Community rallies behind Revesby teenager Jerome Kertebani after terrifying brain cancer diagnosis
Teenager Jerome Kertebani was 8 when he was diagnosed with brain cancer, just months after his mum’s breast cancer diagnosis. Read their story and see how a southwest Sydney community is rallying behind them.
The Express
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A Revesby mother didn’t think her life could get any harder after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Three months later Roula Kertebani’s eight-year-old son Jerome was diagnosed with brain cancer after experiencing headaches, blurred vision, and dizziness.
Now the Kertebani family is on a mission to help others fight against the terrifying diagnosis.
In 2020, medical scans revealed a malignant Stage 4 tumour the size of a peach, growing in Jerome’s cerebellum.
“It was gut-wrenching,” Mrs Kertebani said. “I was receiving chemotherapy myself at the time, so I knew what was involved. When I heard the news Jerome had brain cancer, my heart sank to my stomach.”
The surgery to remove the tumour was successful – but left Jerome almost “unrecognisable” to his parents.
“Before the diagnosis, Jerome was an A-student,” Mrs Kertebani said.
“He’s so intelligent – he would get the top mark in everything he did and he was so athletic. However she said the surgery affected the processing (part of his brain), and it was like hitting a reset button. The surgery also left Jerome unable to talk, walk or even eat.
“I remember he woke up, after the surgery, and I could see – there was nothing,” Mrs Kertebani said.
“I could see the frustration in his eyes.”
Despite it all, Jerome persevered through chemotherapy and intense physiotherapy, teaching himself how to walk, eat and speak again.
Fiver years later, both Jerome and his mother are cancer-free.
Jerome attends a local high school and spends his Saturday mornings helping coach his younger brother Levi’s football team.
On Saturday, May 31, the Kertebani family are teaming up with Canterbury-Bankstown Council and local football club the Revesby Rovers to raise funds and awareness for others fighting brain cancer.
“Having cancer affect both myself and Jerome, we know families are faced with emotional
stress, financial strains and extreme fatigue,” Mrs Kertebani added.
“It means the absolute world to us that our club is reaching out to the community to help raise awareness for brain cancer.”
Revesby Rovers Football Club Vice President, Roy Azzi, said the Kertebani family’s journey had inspired him to help join the fight.
“When it’s one of your kids at the club it really hits home,” he said.
“Rovers has a family first policy, so if any of our members are in need we all rally behind them and their family.”
Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek said the fundraiser was a chance for the city to show their support.
“Cancer is a terrible thing for anybody to experience, especially a young schoolboy like
Jerome,” Mr El-Hayek said.
“We hear stories and think that could never happen to us, but the reality is, there are hundreds of people just like Jerome who need our support.”
On Saturday, the Revesby Rovers will be hosting a brain cancer awareness fundraiser at Amour Park, Revesby from 9am to 4pm.
The fundraiser will include a range of activities like face painting, lucky dips, lolly jar’s, cake
stalls, a silent auction and a guard of honour for Jerome which he hopes to walk without
support.
The event is being hosted in collaboration with the Mark Hughes Foundation and supported by the Canterbury-Bankstown Council and aims to raise $10,000 for research and services.
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