Brian Cassey, Tobias & Meningococcal Disease (PEOPLE & PORTRAIT 2026)

At the age of four months Tobias Phineasa was attacked by meningococcal disease. Within hours he had been flown from Cairns to Townsville Paediatric Hospital, all his limbs were amputated to save his life. The paediatric surgeon said he had never seen a case so severe. I learnt of the frightening plight of Tobias when a year and a half old in December 2025. I was introduced to Tobias and his mother Katie to discuss documenting the families heart-rending story. This portrait is just one of the results.

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