Greenbank footy star Fletcher Campbell’s brain cancer diagnosis

The parents of a six-year-old Brisbane boy have received their third round of harrowing news after their football-loving son was diagnosed with a brain tumour just days ago.

Fletcher Campbell, 6, was admitted to Brisbane Children’s Hospital with a brain tumour. Picture – GoFundMe.

A six-year-old Logan football fanatic has lost his ability to see or talk and is partially paralysed after a brain tumour triggered a series of devastating events.

The nightmare for the family of Fletcher Campbell began when the little boy suffered two weeks of regular vomiting and delirium.

When multiple GP visits failed to resolve the issue, Fletcher’s parents Matt, 35, and Natasha Campbell, 37, took matters into their own hands, visiting Logan Hospital’s emergency department on Sunday, May 7.

A CAT scan revealed Fletcher had a large tumour on his brain and a large build-up of fluid and pressure.

He was moved to Queensland Children’s Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery to relieve the pressure on Monday, May 8, and underwent another operation to remove the tumour on Wednesday, May 10.

“After that first surgery he seemed back to himself and was no longer delirious, out of it, or constantly vomiting,” Mr Campbell said.

Matt, Natasha, Peyton, and Fletcher Campbell. Picture: Supplied

With that sudden mental clarity though, came Fletcher’s understanding that he was unwell, in hospital, and had something to fear.

“He was terrified. He’s a smart kid and could tell how anxious and scared we were. Plus he had doctors and nurses coming in and out of his room constantly,” Mr Campbell said.

“Preparing him for that second surgery was tough. We told him he was sick and had a lump on his head that needed removing. He did not want to go under for it.”

The second operation was also a success, or so it seemed until his vision and movement deteriorated.

Much to the family’s horror, two days post-surgery — on Friday, May 12 — Fletcher was diagnosed with posterior fossa syndrome.

“Doctors told us it was pretty rare and only about 20 per cent of kids get it after a brain surgery like his,” Mr Campbell said.

“He can’t see or open his eyes. He can’t talk to us. He can’t walk and has lost movement in most of his limbs.

“But that’s not even the worst of it. His personality has completely changed. He’s irritable and always agitated and upset.

Fletcher Campbell playing footy for Greenbank. Picture: Supplied

“When he gets upset there’s just nothing we can do. We hold his hand and talk to him but it doesn’t soothe him. We hope he can recognise our voices but we don’t actually know.”

Mr Campbell said it had been tortuous watching his son go from a sporty, bright little boy to a bed-bound child who struggled to open his eyes.

Mr Campbell and his 33-weeks-pregnant wife Natasha Campbell have spent the past 10 days by their son’s side, sleeping on mattresses on the hospital floor.

Their two-year-old daughter Peyton has been staying with family, or at hospital with her parents – supporting the big brother she idolises.

“We thought things were looking up. The surgery went well, the brain tumour was gone. But now he’s a whole different kid,” Mr Campbell said.

Wally Lewis paid a visit to footy fan Fletcher Campbell after his brain surgery. Picture – contributed.

Then on Wednesday, May 17, doctors delivered the next round of gut-wrenching news.

“He has malignant cancer,” Mr Campbell said.

“It’s not the news we wanted. It just feels never ending at this point.

“Even though the tumour was removed doctors said there would be cancer cells still embedded in his brain.

“It’s very aggressive.”

Now not only does six-year-old Fletcher need to work with specialists to learn to open his eyes, talk, move and walk again – he also must undergo months of chemotherapy and radiation to kill the cancer cells in his brain.

“We’ve got three weeks to try and get some strength back into him and then we start seven weeks of radiation followed by months of chemo,” Mr Campbell said.

“We’re feeling devastated and scared.

“Very nervous about what’s going to happen. There’s just too many unknowns and it keeps getting worse.”

Fletcher Campbell in hospital after brain surgery. Picture – supplied.

The family has been unable to return to their corporate jobs. To help the family, Fletcher’s aunty, Kirsty Burnett, started a GoFundMe campaign.

“Our beautiful footy superstar Fletcher Campbell … soon to be seven in June was admitted to Brisbane children’s hospital with the devastating news,” Mrs Burnett said.

“If you know Fletch he is somebody with incredible resilience, a bubbly personality and a passion for life.

“He is always more than happy and ready to chat your ear off and loves telling a good old joke or two.

“Fletch has learnt from the best growing up watching his parents live the healthiest and happiest life possible. You can either catch Fletch in the gym training with his mum and dad or on a football field scoring tries.

“Once all this is over, we hope that he can be back out on the field and enjoying his life like he used to.”

You can donate to the family here.

Originally published as Greenbank footy star Fletcher Campbell’s brain cancer diagnosis