Many parents would become paralysed with grief after losing their child but for Preeti Raghwani, her daughter’s tragic death empowered her to help other children.
VIDEO (above): Preeti’s daughter Mahi introduced the room to her beautiful sister Ziya in touching tribute video.
Little Ziya sadly passed away two months shy of her second birthday due to a life-limiting condition called mitochondrial disease, which causes a long list of health issues including seizures.
There weren’t many dry eyes in the room when her seven-year-old sister Mahi talked about their close bond.
Telethon Beneficiary Function 2023 at Crown Towers. MC Basil Zempilas with Mother and Notre Dame Medical student Preeti Raghwani and her daughter Mahi 7yo. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian
“My family said Ziya couldn’t hear anything but I still used to talk to her,” she said.
“She always had the best giggle — they would make me so happy.
“One morning she was cold and she wouldn’t wake up — I loved her.”
Telethon Beneficiary Function 2023 at Crown Towers. Mother and Notre Dame Medical student Preeti Raghwani. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian
Her last breath was the moment, Mrs Raghwani decided to make sure Ziya’s death wasn’t in vain.
“I couldn’t believe that her death was nonsensical — she couldn’t have just been an existential plague,” she said.
“She taught me that life is whatever you want it to be, whatever you decide of it and that nothing is impossible.
“I made her a promise that I will make her life count and I will help change one life at a time, so here I am now three years later studying to be a medical doctor.
“She’s my gift to the world.”
Ziya’s short life was one of the many sad yet inspiring stories attendees heard at yesterday’s Giving Ceremony breakfast to celebrate the 107 beneficiaries of Telethon 2022.
Original article published by The West Australian.