Tain Rooney cremated after GoFundMe raises $5000

Linda Johnson and Michelle Rooney first met in the gardens of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in January 2023, and their shared journey created a heartfelt friendship.

Tain Rooney was cremated after a courageous fight with leukaemia, thanks to the generosity of donations to a GoFundMe campaign.

The cremated remains of a young man arrived home in Monto on Friday, September 22, after a heartfelt GoFundMe raised the $5000 needed to make it happen.

Linda Johnson and Michelle Rooney first met in the gardens of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in January 2023, where they were both caring for their terminally ill sons.

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A firm friendship quickly blossomed, the two mothers facing devastating prognoses for their children.

Linda’s son Bailey’s is battling leukodystrophy, which was recently exacerbated by Covid.

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Michelle’s son Tain, 21, was battling terminal leukaemia.

Despite living more than three hours apart, Linda in Hervey Bay and Michelle in Monto, the women knew they could count on each other to talk about their struggles and fears as they cared for their sick children.

The two mothers met in the gardens of the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. Photo Steve Pohlner.

When Michelle called Linda in September, in tears, to share the news Tain had died, Linda’s heart broke for her friend.

The situation was made even more devastating when Michelle revealed that, due to the mountain of medical bills, she would not be able to afford to cremate her son.

“I said ‘leave it with me’,” Linda said.

After writing her introduction to the GoFundMe campaign, Linda shared the link with friends and family in the hopes of raising the money to cover the cremation, all while battling the reality of her own situation and her son’s fight.

“It breaks my heart trying to organise this for a beautiful woman knowing that that’s going to happen to me one day,” Linda said.

Within 24 hours the money was raised, and on Friday, September 22, Tain went home to Monto.