'Our boy lost his sight ... and he still needs chemo'

Six-year-old footy fanatic Fletcher Campbell had been vomiting for two weeks when his parents took him to the ED. It set off a heart-breaking chain of events.

A young footy fan has lost his ability to see or talk, and is partially paralysed, after a brain tumour triggered a nightmare series of events.

The Courier Mail reports six-year-old Fletcher Campbell suffered two weeks of “regular vomiting and delirium”, prompting his parents Matt and Natasha to visit Logan Hospital’s emergency department on May 7 after GPs couldn't figure out what was going on.

A CAT scan revealed Fletcher had a large tumour on his brain causing a buildup of fluid and pressure.

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

“After that first surgery he seemed back to himself and was no longer delirious, out of it, or constantly vomiting,” Matt told the Mail.

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Fletcher Campbell playing footy for Greenbank. Picture: Supplied

"He’s a smart kid and could tell how anxious and scared we were"

However, the sudden clarity meant Fletcher understood he was unwell, in hospital, and now had something to fear.

“He was terrified,” Matt said. “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.

“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.”

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

"We thought things were looking up"

The second operation seemed like a success until Fletcher’s vision and movement deteriorated, and he was diagnosed with posterior fossa syndrome on May 12.

“Doctors told us it was pretty rare, and only 20 per cent of kids get it after brain surgery like this,” Matt told the Mail.

“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.

“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.

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

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

"It just feels never ending at this point"

Five days after his initial diagnosis, Matt and Natasha got more bad news.

“He has malignant cancer,” Matt told the Mail.

“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.”

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"We’re feeling devastated and scared"

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

The news means Fletcher will not only need to learn to walk, talk and move again, but will undergo months of chemotherapy and radiation to kill the cancer cells still remaining in his brain.

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

“We’re feeling devastated and scared. Very nervous about what’s going to happen because there’s too many unknowns and it keeps getting worse.

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

"Fletch is somebody with incredible resilience, a bubbly personality and a passion for life"

Fletcher’s aunty Kirsty has started a GoFundMe campaign to help the family while Fletcher is in hospital.

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

“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.”

Originally published as 'Our boy lost his sight ... and he still needs chemo'