Tag Archives: brother

Thoughts

Beyond words

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Companies are always looking for ways to retain their best employees, their talent.

Many offer incentives, some provide developments opportunities, most give pay rises, bonuses or promote people. On that rare occasion, a company does something which trumps any other incentive – it gives without expecting anything in return. It shows gratitude that makes anything else pale in comparison.

This time it’s personal. It’s not about communications, it’s about being human. It’s about my brother.

Let me first take a quick step back – six months ago, my brother Michael passed away after succumbing to a brain tumor. He fought valiantly, but we knew what the outcome would be.

In the time he was fighting the tumor, he continued working on a project for the company he worked for, the Malta Medicines Authority.

Despite everything, he worked passionately on this project, like he had done for all the projects he ever undertook in his life. In the two years plus that he was fighting the tumor, his employers always gave him the full support he and his family needed.

And now, they have gone a step further.

Last Friday, the extension my brother worked so hard on was finally opened, six months to the day of his passing.

To be honest, I didn’t know. I had just returned from a run when a text came in from his widow with a link to a local news portal, and it left me speechless. The authority had decided to name the extension after my brother in recognition of his work.

What an amazing thing to do.

His colleague Emma Cassar Buontempo summed it all up when she told a local media outlet that “Michael was a very jovial character, energetic and with a talent to find something positive in any situation, no matter how difficult. He was always there when needed.”

And the chairman of the authority, Prof. Anthony Serracino Inglott, called on workers to appreciate their colleagues and not wait until they are no longer around.

This is what really matters. Such messages help reinforce one’s commitment and loyalty to their workplace. It’s not always money that matters – sometimes, it’s about recognition and respect.

My brother was a great worker, and the Malta Medicines Authority have shown that they were worth his while.

Thoughts

Mike

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You were always Mike to me, not anything else. My brother.

You were my first friend, my first enemy, my first buddy, my teacher, my mentor. I followed you at a distance – my music tastes are forged in your tastes, and thankfully helped me to find my two best friends.

I knew you as nobody else, a special bond that not even death can take away. I always wanted to be you because you are what I wanted to be.

Even when destiny handed down a death sentence, you persisted. All the way.

I see the passion, the character, the strength, the charisma, the determination, the will power in your girls – man, once again you did a great job. Unsurprisingly, your choice of lifelong partner was spot on. She’s tough as nails.

So four months have passed. Feels like yesterday.

My regret is that I wasn’t in Malta to enjoy more time with you. It’s a similar regret I have with our father – at least I got to spend an infinitesimally short time with you before you left. And for that, I am grateful. Very grateful.

I don’t need to tell people how great you are – they know that. Everyone knows Cuti. And everyone misses Cuti,

To me, you are Mike, my brother. Miss you man.

Sports

Marathon bliss, with a little help from my friends

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As the starter gun went off, I wasn’t really sure how I’d perform. It was my third marathon, but it’s still a marathon – a gruelling 42.195km. And weighing 91.5kg meant I had a lot to carry around.

It was also the first marathon after my brother passed away last February. We had been planning to run one together when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. So the minutes before the start were somewhat emotional as he was not there, physically. He did, however, accompany me the whole way. I honestly believe that his presence made me get through the marathon.

I say ‘get through’, but in actual fact it was a great performance from my perspective, first and foremost because I finished the marathon in 4 hours 30 minutes 39.7 seconds.

When compared to the first placed athlete, it is way off, but when you consider that my first two marathons were run in 4:51:57 and 4:48:57 respectively, it was a great feat.

What’s even more amazing, in my eyes, is that I didn’t stop – I kept on going, fighting my mind which was badgering me to stop. Actually, I did stop and walk for around two seconds and then just started running again. I imagined my brother starting down at me and hassling me to get a move on as he didn’t have all day to hang around with a walker.

It’s funny how I could actually hear his voice in my head – “Ejja man, move on ostja.”

He was that way for the best of reasons, of course. And that helped me in my childhood, teenage years, and adulthood. And even after he left, he’s still helping out.

The marathon itself was relatively uneventful to be honest. I had planned it out quite meticulously, but my plans did change when I noticed that there was a pace maker for 4 hours 30 minutes. I then planned on sticking to him for as long as I could. I had aimed for a 4 hours 36 minutes time, so I figured that if I managed to keep behind the pace, I’d be more or less fine to reach my goal (even though I myself thought it a bit ambitious).

But it worked – I stuck behind him all the way. And he also looked out for me, which I found quite cool. In fact, at the end, I sprinted to the finish and saw him stop and more or less wait for me at the finish line.

I’m glad I did it, but I’m very glad it’s over. Will I do another? I’m not too sure right now, but I guess my opinion will change once I regain full use of my legs. Right now, they are aching like hell – as they say, no gain without pain.