SA’s Fraser Suggate, 9, diagnosed with brain cancer after mother’s long fight for answers

Nine-year-old Fraser Suggate was told he had gastro and anxiety. It was only his mother’s dogged determination that led to the diagnosis of something far more sinister.

Nine-year-old Fraser Suggate is an incredible basketball player, he loves his family and he has a brain tumour he’s named ‘Bob the Blob’.

Diagnosed with cancer two weeks ago, little Fraser’s first instinct when he was told he had a mass that “shouldn’t be there” was to give it an affectionate name.

“He understands that (Bob) in his head,” his mum Simone Suggate told The Advertiser.

“He feels sick but his doctors are going to take it out and that will make him feel better.”

Fraser’s father Rob Suggate wrote a song about ‘Bob the Blob’ to explain to his little boy what is happening to him.

The Suggates hope the Women’s and Children’s Hospital will be able to use the song if they need to explain brain tumours to other children.

But Fraser’s journey to diagnosis was fraught with misdiagnosis.

Fraser Suggate with his family – mum Simone, older brother Henry and dad Rob. Picture: Supplied

Fraser first started feeling unwell in April but doctors dismissed his sickness as a “bug” and even as “anxiety”.

When he continued to vomit his mum brought him to their local doctor who diagnosed Fraser with gastro but told her to bring him to Flinders Medical Centre because he seemed dehydrated.

There they confirmed it was gastro.

But Fraser continued to get sick.

Ms Suggate said her nine-year-old also happens to suffer with conductive hearing loss. She believed there was a connection between that and his symptoms and brought him to an ENT.

“At this point he was saying ‘I feel dizzy, I feel sick’,” Ms Suggate said.

“He wasn’t vomiting every day, he wasn’t having headaches every day.”

The ENT booked him in for a surgery for grommets to relieve pressure behind his ears in August, but before the surgery Fraser was rushed to the Flinders ED where Ms Suggate demanded something be done for her son.

“They did a CT (scan) and found a mass in his brain,” she said.

Fraser, 9, has a brain tumour he's called ‘Bob the Blob’. Picture: Supplied

While doctors were able to remove some of Fraser’s tumour, the rest must be removed with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Picture: Supplied

The Sheidow Park boy was diagnosed with medulloblastoma – a fast-growing cancerous brain tumour.

“I was in absolute, utter shock,” Ms Suggate said.

“I thought, why wasn’t a scan done earlier, I had so many whys?

“You hear about it, but when it happens to you, it’s heartbreaking.”

Fraser underwent an 11-hour operation to remove the tumour at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

“You have to put all your trust in them,” Ms Suggate said. “I just said, ‘our son’s life is in your hands, do whatever you can’.”

Following the operation Fraser developed posterior fossa syndrome which left him struggling to communicate.

“It is gut-wrenching to see your child in this position,” Mr Suggate said.

“Both Simone and I are keeping positive and also trying to keep normalcy for young Henry (Fraser’s brother), who we must not forget is impacted as well.”

Unfortunately not all of the tumour was able to be taken out during the surgery, leaving Fraser faced with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Women’s and Children’s Hospital consultant neurosurgeon Xenia Doorenbosch said she remembers seeing Fraser the day before his surgery.

“He was so calm and brave,” she said.

“His parents told me that he felt better knowing that his favourite doctor, Dr Jake Nowicki will be in surgery with him.

“Despite how difficult it may be, his parents have approached the situation with a large dose of humour which feels to me like they have stayed true to themselves as a family and that has been nothing short of remarkable to be a part of.

“The song Robbie composed for Fraser about ‘Bob the Blob’ opens the opportunity for Fraser and also other children in the future to talk about their fears in a more approachable way and finding something about that scary thing to laugh at is the best diffuser of fear.”

‘He’s getting strong so he’s not in here for long’ was Fraser’s motto while in hospital. Picture: Supplied

Ms Suggate said she hopes parents advocate for their children.

“Go get a second opinion, a third, go get a fourth opinion until you’re completely satisfied,” she said.

“That’s what I was doing, I was searching for answers, being told it’s anxiety, I’ve been told it’s gastro.

“If I had taken the word of other people I may not have my son with me.”

Fraser is focusing on his treatment and getting stronger. His motto while in hospital is: “He’s getting strong so he’s not in here for long”.

If you’d like to donate to Fraser you can here.