Jaxson Stieler battles cancer in months-long sleep

A Brisbane mother has shared the “deep down in your soul” while seeing her 9-year-old son’s battle with cancer leaving him in a months-long deep sleep, with doctors uncertain of his future.

A Brisbane mother has shared the harrowing nightmare of her 9-year-old son’s battle with a sudden cancer diagnosis, leaving him in a months-long deep sleep, with doctors uncertain of his future.

Heartbroken Brisbane parents have revealed details of harrowing weeks spent waiting in limbo after their son’s shock cancer diagnosis landed him in a deep sleep that lasted more than three months.

Jaxson Stieler, a 9-year-old student at St Eugene College Burpengary, was a bubbly and cheeky sports enthusiast who enjoyed playing soccer, swimming and making memories with his many friends and family members.

On October 4, 2023 his world was “turned upside down” after his mother took him to the emergency department after a series of bizarre symptoms she suspected weren’t right.

Family friend Jacqui Villafrade said his mother, Helen Stieler, noticed Jaxson falling off of his bike a few weeks prior to diagnosis and that one of his eyes was drooping.

Ms Villafrade said at first the suspicion was allergies, however “a few weeks later when he was swimming and couldn’t lift his left arm, she took him (to see doctors) again”.

Helen and Jaxson Stieler.

“Jaxson was rushed to the Queensland Children’s Hospital … and his brain tumour was diagnosed quickly after scans were done.

“He was sent for a biopsy with a one million-to-one chance of something going wrong,” she said.

Doctors removed part of Jaxson’s tumour but within two hours of him leaving the operating table his brain started to bleed.

“They found a haematoma in his brain cavity and he had a craniotomy surgery to control the bleeding,” Mrs Villafrade said.

“From that day forward Jaxson has been left unconscious and sadly no one is able to say what the future will hold for him,” she said.

Jaxson’s parents anxiously await the moment he may wake up, with doctors left baffled as to what the future could hold.

Mrs Villafrade said Jaxson looks like he’s asleep but on some days can respond to yes and no questions using his thumbs to signal.

“He can sometimes move his body from side to side and every day undergoes an hour of physio to keep his muscles active, in hopes of the best recovery if he wakes,” Mrs Villafrade said.

Jaxson and his little brother Phillip.

On Christmas Day Jaxson’s stable condition declined when he started vomiting from a new leak in his brain.

A stent was placed in his head to prevent a future leak, the event backtracked the progress he had already made.

Mrs Stieler said she and her husband Tim were trying their best to focus on the positives.

“Words can’t describe the pain you feel deep down in your soul seeing your child in this position, more than three months later it doesn’t get easier,” Mrs Stieler said.

“I read positive quotes daily and reflect on the things Jaxson has accomplished so far and the trauma we’ve endured from this journey has conditioned us to be more determined and resilient than ever before.

“Communication is our biggest hurdle due to his unconsciousness, speech and occupational therapists are working on switch buttons so Jaxson can have more control on choices.

“There are so many unknowns,” she said.

Hospital staff, family and friends have commended Mrs Stieler on her outstanding commitment to supporting her son during this unimaginable time.

A nurse said she and Jaxson had taken a special place in her heart.

“What they are going through is beyond heartbreaking, she is all over his care and absolutely beautiful,” she said.

Mrs Villafrade has started a GoFundMe to fundraise for the Stieler family.

“Tim works in FIFO in Western Australia and they are doing everything they can to both stay by Jaxson’s side,” she said.

Mrs Stieler said any donations will have a massive impact towards the family.

“While these donations can’t take away our pain and suffering, it will help provide assistance in other ways like food, fuel & household bills,” Mrs Stieler said.

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