FAMILY LEFT BROKEN BY LOSS OF ISLAH
THE girl with sparkly blue eyes who touched the hearts of Townsville has lost her battle against Tay- Sachs disease.
Islah Hill died in the early hours of Monday. She was only four years old. Her devastated parents, Cameron Hill and Toni Faint, say they are “completely broken”.
“We just want to hold her one more time and kiss her beautiful face,” Mr Hill said. “Islah fought so hard every day.”
Islah was diagnosed with the extremely rare Tay- Sachs disease when she was 15 months old, becoming one of only two children in Australia with the disease. TSD is a fatal, inherited disorder which attacks the central nervous system. The average life expectancy is five years.
Mr Hill said he was humbled by the outpouring of community support given to his family.
“Ever since Islah was diagnosed, we have felt, and been humbled by, the arms of the community around us,” he said. “Not only has all the fundraising events held these past few years helped us enormously in terms of being able to devote ourselves to Islah, but the events have raised awareness to this little known disease.”
Ms Faint said her daughter taught her “so much without ever saying a word”.
“Our love for her has always been strong since the day she was born,” Ms Faint said.
“She was never alone and was always surrounded by love from us since day one.
“She will always be part of us and she will never be forgotten. Our love for Islah is strong and endless.”
Ms Faint said her daughter was a “fighter”.
“She always proved everyone wrong with the strength she had. We miss her terribly.
“She made a huge impact on a lot of people and so many people cared about our Islah.”
University Hawks Australia football club president Narrisha McDougal said the club, which had hosted numerous fundraising events in support of the family, was more than a just a sporting organisation.
“We’re a family and Cameron and Toni are part of the family so it went without saying we supported them,” she said.
Mr Hill, a Hawks reserve grade team captain, said although he only got to spend four- and- a- half years with his daughter, his life would never be the same again.
“I’ll never take things for granted,” he said. “I know how fragile life can be.
“All I wanted is see Islah grow up but now I’m arranging my daughter’s funeral. It shouldn’t be that way. My heart is aching. I am so grateful for every single day I had with my daughter. It just wasn’t long enough.”
Funeral arrangements have yet to be finalised.