“I’ve woken up every day crying”: The family of six-year-old Sam Scully shares their heartbreak over his terminal diagnosis

When little Sam Scully first started slurring his speech his dad thought his missing teeth were to blame – but the devastating true cause will cost the six-year old’s life.

Sam Scully wasn’t playing cricket as well as he used to – weeks later, doctors found a tumour the size of a peach in his brain.

The six-year-old’s tumour is incurable and inoperable. Doctors say he likely won’t live past 18-months.

Diagnosed with intrinsic pontine glioma tumour on his brain stem, Sam will be undergoing radiation therapy five times a week for six weeks at the Royal Adelaide Hospital – treatment doctors say will prolong his life from two months to over a year.

Six-year-old Sam Scully was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.

Six-year-old Sam Scully is an energetic, sport-loving little boy with lots of love to give.

Sean Scully, Sam’s dad, said he has “woken up every day since we found out crying”.

“It was really hard to sit in a room and listen to someone say that this will eventually take your son’s life,” he said.

Sam’s family noticed a change in the six-year-old around two months ago.

“My mum and brother said something wasn’t right with Sam as he was playing cricket and was missing the ball a lot, and that’s not like him,” Mr Scully said.

“He had a bit of a slurred speech, but also had some missing teeth which probably didn’t help … and he was sort of walking a little funny too.”

A week before Christmas, Sam started to have painful headaches. Mr Scully said his son would scream in pain.

“He had another one, two weeks ago,” he said.

“On the Monday I was having a shower at night and my oldest daughter Abi told me Sammy’s had another headache.

“I said okay that’s it, I’m taking him to the doctor tomorrow morning.”

The young boy was taken to a doctor in Murray Bridge who immediately referred him for an MRI at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

While waiting for the scheduled MRI, Sam continued to experience painful headaches.

This time Sam’s mum, Alison Harrison, was also there.

Sam with his favourite super hero, Iron Man.

Sam with his mum and two older sisters, Abi and Erin.

“Ali turned around to me and said well I haven’t see that before, and I said right, well that’s number three I’ve seen now,” Mr Scully, who lives separately from his ex-partner, said.

On January 9, when Sam was taken in for an MRI, his family received the devastating news of his incurable tumour.

“I asked the question three times (to doctors), are you sure you can’t take it out? And the senior surgeon turned around and said to me we can operate but the chances of him dying on the table are about 98 per cent,” Mr Scully said.

Mr Scully and Ms Harrison were told the tumour had been growing aggressively over the last four to six months.

Without treatment, Sam would only have two months to live. With treatment, the prognosis is about 12 to 18 months.

Mr Scully stayed with Sam in the hospital over the weekend as he had a biopsy.

“Just seeing him was just horrible, absolutely horrible to see my son that has been so energetic and to see him in so much pain like that.”

Sam’s parents have told him he has a lump on his brain as advised by their oncologist.

“He just knows he’s got a lump on his brain and that’s about it. How do you tell a six year old that what he’s got is going to take his life?”

Sam is one energetic little boy who loves sports, especially cricket, as well as motorbikes.

“Sam is infectious, he just has that effect on people. No one forgets Sam after you’ve met him,” Mr Scully told The Advertiser.

Sam’s seventh birthday is on February 5. He will celebrate by playing cricket at the Angle Vale Cricket Club on their father and son day.

“We’re going to make it all about Sam. We’re also trying to organise a whole bunch of Harley’s to ride in on the day as he loves his bikes,” Mr Scully said.

Sam has two adoring older sisters, Abi and Erin, aged 10 and nine.

They all go to Angle Vale Primary School, Sam is in year 2.

To support Sam and his family, donate to their GoFundMe here.