Donations have poured in for the family of an “amazing” and “dedicated” New Zealand father of five — including young quadruplets — following his death at the weekend.
Brett Wills died in Napier on New Zealand’s North Island on Sunday, his wife Joanne revealed in an emotional post on social media.
“We are all heartbroken. He was the most amazing, loving and dedicated father and husband, and adored all his children,” she said.
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The stay-at-home dad was primary carer for his young brood, three-year-old Peter and one-year-olds Jonathan, Oliver, Lucy and Esther.
“Unfortunately his body became too weak and he could no longer cope. (He) went to be with the Lord in the afternoon,” Joanne said.
“He was a very humble and Godly man and will be dearly missed.”
Her post was flooded with condolence messages and notes of support.
Kate Rennie, president of the Hawke’s Bay Multiple Birth Club — where both Joanne and Brett are active committee members, said the father was an “amazing” dad.
Rennie has launched a fundraiser via Givealittle to support Joanne, who works full-time and also volunteers as a Hawke’s Bay Coastguard skipper.
“The money will be spent on support costs for the family as they navigate through funeral arrangements (and) daily costs as Joanne will need to take time off from work,” Rennie said.
More than $21,000 has been donated so far.
‘Seriously sleep-deprived’
The Wills welcomed their quadruplets prematurely, at 31 weeks, on August 13, 2022.
They were reportedly the first quads born in New Zealand since 2018.
“The first four months of the babies being at home was the hardest time of both our lives,” Joanne told Woman’s Day.
“We were seriously sleep-deprived, everything was new, and there were so many people coming and going that we didn’t ever have a moment to sit down and chat.
“What we learnt, though, was to have a lot of patience for each other. We accepted there would be times when the other was grumpy and learnt to communicate really well.
“We got through knowing that if it was getting too hard for one of us, the other would jump in and allow for some time out. And we survived.”