Kaila and Matt Maartensz first crossed paths when they were “practically babies” in the wards of Perth’s Princess Margaret Hospital.
They were both being treated for cystic fibrosis and would years later fall in love as adults, both struggling with lungs that continued to deteriorate.
In 2013, Kaila, 32, received a set of new lungs and the following year Matt received his own transplant. In the same week, he proposed to Kaila and they were married in 2015.
But in December last year, Matt’s health deteriorated suddenly and it wasn’t long before doctors broke the news that there wasn’t anything more they could do.
He tragically lost his fight with the debilitating lung condition on March 31, dying at home with Kalia by his side.
“I don’t even have the words to express how much I loved you, how much I’ll miss you and how heartbroken I am right now,” Kalia wrote on Instagram following his death.
“I will love you forever my fierce dinosaur.”
Now, Kaila has taken to social media again to share a heartbreaking tribute to her late husband. Alongside a photo of herself and Matt during happier times, she details the important life lessons she learned while watching “someone you love waste away before your eyes.”
“If you want to travel, do it! Do it while you can and book the nicer room and bid on the flight upgrade if it’s possible to do so. But when you want to stay home do that too. If you want to sit on the couch all day watching Netflix, binge an entire series in a day,” she began.
“Laugh at yourself. But also don’t be afraid to cry.”
“Stay up late and chat to your husband about every little thing on your mind. Don’t worry about having to get up early. You can catch up on the sleep.”
“Enjoy the little moments. It’s something you have to be mindful of doing but the little moments are some of the most special ones.”
She also encouraged her followers to “eat the chocolate because it’s delicious” and “turn off your alarm occasionally and have a sleep in.”
Kaila concluded by sharing the one thing her late husband would have changed if given the opportunity.
“And when I asked Matt what’s the one thing he’d change? Dance more,” she wrote.
“So dance. Whenever you can and however you want. And think of Matt while you’re dancing.”
A GoFundMe page was set up to financially support the couple as they battled cystic fibrosis.
The campaign has so far raised over $42,000.
