The following isn’t one of my normal posts on Jesus, aussie culture or growing as a disciple of Jesus. It’s about our son Xavier who died from a terrible sarcoma in 2022. And yet, it is a post about Jesus, because Xavier had given his life to Jesus. And Jesus was doing a mighty work in his heart during incredible hardship.
A tribute to Xavier Jonathan Hohnberg
22nd April 2025
Today, Xavier would be 18 years old. He was cheeky, observant, analytical, funny, insightful, a great reader & brilliant at maths. He always seemed to have an interesting idea on the boil about how something could be done and should be done. And he was pretty good at executing his ideas when he got committed to them. I often wondered, what God might do through him with these gifts. But more important than all these was his growing great heart for others.
He had a deep & gentle heart, which sometimes caused him anxiety and worry. He thought often about what others thought. Too much, perhaps. But then, through his diagnosis, amputation, savage cancer treatment and endless time in hospital we saw where this might take him as a person.
I don't remember the exact timeline, but in the last weeks in hospital or even in the last week, there was a general consult with Xavier with his oncologist present and other staff. Xavier knew he was dying. In this conversation, he offered that he might be wheeled around the children's hospital for nurses and trainee doctors to be able to practice drawing blood. He had endured many painful attempts from inexperienced nurses and doctors.
We all reacted in laughter. Xavier responded, 'I'm not joking, I mean it' He then shared that he wanted to be able to contribute something to others in light of all he had endured. He wanted it to make a difference.
But our laughter was not because it was a foolish idea. It was the laughter of wonder and awe at this young man who had endured so much, was dying and yet, was thinking how he might be useful to others. After he spoke, we were all in even more wonder. It seems God had been doing a great work in this deep, gentle and sensitive heart.
May God speed the day when we see him again. May God speed the day when our tears are tears of joy and not of loss. We miss him so much.