remembered
He won our hearts as an incredibly brave little boy with brittle bones – and went on to inspire the world with his determination and cheeky charm
Quentin Kenihan was proud as punch that he continued to defy the odds throughout his too-short but achievement-packed life, happily admitting that doctors thought he wouldn’t live to see his first birthday.
Born with osteogenesis imperfecta – formerly known as brittle bone disease – he arrived in the world with eight broken bones, including both arms and both legs, and went on to break 800 more during a life of unendurable pain. His bones were so brittle a sneeze could shatter them.
His survival was nothing short of a miracle but it was his determination to live life to the full, rather than the awful disease that caused so much hardship for Quentin, that inspired so many people from all walks of life.
‘BRAVEST BLOKE’
Gladiator star Russell Crowe, who helped Quentin with advice and encouraging words, got him a small role in Mad Max: Fury Road and even bought him vital medical equipment earlier this year, says he was devastated by the loss of his “little mate”.
“The bravest bloke I ever met… gone,” he said on Twitter, praising Quentin for his “creative and productive life” and saying the wheelchair-bound actor, author
‘He taught us about the strength of the human spirit’
and disability advocate was “not confined any more”.
Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard thanked Quentin for all he gave and shared with Australia.
“He showed courage and always taught us about the strength of the human spirit and what we can do with the support and love of family, friends and community,” she said on Twitter.
Savage Garden singer Darren Hayes says it was he who was starstruck when he met Quentin in 1997, having grown up in the 1980s watching a young Quentin display his incredible fighting spirit during a series of famously captivating interviews with broadcaster Mike Willesee.
“Oh dear sweet Quentin Kenihan… you were so kind to me, so funny and creative and confident and brave and inspiring,” Darren tweeted.
And that never-give-up attitude took Quentin around the world, hosting TV shows, appearing in movies, writing a memoir called Not All Superheroes Wear Capes, and attending the Academy Awards, all the while struggling to breath and function.
His family, including mum Kerry, brother Myles, sister Sia and beloved chihuahua Patchy, posted a message on Quentin’s private Facebook page last week expressing their “incredible gratitude for the outpouring of love and support being expressed over the loss of our most beloved brother and son”.
“He was not just our brother and son – he was Qman – a man of unwavering courage, the strength of a lion and the determination to never give up for what he believed in. We stand with you in grief and solidarity during this extremely difficult time,” his family wrote.
“We are so happy the SA government and Adelaide City Council are honouring his legacy by building a disability friendly park in Adelaide. He would be absolutely chuffed.”