Hamza Ibrahim is permanently blind after shock brain tumour took away his vision

When doctors found a tumour in northeastern suburbs boy Hamza Ibrahim’s brain, no one could imagine how it would go to change his life.

Eight-year-old Hamza Ibrahim has lost his vision since doctors discovered a tumour in his brain. Picture: Supplied by family

For eight-year-old Hamza Ibrahim the worst part of losing his sight forever is never being able to see his mum’s face again.

“There’s no way to put it nicely … it’s a loss and we’re going through a period of grief,” his mum Jessica Ibrahim said.

Now Hamza, whose life changed when a five centimetre brain tumour took away his vision, must come to terms with never being able to finish the Harry Potter book series he started, run around the playground with his friends or see his younger siblings grow up – at least not in the way he’s always known.

“He told me he thought that there was no point to living if he couldn’t see,” the single mum said.

“That’s pretty heartbreaking to hear as a mum, that your eight year old boy doesn’t want to live.”

Eight-year-old Hamza Ibrahim couldn’t walk in a straight line before he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Picture: Supplied by family

He underwent brain surgery to remove a 5cm tumour two days after his diagnosis. Picture: Supplied by family

Hamza began vomiting and experiencing unexplained headaches mid-year when his mum brought him to their regular GP.

“They didn’t seem too concern … they sent us off for a blood test,” the northeastern suburbs mum said.

When they returned for the results their regular GP was on holiday and they were forced to see someone else.

That doctor asked Hamza to walk in a straight line and he couldn’t.

“I kept reiterating that this is not normal for my son, there’s something not right,” Mr Ibrahim said.

But the doctor recommended they come back when their regular doctor returned.

The mum-of-seven refused to take that for an answer and booked Hamza in for another appointment with a third GP who sent him straight to the hospital.

“Within a six hour period we go the diagnosis of a brain tumour … the deterioration was quite rapid,” she said.

On August 28 Hamza was diagnosed with a pilocytic astrocytoma brain tumour.

“When the doctor came and told me I couldn’t believe it, I was in shock … I was like this is a nightmare … this isn’t real,” she said.

“This isn’t happening to me, this isn’t happening to my son … I still feel like it hasn’t sunk in, I still feel like I am going to wake up from this nightmare and it’s going to be a bad dream.”

His mum Jessica Ibrahim said if they had found the tumour earlier he may not have lost his sight. Picture: Supplied by family

Eight-year-old Hamza Ibrahim has lost his vision since doctors discovered a tumour in his brain. Picture: Supplied by family

Two days after his diagnosis Hamza underwent brain surgery to remove the five centimetre benign tumour.

“It’s terrifying, I can’t even describe the anxiety and the fear I felt … all these questions go through your mind,” Ms Ibrahim said.

Since Hamza has permanently lost his vision which his mum said has been “the hardest part of all of this”.

“It’s devastating for a little boy who’s able to understand that he will never see again,” she said.

“Thinking about his future … it’s really devastating.”

Hamza is one of seven children. Picture: Supplied by family

What makes it harder is the thought if his tumour was picked up earlier, they may have been able to save his sight, his mum said.

“I want to say to parents to trust their gut,” Ms Ibrahim said.

“If they feel something’s not right, to really advocate for their child … if we had earlier intervention, than Hamza’s sight would not be lost.”

Ms Ibrahim worked part-time as a commercial cleaner and was about to begin a health science degree before her son’s diagnosis. Now she’s been forced to quit and become Hamza’s full-time carer as he navigates his new life.

“He’s been so brave and strong, I’m amazed at his resilience and his ability to be brave. I mean it seems I’ve cried more than him,” Ms Ibrahim said.

If you’d like to donate to the Ibrahim family, you can here.