Inspiration for Relay for Life event at Beenleigh

THE bond between a father and son runs deep, but without the fighting spirit of baby Mason father-of-four Adam Haevecker admits he would probably be a broken man.

Adam Haevecker poses for a photograph in his Bahrs Scrub home with his one-year-old son Mason. Picture: Richard Walker

THE bond between a father and son runs deep, but without the fighting spirit of baby Mason father-of-four Adam Haevecker admits he would probably be a broken man.

The Logan resident has been named the face for Beenleigh’s Relay for Life this weekend in recognition of his strength and determination in his fight against melanoma of the bowel.

Most days Mr Haevecker pushes away any fuss about his condition because he does not like to dwell on the cancer that robbed him of a normal life two years ago.

He now has an even bigger battle.

His youngest boy was born with a hole in his heart. It was a bitter blow when Adam and his partner Renee Bell were told they would have a big battle ahead of them when Adam was only 32.

Adam Haevecker with his partner Renee.

At the time they feared what the outcome would be for their young family but, unfortunately, devastation did not stop there. Baby Mason arrived the day after Adam’s surgery and soon father and son were both facing a fight for life.

“I had a bowel resection the day before my son was born. I managed to attend the birth by lying in a ­portable bed next to Renee but life got even harder after that moment,” Mr Haevecker said.

“My son had to have open heart surgery at nine weeks of age, and then a second surgery to remove fluid from around his heart,” he said.

“During the second operation, he went into cardiac ­arrest and was actually dead for 12 minutes. It was such an emotional, stressful time for our family.”

Mr Haevecker said nothing was ever about him with a family of four children, and the focus was often on Mason and his journey.

But, when he was asked to be the face for the relay walk he felt he wanted to give something back to the ­community.

Mr Haevecker has been on a clinical trial since his surgery, taking 12 tablets each day and undergoing chemotherapy each fortnight.

Adam Haevecker with partner Renee and children from left Paige, 8, Ava, 4, Addison, 5, Mason, 1, who are all looking forward to the Logan Relay for Life.

The family was told Mason would not live two weeks post-surgery and he has just turned one.

“The journey has been a difficult one, we just take one day at a time but I am happy with how the trial is progressing — most days you wouldn’t even tell I have cancer,” he said.

He is looking forward to leading the survivor and carers lap to officially open the event this weekend.

“I never thought I would need the help of something like the Cancer Council — I was a healthy guy.”

“My life changed so quickly because of cancer, and I want to share my story.”

The annual relay will be held at Dauth Park, Beenleigh, on May 5-6 to raise funds for Cancer Council Queensland.