Young mum Brooke Balgowan loses battle with brain tumour
The heartbroken husband of a young Queensland mum who inspired many by smiling through her six-year battle with a rare brain tumour has shared his “deep sadness” as a community unites in grief. TRIBUTES.
Rockhampton
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A heartbroken husband has promised to keep his beautiful 24 year old wife’s memories alive after a rare tumour stole her from him and the sweet arms of their four year old.
The last six years of Brooke Balgowan’s young life will be remembered by her family and friends on Saturday as a tumultuous rollercoaster filled with battles and blessings that included her Anaplastic Ependymoma diagnosis and six recurrences, as well as the marriage to the love of her life, Jacob, and the birth of baby boy Ryder.
Brooke was first diagnosed with the brain tumour in 2017 and she had five brain surgeries, two rounds of radiation and two rounds of chemotherapy, Jacob told The Morning Bulletin.
A devastated Jacob announced Brooke’s November 3 passing on social media.
“Dear friends and family it is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that I share with you the passing of my much loved wife,” he shared.
“Ryder and I will keep your memories alive everyday.
“You will be forever cherished and loved beyond words. RIP beautiful.”
In 2020, she underwent an extensive six hour brain surgery at only 21.
After weeks of recovery, physiotherapy and radiation, the results were successful and 100 per cent of the tumour had been removed.
However, the fairytale was not to be.
Little did they know the tumour would recur two more times.
Unbeknown to them the journey ahead, Brooke and Jacob got married in 2019 and had a honeymoon and shortly after, they welcomed their first child, Ryder.
“That (her health) didn’t stop her from living her best life, as during that time we ticked off our dream Cape York trip 2022, Fraser Island 2022 and Uluru trip 2023 with over 80 other locations ticked off our list in-between,” Jacob said.
A GoFundMe fundraiser was created in 2020 when the tumour came back for the third time, to help Jacob take time off work to care for her before her passing.
So beloved was the young woman that it raised $21,185, almost three times more than the original goal.
Life was blissful but all came crashing down when Brooke started having symptoms again of loss of vision, dizziness, loss of thought and severe migraines.
A MRI came back with the worst news, the tumour had returned.
Their son Ryder was just 15 months old.
Brooke had surgery again in Brisbane and all went well.
Unfortunately chemotherapy was not an option as there were no benefits for the type of cancer she had.
Five months went by and Brooke was at home when she suffered an extremely bad headache and vision loss.
Sadly, a CT scan showed the seizure was caused from the brain tumour returning in such a short period of time.
She was flown to Brisbane again and the results showed the brain tumour had been growing for two months and it had spread to the majority of her occipital lobe and her left parietal lobe.
It was seven days before Christmas in 2020 and Brooke requested she return home to be with her family and loved ones, and her son and husband.
It was around this time Go Fund Me was created online for the family.
Brooke went for her third brain surgery on January 4, 2021, and then had to undergo intensive radiotherapy for another six weeks again.
Sadly, the tumour recurred two more times after this surgery and Brooke passed away on November 3, 2023.
The loss has crushed the family and friends of the bright and kindhearted young mum.
Brooke’s mother-in-law Gayle Balgowan updated the GoFundMe page this week, saying it was “with great sadness” she had passed away.
“The family would like to say thank you for your support throughout Brooke’s journey,” Gayle wrote.
“She will forever be in our hearts and forever loved and cherished.”
Brooke was a student of small, close-knit Rockhampton school, Lighthouse Christian School who shared their deepest condolences, love and prayers.
“We count it an honour and privilege to have been part of her life and are thankful for the influence she has had on past and present students and staff alike,” the school statement read.
“Brooke exuded joy, walked with grace and kindness and was a beautiful example of a woman of God.
“ ‘Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue’ – Proverbs 31:25-26.”
A Celebration of Life was held at the Lighthouse Baptist Church on November 11 at 10am.
Guests were asked to wear purple, Brooke’s favourite colour.
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