When teenage Brodie Kovalik complained of complications, his mom Kelly, initially gave him painkillers.
However after they grew to become extra frequent and the 14-year-old schoolboy grew to become nauseous, fatigued and withdrawn, she began to fret.
A blood take a look at confirmed he was dehydrated however when he collapsed in school his father, Kelly's ex-husband, rushed him to hospital.
After an eight-hour wait at Sydney's Campbelltown Hospital the household got a shock prognosis - Brodie had a mind tumour.
Kovalik, 37, was referred to as by her ex-husband with the devastating information.
"I simply collapsed on the ground," she mentioned.
Simply hours later Brodie was taken into surgical procedure at Sydney Youngsters's Hospital in Randwick
He had medulloblastoma, a tumour on the base of his mind.
It's mostly present in youngsters and grows within the a part of the mind that controls motion and coordination.
Mammoth lifesaving-surgery
Surgeons managed to take away a number of the tumour, which was the scale of an orange, in a mammoth 11-hour surgical procedure to save lots of Brodie's life.
However sadly due to the place the tumour was, Brodie was left unable to speak or stroll.
"He may solely reply together with his index finger," Kovalik mentioned.
"It affected all verbal and motor abilities, however with out the surgical procedure it (the tumour) would have simply consumed him."
Whereas he's now in a position to say just a few phrases and take just a few steps, Brodie nonetheless makes use of a wheelchair.
It is a far cry from when he was a traditional teen who cherished enjoying Fortnite and chat to his girlfriend on his cellphone.
"It is virtually like there is a six-year-old trapped in a 14-year-old's physique," Kovalik mentioned.
Hospital removed from house
Kovalik and her household had one other drawback when he was admitted to hospital.
Simply weeks earlier than she had moved with Brodie and his brothers Cooper, 16, Tyler 21, from Sydney's Internal West to Tallong, close to Goulbourn, virtually two hours away.
It means it is unimaginable for her to go house at night time.
Charity Ronald McDonald Home stepped in.
It gives free lodging to households near hospitals.
Kovalik has been staying on the Randwick location for 5 months and can even have fun Christmas there.
Whereas Brodie must be properly sufficient to depart hospital and go to his father on Christmas morning, he'll be together with his mom on the Home within the night.
Mrs Kovalik referred to as it a "house from house".
"It looks like I am spending Christmas with the household," she mentioned.
"We would not have had the energy and mentality to hold on with out them. I might be misplaced."
Arrange over 40 years in the past there are 18 Ronald McDonald Homes in Australia.
Actress Eva Mendes just lately visited Australia to advertise the charity.
The outlook for Brodie, who has extra chemotherapy on December 30 is unsure, however the household is staying constructive.
"He'll want assisted look after the remainder of his life and we do not know the way lengthy that life is," Kovalik mentioned.
What's Medulloblastoma
Medulloblastoma is the commonest mind tumour in youngsters.
It grows in behind the mind that controls motion and coordination.
Signs embrace vomiting, complications and clumsiness.
Therapies embrace surgical procedure, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
About 100 youngsters aged as much as 14 are identified with a mind or spinal wire tumour yearly, Most cancers Council NSW, says.
Discover out extra in regards to the Ronald McDonald HomeChristmas fundraising marketing campaign right here.
Do you've a narrative? Contact journalist Sarah Swain onsswain@9.com.au