Footballer Wade Williams returns to the field after brain tumour battle

A local football player has gone from thinking whether he would ever cuddle his wife or children again to completing an inspiring return from a life-threatening brain tumour to play the game he loves.

Wade Williams completed an inspiring return to the football field after two seasons following a health battle when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Thirteen months ago, playing the game he loves was the furthest thing from Brisbane footballer Wade Williams’ mind as he received the news which turned his life upside down.

An eye test gone wrong led to the popular local Aussie rules football player getting a CT scan and MRI, which showed a life-threatening 3cm by 3cm brain tumour causing him to have just 11 per cent of vision out of his left eye.

“In early January of 2023 I noticed my vision was decreasing and getting blurry so after some encouragement from my wife I went and had an eye test done in March, which resulted in me needing glasses,” Williams said.

“Once I had gotten my glasses the vision in my left eye didn’t change and was still blurry.

“(Tests then) came back with the result of a tumour near my pituitary gland and putting pressure on my optic nerve which was causing the vision loss.

Wade and Britt Williams with their two sons.

“It was a bit of a shock to receive that news but I believe I’m quite a positive person so tried to stay as positive as I could with the support from my wife.”

The 34-year-old Tingalpa father-of-two was rushed into life-saving surgery just weeks later, where he tried to stay positive but could not help but think of the worst.

Wade Williams during his health battle with a brain tumour.

“The scariest part was the day going in for surgery and not 100 per cent knowing if I would wake up to see my wife or kids again,” Williams said.

“That was really tough.

“Giving my boys a cuddle before leaving for hospital and saying goodbye to my wife at the surgery doors is hard to put into words the feeling but the heart was definitely being pulled.

Wade and Britt Williams on their wedding day.

“But all the hospital staff, nurse, doctors and everyone was so supportive.”

Luckily, doctors were able to remove 80 per cent of the tumour and it came back as benign and he started his long road to recovery.

Wade Williams playing for the Wynnum Vikings before his brain tumour diagnosis.

“The recovery was about six months long, which included six weeks of doing radiation, five days a week,” he said.

“There was no driving, some very draining days with low energy and some big headaches.”

Wade Williams during his fight to overcome a life-threatening brain tumour.

His recovery was made even tougher after his wife, Britt, was made redundant before starting her own graphic design business.

But as Williams, a fourth year apprentice carpenter who had played with the Wynnum Vikings since 2016, continued to improve a return to the footy field became a real possibility and something he dreamt of.

Wade Williams, his wife Britt, and his two children after making his return to the football field after battling a brain tumour.

That dream was realised at the weekend when he ran out for the Vikings for the first time in two seasons at Wynnum’s home ground against Sandgate, where his teammates and everyone celebrated his return.

“My current health status is, I had an MRI scan in January this year, there’s been no growth from the tumour, vision has pretty much stayed the same now with 75 to 80 per cent in both eyes,” he said.

“I’m back to full time work, still get days were my energy gets zapped but mostly feeling much better and back to playing footy.

“Initially I didn’t think I’d get to play a contact sport again but the surgeons assured me I would have a high chance.

“Returning on the weekend felt so good. The support from the whole club, teammates and community I am very grateful for.”

Wynnum Vikings president Brenden Hodgkins said Williams was an inspiration.

“Wade is a valued club member, not only a player, but has helped around the club as Auskick coordinator and is always willing to lend a hand and help out,” he said.

“The club is so immensely proud of Wade, Britt and the boys they are raising, it was great moment on the weekend to watch Wade run out with his teammates again.”