Taree dad Brodie Turner treated for leukaemia with chemotherapy in Newcastle, family

After feeling unwell at work, a young Mid-North Coast tradie suffered a seizure so violent doctors thought he wouldn’t pull through. Now, he’s in the battle of a lifetime.

Brodie Turner started chemotherapy on his 24th birthday on August 2. Brodie’s partner Breanna Lucas is holding their daughter Oakah and Breanna’s sister Chloe Thomas is standing by the hospital bed.

On his 24th birthday, Taree tradie and dedicated father of three Brodie Turner started his first round of chemotherapy to fight acute, fast-spreading leukaemia.

Just over a week prior, he had been living his usual life – devoted to his partner Breanna Lucas and their three children, and working at a concreting business.

He came home from work on July 20 feeling unwell and later suffered a seizure, which was so severe doctors feared he would not pull through.

It was revealed at Taree hospital Mr Turner’s haemoglobin levels were dropping drastically and after a blood transfusion testing began to find out what was wrong.

The next day, he was transported to the Calvary Hospital at Newcastle where he learnt he had leukaemia, a type of blood cancer.

Brodie Turner, his Partner Breanna and his children, Talakai, Oakah and Mia.

Brodie with his older brother Bradley Ashe .

“Since finding out Brodie’s diagnosis I feel like my whole world has collapsed,” Ms Lucas said.

“I can’t concentrate, I can’t sleep, I’m just numb and aching.

“I feel like our whole lives and happiness have been completely robbed of us due to cancer.”

In addition to the diagnosis, the couple has learnt Mr Turner has a mutation which limits the number of people who can provide bone marrow if he has not reached remission following chemotherapy.

Sarah Simmons is set to marry Brodie’s older brother Bradley Ashe and she said the whole family was in shock.

“And they haven’t been able to give us any idea of the chances of him pulling through,” she said.

“They have to wait to see how he responds to the first round of chemotherapy.”

Brodie Turner started chemotherapy on his 24th birthday on August 2.

Brodie Turner started chemotherapy on his 24th birthday on August 2.

Ms Simmons said mornings were the hardest for Mr Turner, but he rallies when family come to visit.

He is scheduled to have two rounds of chemotherapy, which will last about six weeks.

One of the hardest things for the young couple is being separated from their three children, two-year-old Oakah, four-year-old Talakai and eight-year-old Mia.

They are staying with Ms Lucas’s mother in Tinonee, a small village near Taree, so they can keep up some routines, including Mia attending primary school and Talakai attending preschool.

“We are both so family orientated and due to this we have had to completely separate our whole family,” Ms Lucas said.

“The emotions of not having my children around me while trying to stay strong for Brodie is causing me to just feel so lost emotionally.”

Brodie Turner, his Partner Breanna and his children, Talakai, Oakah and Mia.

Mr Turner’s boss Vince Di Prinzio has set up a GoFundMe fundraising campaign to help with the family’s expenses now neither Brodie or Breanna can work.

Ms Lucas was employed as an assistant in nursing at Taree’s Karingal Gardens.

“I only recently started aged care nursing where I adored my job – it gave me a sense of appreciation and was my safe place,” she said.

“But now I have had to adapt financially without work and have had to say goodbye to my co-workers and residents, who felt like my family.”

Ms Lucas said the experience has been an “eye opener” and showcased the preciousness of life.

She said it was also a reminder for the community to express their love for those close to them every single day.

Visit the GoFundMe page if you would like to find out more or get donate.