Brett Presland: Townsville dad’s headache turned out to be terminal brain tumour
A Townsville dad with terminal cancer is hoping to go on one last family holiday after doctors discovered a golf ball-size tumour in his brain. See how you can help.
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A Townsville dad with terminal cancer is hoping to go on one last family holiday after doctors discovered a golf ball-size tumour in his brain.
Alice River truck driver Brett Presland, 45, started having bad headaches last year, but it wasn’t until he woke up one morning feeling numb on his left side that he rushed to see a GP.
A CT scan revealed he’d been living with a 5.5cm tumour in his brain on December 8 — a devastating diagnosis that turned the father of two’s world upside down.
Doctors were able to remove most of the tumour when he underwent surgery at Townsville University Hospital two weeks later.
But his wife Kristy said their family was hit with more heartbreaking news after Christmas.
“Brett’s test results came back which showed he had stage four terminal Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), which is highly aggressive,” Mrs Presland said.
“It’s the worst kind — it’ll just keep growing back.”
She said the doctors had given him between eight and 18 months left to live, as he begins intense radiation and chemotherapy treatment in an effort to prolong that time.
“He will die, its just a matter of when,” she said.
“He spent his whole life working his backside off, so for this to happen to him, it’s just devastating.”
Mrs Presland said she’s stepped back from her work as a hospital admin officer in order to take care of her husband in his last days.
“I have to look after him now because he’s lost sensation to parts of his body,” she said.
“It’s been very difficult.
“The cancer causes issues with his mood. He hasn’t got a filter now so there are moments I have to remind myself: This isn’t him. It’s the tumour.”
Mrs Presland, the turbulent last few months had been especially hard on their children, aged 13 and eight.
“We’re hoping to go on one last family holiday while he’s well enough to make some happy memories with the kids,” she said.
She said Disneyland, California, would be a dream trip for the family.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been launched to help support Mr Presland and his family.
You can help here: https://gofund.me/d59651c5
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Originally published as Brett Presland: Townsville dad’s headache turned out to be terminal brain tumour
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