was his love of people especially his large family network. He relished the attention, loved a gathering and intensified a surge of emotions within you in the pleasure of his company.
Caleb was a unique and special child. His story deserves to be retold not because of the tragedy of his death but because of the powerful, meaningful, happy and heart-warming commitment Cal had to living. Subsequently the memories he has left with so many people are indelible and that is why Cal’s life is enduring. His impact on others was astounding.
Caleb’s energy was also very tender. He was affectionate, adoring and playful. Time was never wasted with an admirable determination to be part of everything. It is hard to believe that such a beautiful young child with a world of promise was robbed of the continuity of life. His passion for the blessing of every moment he lived is the reason we feel committed to establishing his foundation. Caleb epitomised the pinnacle of life and that is what drives us in our endeavors to protect and preserve the greatest and most precious of all gifts….our lives.
Caleb, alongside his siblings, is the essence of our hearts. He inspired us with his zest and the totality with which he lived and now empowers us to make a difference in the fight against meningococcal disease, to ensure the dreams and pursuits of every life, be it young or old is realised.
Truly an honour, a privilege, a blessing to love you Caleb
Thank you cherished son for you……. ours to treasure, adored forever.
The 17 hours that unfolded between Friday the 5th and Saturday the 6th of April in 2002 will no doubt be some of the most profound measurements of time in our lives. It is incomprehensible to understand the intimacy of our journey and the experience of meningococcal disease that claimed the life of our precious son Caleb. The script is too raw to be exposed in its entirety and the reality is that the characters are not fictional. We are an everyday loving family that have been utterly devastated by a disease reminiscent of something from the dark ages.
We had enjoyed a normal morning of activities with our son Cal. An unusually early afternoon sleep preceded the onset of symptoms that marked the beginning of the tragic events that were to unfold. Without warning our Son went from effervescent to debilitated within hours. As he was a healthy and energetic child his decline was most obvious and frighteningly rapid. Whilst we were unaware that our child was suffering from meningococcal disease we were very distressed by his presentation and had rung for medical assistance. We were advised to visit a surgery later that day.
Caleb’s condition continued with no improvement even after the administering of Panadol and Nurofen. His temperature was spiking at 41, he was motionless, twitching and the appearances of purple pinprick spots were on his arm, neck and torso.
After receiving a diagnosis of viral infection we returned home from the doctor’s surgery, confused but relieved, to care for our son. Many conversations with family and friends had taken place that afternoon, all pertaining to the welfare of Caleb and to withdraw our inclusion from a big weekend of activities to allow Cal to get better.
Later that evening our worry continued to intensify as Caleb was unable to support his weight and was deteriorating. He had vomited and was not engaging with any stimulation. We did not leave his side especially as he was mildly convulsing. Every 15 minutes we would turn him from his lying position of stomach to his back. It was at this point that we were horrified to see the expansion of his spots into a birthmark rash. A deep purple mark extending across his chest had appeared within minutes.
Caleb was rushed to Box Hill Hospital where he was placed in intensive care and treated with urgency. The rash continued to spread and whilst medical staff were communicating their intentions, reassurance of his wellbeing was not forthcoming.
We began to become aware that Caleb’s life was desperately fragile.
In the early hours of Saturday morning it was required Caleb be induced into a coma to stabilize him for transfer to the Royal Children’s Hospital and to alleviate his pain. Caleb looked at us with pure love before the affect of the coma took hold. It is an image that will last with us forever. It reflected the spirit of our son and promoted the love that forged the bonds between parents and their children. For those brief moments the connection between us overshadowed the environment we were in and the plight that was in front of us.
Upon transfer to The Royal Children’s Hospital the medical staff continued to exhaust every possible intervention for our son Caleb. So much unfolded in those hours. The praying, the pacing, the emotions….hope, shock, disbelief… And then the emergence of the doctors with the resigning removal of their theatre hats to deliver the tragic news. Caleb’s organs were failing and that nothing more could be done.
Traumatised beyond recognition we sang to our son, we kissed him, we held him, and we loved him into eternal life. With a single gentle tear that rolled down his beautiful face Caleb farewelled us. At 9.05am on Saturday the 6th of April our son became an angel.
His death from meningococcal strain B was so cruel, so utterly devastating that we will never recover from witnessing the pain our cherished son endured and the subsequent grief we will live with forever.
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