The community has rallied to support Talin.
Talin Hawkins
THOUSANDS of messages have been posted on social media sites following the death of Talin Hawkins, the little boy whose brave battle with a brain tumour touched many hearts.
A status update on the Talin’s Wish Facebook site on Tuesday said: ‘‘Talin Ash Hawkins passed away peacefully a few minutes past midnight.’’
Talin, 6, spent the past seven weeks at Bear Cottage, a palliative care centre for children at Manly. Before his diagnosis, he was a normal, fun-loving child who had just started kindergarten at Gymea Bay Public School and adored his two brothers, Tristan, 13, and Kyan,4.
His mother Cassandra Hawkins often described Talin as ‘‘angelic’’ and told the Leader recently she never had to reprimand him. Ms Hawkins said Talin was a ‘‘sweet, sweet child’’.
‘‘He is just different, amazing, gorgeous. His nature is just so beautiful and kind,’’ she said.
‘‘He has a great sense of humour. Everyone loves him. He is not the type of child I had to go mad at.’’
While she initially struggled to understand ‘‘why it happened to him’’, she believed Talin’s soul had chosen this path to ‘‘touch others’’.
Talin’s father Gerry Tye used his Facebook page to thank those who posted messages.
‘‘Your support is invaluable and continues to be so as I continue my vigil for my heart of hearts, knowing that he is now at ease.
COMMUNITY MOURNS
By Merryn Porter
Today I am mourning a little boy I never met. Talin Hawkins was just six when he died peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday morning — 13 weeks after he was diagnosed with a rare brain stem tumour.
Like everyone who followed his story in the Leader, on TV and via Facebook, my heart broke for this little boy and his family.
That he could be struck down by a tumour buried deep in his brain; the hopelessness of the diagnosis delivered to his heartbroken family; that his cancer was inoperable and life-ending.
That he would not grow up, become a teenager, finish school, embark on a career. That he would never marry or have a family of his own.
I looked at my son, as dark haired as Talin was fair, but so similar in many ways; and my daughter, the same age as Talin and so full of excitement at starting school, just as Talin had been a few short months earlier.
So, like others who believe in such things, I prayed for a miracle. That he would somehow be saved. And then I started to wonder if the miracle had already occurred. Because of a little boy they had not met, people were hugging their children closer and living each day to the full.
So today I mourn a little boy I never met, who changed my life for the better and taught me not to take anything for granted, not least my children.
Leave a tribute for Talin, or a message for his family, below.