Tributes for Blakeview man Kingsley Hage after dying from renal failures due to diabetes

Diabetes is more than an annoying illness. The cruel disease cut Kingsley Hage’s life far too short – aged just 40.

Kingsley Hage, who passed away on May 14 2024 after a battle with diabetes, with his wife Brittany Hage. Picture: Supplied by family

A Blakeview man has been remembered as “exceptionally courageous” by his loving wife after he lost his fierce battle with diabetes earlier this month.

Kingsley Hage was only 40 years old when he died surrounded by his family on May 14.

“In the midst of all of his pain and fever he still made an effort to tell me that he loved me,” his wife Brittany Hage said.

“That ended up being his last words.”

Kingsley’s last words were to his wife when he told her that he loved her. Picture: Supplied by family

Brittany, 34, met Kingsley 16 years ago on a blind date set up by a mutual friend.

They married on October 2 2017 and were together until Kingsley’s final breath.

“I can’t say that I remember much of our wedding day, it’s mostly a blur of happiness,” Brittany said.

“Though we did get married at the same church that we are now having his funeral at, and were the first wedding that the pastor officiated.

“He is very sad to now be conducting his funeral.”

Kingsley was diagnosed with type one diabetes in 1991 when he was eight years old.

His wife said the disease affected his “entire life”.

“He had brittle diabetes, no matter what he or the doctors tried they never managed to get control over it,” she said.

“The side effects would end up invading every aspect of his life.”

“Despite his constant struggles however, he tried to spend his time helping and educating people.”

“From childhood when he would attend diabetes camps as a mentor for other kids, to adulthood, when he would always agree to participate in research projects or doctors exams.

“He always believed that if someone else could possibly be helped because of what he had experienced that it was all worth it.”

Brittany said Kingsley’s struggle with diabetes led him to develop severe gastroparesis and neuropathy which limited his ability to walk.

Kingsley with his cat Tempest. Picture: Supplied by family

Kingsley was extremely passionate about chainmaille and hand knit his armour. Picture: Supplied

In 2021 Kingsley underwent a simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant.

“It was meant to give him a new lease on life and we were very hopeful,” Brittany said.

“Unfortunately things went wrong and he ended up with sepsis and they had to remove the transplanted organs to have any chance at fighting the sepsis.

“And he spent the following years in and out of hospital with infections and complications from the diabetes and the renal failure.”

Brittany said it was the renal failure that led to Kingsley’s death.

Kingsley was passionate about his family and loved tabletop gaming and chainmaille, having hand knitted both his chainmaille armour and jewellery.

“I remember the utter glee he had teaching his niece, as a toddler, to shoot a bigger than her nerf gun and also to run around collecting all of the darts for him,” Brittany said.

“I also have fond memories of sitting around with him for hours while he would wrap and cut the wire for his chainmaille armour, just having the most random conversations.”

Brittany said “you could always tell how important you were to him”.

“No matter what was happening in his world, how terrible he felt, he could always make his family feel so very loved and cherished,” she said.

Kingsley is survived by his wife, his mother Colleen, stepfather David, brother Graham, sisters Leigh and Natalie, nephew Edward, nieces Erica and Liana and his cat Tempest.