Mum-of-three Alison Harrison faces Sammy Scully’s terminal diagnosis

Alison Harrison was told her son only had six months to live after doctors made a horrific discovery last year. But eight-year-old Sammy Scully has been defying the odds.

In January last year, doctors told mum Alison Harrison her son would not survive a year after he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.

But over a year and half later, eight-year-old honorary sergeant Samuel ‘Sammy’ Scully, has continued to defy odds.

“Originally it was a six month prognosis, and then it was nine to 11 months and then we got to 11 to 18 months and now we are nearly at 24,” Ms Harrison told The Advertiser.

“He’s defied all odds, he’s just incredible.”

Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens and Abigail, Sergeant Sammy and Erin Scully ready to embark on a morning patrol of Port River with South Australia Police’s Water Operations Unit. Picture: SAPOL

On January 9 2023, Ms Harrison brought her only son to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital on the advice of a GP.

That same day at 4pm doctors told her Sammy had a brain tumour the size of a peach which would eventually kill him.

Diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), Sammy has not let his terminal illness affect him.

“He’s still very active, he’s just an inspirational child,” the Andrews Farm mum said.

Sam Scully who wants to be a Policeman, with Mum Alison Harrison. Picture: Tom Huntley

Since Sammy has undergone extensive radiotherapy which has shrunk the brain tumour, although the cancer has spread to his spine.

“I’m at the point where it doesn’t matter the size of this monster in his head … it’s going to have the same result … I don’t need to see it anymore,” Ms Harrison said.

The Angle Vale Primary School student is set to begin a clinical trial which aims to target the cancer cells but Ms Harrison said doctors have warned her it “isn’t a cure”.

Sammy Scully was diagnosed with DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma) in January 2023. Pic Roy VanDerVegt

The mum-of-three knows there will come a time when her only son is no longer with her.

“It’s heartbreaking to know that when I lie next to him at night and I feel the warmth of him and I can smell his hair, and I can hear his little snores or hear his little breathing and see his chest rising and falling,” she said.

“(I) cry quietly knowing that there will be a night, a very first night, that he won’t be there anymore.

“I know it’s coming.”

Sammy’s condition has left him struggling with his short-term memory and caused “angry outbursts”.

“His outbursts towards me are really bad, even though I know he can’t help any of it,” Ms Harrison said.

“Every time my eight-year-old says to me ‘you hate me because I have cancer’, that really cuts deep.

“You have to keep a brave face … I know he adores me, I know I’m his everything, it still really hurts.

“It literally feels like someone is squeezing your throat constantly, and you cannot get relief from it, it’s just unrelenting.”

Ms Harrison hopes Sammy’s story will raise awareness for DIPG which remains an 100 per cent fatal diagnosis.

Originally published as Mum-of-three Alison Harrison faces Sammy Scully’s terminal diagnosis