Simon Mizzi, the father of baby Noah who tragically passed away after a swimming pool accident, shared a heartfelt message reflecting on his experience and the road ahead.After Noah was laid to rest, Simon said that while the people of Malta, like every society, may have many flaws, no one can take away the fact that they are ready to express solidarity in times of need.He went on to thank several people and groups on an individual level.“To the State, who through several members – from top to bottom, left to right, spoke to us on a personal level and went above and beyond – not for show but because they genuinely cared. Their first question to us, before asking us what we need, was ‘How are you?’.”“To the doctors, nurses and carers at the NPICU at Mater Dei who choose to work in a place where they are daily heroes without even knowing it. It is a place where sadness should reign, and yet we saw harmony reign and not a single word was said out of place. We learned a lot from there.”“To the Emergency Department staff at the Gozo General Hospital, who saw us and helped us in our darkest hours. To the forensic doctor, magisterial experts and police, who made sure to protect us when they understood what happened.”“To the Gozo Channel staff, who were always ready to wait for us, reducing the adding pain of crossing the channel.”“To the people and friends who organised a vigil shortly before Noah chose to leave us. It made us feel at peace and we will never forget this gesture.”“Above all to Amy, Anthony, George, Maria, Charmaine, Daniel, Mariella, Robert, Victor, Doreen, Marvin, Michelle, Ramona and Thomas, who without blinking an eye – dropped everything to came to stay with us.”“To Archpriest Joseph Curmi, a living testimony of what pastoral work truly means – a man who will walk through fire for you.”“To Canon Richard Nazzareno Farrugia, who from day one, stayed by our side, comforting us and showing us the Lord’s will through his words and his silence.”“This all led to today becoming the most beautiful celebration of Noah’s life.”“Noah brought so much unity because we had someone to rally around. If you are reading this message, look around you and see that you have someone to lean on and that you are there for others to lean on through your love or friendship. Start by giving, not asking.”“No amount of money can give you this sensation. There is no greater happiness than knowing you have people you can rely on.Roses bloom from thorns. Few people may know this, but I lost my father on his birthday three weeks ago. On my own birthday, I lost my son Noah.”“Through countless unanswered questions, I could choose to live in anger against God and everyone, and no one would blame me. But I choose not to ask ‘why me?’, ‘why my son?’ and ‘how is this possible?’.”“I choose to live and ask ‘where do I go from here?’. And the answer, with the help of Noah and the joy he brought us, means it must be the path of light, even though the path of darkness may be the easier route.”“But Noah was light.”“I choose to find the courage to keep on loving my family and raising three other children. God willing, we will find a new normal. I ultimately choose this path for Noah too – our beautiful boy who will be loved forever.”•