Family of nine-year-old James Collins will not tell him he has a zero per cent chance of survival

It’s an unimaginable decision. The parents of a little boy with an inoperable brain tumour – and given months to live – have decided not to tell him.

James Collins is like most nine-year-old boys – he loves Minecraft, video games and animals, but unlike most kids his age, James had only months to live.

The “cheeky” boy has an incurable, inoperable brain tumour and doctors say has a 0 per cent survival rate.

Diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a type of brain cancer, James is undergoing radiation therapy at the Women’s and Children’s hospital – treatment doctors say will prolong his life from six weeks to many months.

Jon Collins, James’ dad says the treatment will hopefully mean his son can run around “being a normal kid”.

“Then obviously it will slowly get worse and we’ll get back to where we are now, but it will be palliative care this time,” Mr Collins said.

James Collins in the Women's and Children's Hospital. Picture: Supplied by family

James and his sister, Summa. Picture: Supplied by family

James was living life as normal in late November when he lost his co-ordination, fell over and vomited while at school.

He was rushed to Broken Hill Hospital where an MRI showed the nine-year-old has a mass in his brain.

After being flown to the Women’s and Children’s hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, James was given the news of his prognosis.

When Mr Collins was told James had less than a year left to live, he and James’ mum, Marianne Olivieri, who is seven-months pregnant, made the decision to keep it from their son.

“I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, knowing that they are going to die, especially my own son,” Mr Collins said.

“We are just going to give him the best of whatever he has left and just make it all about him.

“Why let him know and stress him out in the little bit of life he has left.

“Why not make it the best time possible and let him do whatever he wants.”

James and his dad Jon Collins. Picture: Supplied by family

Despite the overwhelming stress, Mr Collins refuses to let his son see him cry.

“I do my crying at night, when he’s asleep.

“I can hold my emotions back just long enough to get out of his eyesight,” he said.

“If he sees me cry while doing all this medical stuff, he’ll know something’s up for sure.

“I’ll hold back as much as I can I don’t want to stress him out the poor buggar,” Mr Collins said.

James has been surrounded by his family, including siblings, Jayden, 20, Jaxon, 18 and Summa, 16.

James with his dad and siblings, from left to right, Jayden Collins, Summa Collins, James Collins, Jon Collins and Jaxon Collins. Picture: Supplied by family

His aunty, Lauren Fawcett has been by his side every day, posting a GoFundMe page to support the Collins family during this time.

“We try not to be upset and emotional in front of him just for the sake of not making him scared,” Ms Fawcett said.

“He (James) thinks he has come here (Women’s and Children’s) to fix his walking,” she said.

“We don’t want him to know that he’s only got a certain amount of months … that’s going to scare him too much.”

For now, James’s family will spoil him.

James with his mum, Marianne Olivieri and his stepdad, Ryan Everuss. Picture: Supplied by family

James and his granny, Charmayne Fleming. Picture: Supplied by family

“He asked for a bloody iPhone 14 yesterday, so I drove around for three hours trying to find a bloody iPhone 14 plus and he’s so excited,” Mr Collins said.

“He wanted a purple one so I got him a purple one, he wanted some AirPods, so I got him those.”

Next on the list is a sausage dog, according to Mr Collins, James has been desperate for one for a while.

James has a passion for animals and his dream is go to SeaWorld and swim with the dolphins.

Mr Collins hopes to bring his whole family to Queensland celebrate James’ life.

To support James, donate to the GoFundMe page, here.

Originally published as Family of nine-year-old James Collins will not tell him he has a zero per cent chance of survival