'I choose light over darkness' - father of baby Noah who died after fall in pool
Simon Mizzi, whose son died on his birthday, speaks about finding the courage to continue raising his other three children
The father of Noah Mizzi, the toddler who died five days after falling into a swimming pool, has spoken about how he is choosing light over darkness.
“Noah was light… I choose to seek the courage to continue cherishing my family, raising my three other children - who I need to be there for. God willing, we will find a new normal,” Simon Mizzi wrote on Facebook in a long post shared after he buried his youngest son on Thursday.
Sixteen-month-old Noah fell into a swimming pool in a private residence in Gozo on July 21. After five days in intensive care, he died on July 26 – his father’s birthday.
In the post, Mizzi spoke about losing his own father on his father’s birthday three weeks ago and how, on his birthday, he had lost his son.
“The unanswered questions can lead to my existing in a state of anger against God and everyone else. And everyone will say I’m right. But I will be existing.
“I choose not to ask: ‘Why me’? ‘How me’? Or: ‘Why our son?’ I choose to live and ask: ‘Where do I go from here?’ And the reply, with the help of Noah and the joy he brought us, has to be one – the road towards light and not darkness. Even though, right now, the easier route leads towards darkness.”
He thanked all the people who had supported his family over the past weeks, including staff at Gozo General Hospital and Mater Dei’s Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Gozo Channel workers, the government, attending magistrate and the police.
He also thanked a range of other individuals, including those who organised a vigil moments before Noah passed away.
Mizzi also thanked his son, who “brought out the good in people” and highlighted the sense of solidarity shown by the Maltese people.
“Noah brought a lot of unity. He brought unity because we had who to turn to. So if you are reading this message, look around you and see that you have someone to support you, and who you can also support through your love and friendship", he wrote.
"Start by giving and not asking. No amount of money can give you this feeling. From thorns, come roses.”