Brave Sofia Todorovic tragically loses lifelong battle to illness

The father of a young girl who died after a lifelong battle with illness hopes the world can learn from her life.

A Geelong family has revealed their “miracle” lost her battle with illness earlier this month. Maria, Sofia and Mikey Todorovic.

The father of a young girl who died after a lifelong battle with illness hopes the world can learn from her life.

Charlemont man Mikey Todorovic and wife Maria were left devastated after the death of their daughter Sofia on June 8.

“You can’t put it into words, the pain me and her mum are feeling,” Mr Todorovic said.

“It’s like you’re living your worst nightmare, but you don’t wake up.”

Sofia, 4, had faced multiples illnesses since she was born in October 2020, being diagnosed with skeletal dysplasia at birth, and autism at the age of three.

Sofia’s parents learned the heartbreaking news in February that her illness was terminal, with doctors only giving her months to live.

Sofia Todorovic in the Royal Children's Hospital

Her health improved up until Easter, when it took a turn for the worst.

Sofia wouldn’t stay any longer than two nights outside of a hospital until her death earlier this month.

Now, Mr Todorovic is committed to passing on lessons from Sofia’s life.

“I want everyone to learn from her,” he said.

“She was sick from the day she was born, she had to wear a neck brace from the age of two, she had oxygen 24/7 for the last nine months, but she was always happy, always positive, always laughing, clapping, playing music.

“What I want everyone to learn from her is that even though she had a tough life, she was alway positive and happy.”

Mr Todorovic said he could still envision his daughter “walking in the hallway”.

“She’s got the oxygen tubing attached to her nose and the tank was in her way, and she would just pick the oxygen tube over her head and keep walking into her room to play,” he said.

“She didn’t cry, didn’t make a fuss, just chucked it over her head and kept going.

“We just need to chuck our problems over our heads and keep going.”

Mr Todorovic, a devout Jehovah’s Witness, said it was his relationship with god that has kept him going.

“I’m going to see her again,” he said.

“I just try to keep myself busy with my spiritual activity in my faith.”

In a remarkable act of generosity, K & S Funerals, based in Reservoir, gave the family their dream $30k funeral for free.

“They’re a beautiful Lebanese family,” Mr Todorovic said.

“They let us see Sofia every day until the funeral, they had food waiting for us every day.”

A GoFundMe to support the family has raised over $30k.

For more information or to donate, head to https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-support-sofias-journey

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Originally published as Brave Sofia Todorovic tragically loses lifelong battle to illness