A Sydney father-of-two has died just weeks after being diagnosed with leukaemia — after going to see a doctor thinking he was just struggling to get over the flu.
Mehmet Çetin first became unwell while on holiday in Türkiye with his wife and children in early August.
“He couldn’t get better, couldn’t recover from the flu,” family friend Yigit Gunduz told 7NEWS.com.au.
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Mehmet went to see a doctor, saying he “couldn’t shake” his sickness.
The doctor ordered blood tests and on August 6 informed the young father he had leukaemia.
Mehmet was quickly on the first flight back to Sydney to begin chemotherapy treatment at Westmead Hospital.
He died on August 27, just three weeks after his diagnosis.
“It happened so quickly,” Gunduz said.
“He’s got two little kids, a 5-year-old and 8-month-old baby.
“They told his five-year-old yesterday but he’s too young to understand.”
Mehmet met his wife Saniye when they were just teenagers, and she was on holiday in his home country.
“He was so in love with her,” Gunduz said.
Mehmet then decided to move to Australia, where Saniye was born and raised, so he could “pursue the love of his life”, Gunduz said.
The pair fell in love while he was studying in Sydney and the family they created together was everything to him, Gunduz said.
“He was very determined to succeed, he was a very hard worker.
“He wanted to provide for his family.
“He had so many dreams and he was passionate about life.”
Mehmet’s funeral procession began on Wednesday, and Gunduz said the huge turnout just showed how beloved he was.
“He was the life of the party, always laughing and carrying on,” he said.
“He had an impact on so many people’s lives.”
‘The bills don’t stop’
Gunduz has created a GoFundMe campaign to help Saniye and the couple’s children through this difficult time.
Saniye has been on maternity leave after giving birth and is now dealing with navigating life as a single parent.
“The mortgage repayments don’t stop, the bills don’t stop,” Gunduz said.
Saniye is planning to send Mehmet’s body back home, where his mother and sister still live.
Gunduz said he’s incredibly proud of the community throwing their support behind Saniye and the children.
“The ability of people to come together in hard times in amazing,” he said.
“It’s so easy to lose that faith.”
Gunduz said Mehmet’s death has been a “big wake-up call” to appreciate life.
“Live your life like it’s your last day,” he said.