Pride of Australia Medal 2015: Proud winner in a torrid battle

MARK Smith’s parents had spent a year visiting doctors trying to determine the source of his back pains, headaches and lethargy.

Pride of Australia Child of Courage nominee Mark Smith, 11, from Belrose NSW. Mark was nine when they found a large malignant brain tumour - he had tumours all through his brain and spine. Two years on and he is recovering well - he can go to school, catch the bus, play sport and kick a ball. Pictures: Justin Lloyd

MARK Smith’s parents had spent a year visiting doctors trying to determine the source of his back pains, headaches and lethargy.

Then one day in 2013 Mark, aged nine, began vomiting and couldn’t stand up. Tests at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead revealed a large mass behind his eyes, while his brain and spine were riddled with tumours.

“At 8am the next day he went in and had a 15-hour surgery to remove the two biggest tumours from the base of the brain and the top of the spine,” Mark’s mother, Heather, said.

“As soon as the doctors said, ‘There is a large mass’ — you know what that means and it was a scary time.

Character... Mark Smith, 11

“He was in hospital for seven weeks and did 30 lots of full brain and spine radiotherapy, which burned his stomach so he couldn’t eat for months and months and was hooked up to a machine to eat for up to 20 hours a day for two months.

Mark also had four lots of chemotherapy, with stem cell therapy and more surgery in October last year.

Now aged 11, he is back at school and even playing sport despite losing most of his eyesight and some hearing.

Mark’s attitude to recovery and his strength through his illness has earned him a nomination in the Child of Courage category of the Pride of Australia Medal.

NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR A PRIDE OF AUSTRALIA MEDAL

“It really cheered him up and made him feel a lot better, just the fact that someone has recognised that it has been so hard,” Ms Smith said.

“He is all clear and having three-monthly scans.

“There are side effects — like we are about to apply for growth hormones because his body stopped growing, he lost most of his eyesight and it damaged his hearing, and he walks with a cane at the moment.

“But he still catches the bus home, plays sport and goes to school full time.

“He has some down ­moments but he is a real fighter. I think if he wasn’t like that I don’t think he would have got through.”

Mark was nominated by The Children’s Hospital at Westmead staff, who said they loved the young “character” who got better thanks to great perseverance and resilience.

Nominate someone who deserves recognition at prideofaustralia.co.au until July 19.