His life was a delightful tragedy
He will be remembered by the work he did for heart and organ transplant patients.
Eminent Krugersdorp resident Mathew Rocky Martin Warby passed away peacefully at the tender age of 23 in the City Park Hospital in Cape Town on Saturday 8 February after having survived two heart transplants in his lifetime.
His sudden passing is also the loss of a brave ambassador for heart and organ transplant patients nationwide.
He suffered a number of other related medical complications.
Born of the Warby family who co-founded the West Rand Heart and Organ Transplant Foundation and are admired for their community involvement, Mathew from a young age was taught to serve.
Knowing nothing less than to fight and help others fight, he lived a full and fruitful life through raising awareness and supporting heart and organ transplant patients until the date of his passing.
Born with the two conditions, Right Ventricular Dysplasia and Cardio-myopathic Arrhythmia, Mathew had to undergo two heart transplants in his lifetime; the first at the tender age of eight in 1998 and the second in October 2011.
“Through both procedures he remained positive and never neglected to recognize, mention and thank those who supported him,” says close friend of the family and spokesperson for the West Rand Heart and Organ Transplant Foundation, Vincent Du Chenne.
“His entire life was a delightful tragedy. He remained an endearing and loving person who brought tremendous delight and joy to every human being he came into contact with. This, despite the tragedy of the medical condition he lived with.”
He enjoyed a large circle of very close friends, all with whom he maintained and shared a very close and special bond.
Mathew is loved and admired by his two elder brothers Joseph and Houston. They enjoyed an unrivalled, unselfish brotherhood and family bond instilled by their ever-loving and attentive parents Rocky and Carol Warby.
They allowed him the free reign to develop and explore the realms of his sharp-witted, vibrant and exuberant character. Mathew did nothing in half measures. He lived life at full tilt.
His large and charismatic personality will leave a huge void in the lives of his family, friends and the community. He is deeply mourned by all who had the pleasure to meet and know him in his distinguished life-time.
Mathew’s funeral service will be held in the Krugersdorp Catholic Church, details have not yet been finalised.
The NEWS team wishes to extend their condolences to the Warby family and their circle of friends, and thank them for the work they do to support heart and organ patients nationwide.
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