We know that these have been made in love, friendship and appreciation, giving us warm assurances of prayer, condolences, stories and offers of help. We have been amazed and pleased by the breadth and variety across geography, time and circumstance in which Mac knew people. This is an ongoing tribute and honour to him.
In early August we received the final medical test results showing that what could not be overcome was a rare, rapidly progressive lung condition called Hamman-Rich syndrome. This nasty syndrome tends to affect generally healthy people like Mac. Although more often caused by infection or medical drugs, for Mac, the indicators were that it was caused by his rheumatoid arthritis. His rheumatoid factor rose to extreme heights in May. In contrast, when he was first diagnosed with that condition in 2008, it was a very low count and not indicative of what would follow.
He worked on overcoming it, with apparent success until perhaps July 2013 when it re-emerged strongly for some months. Perhaps, in hindsight, the chest pain and fever that sent Mac to the doctor at the end of March this year, was the beginning of the Hamman-Rich syndrome. Also, his body reacted either adversely or was unresponsive to some of his treatments. Inevitably there is speculation about Mac’s medical story, but through our conversations with his doctors during his illness and after his passing, we are certain that he received the best of care; that there was a team of medical staff anxious to discover a cause and cure; and that he touched their hearts with his manner and grace.
Underlying everything, and of vital importance, were the prayers of so many throughout the world. We all, including Mac, were aware of this and we thank you for your continued prayerful care.
PS. I might just clarify that, contrary to a couple of the stories quoted in the earlier article (“Remembering Mac”, SSH August 2014), Mac was not the chaplain of the Sydney Swans and he didn’t have to come rescue me after I was arrested. I managed to convince the two police officers that I wasn’t the person they were looking for and that my behaviour was easily explained (collecting rubbish, including used syringes, from the garden behind the hall).
Jan McIntyre Widow of Bishop John McIntyre Formerly of , Redfern
