In September last year, my incredibly fit 16-year-old brother Jed had what we thought was just a severe migraine. We never imagined he was actually critically ill. After being hospitalised in excruciating pain, scans revealed a large 5cm × 5cm brain tumour blocking the fluid drainage in his brain. His condition deteriorated rapidly. He was soon placed on life support and urgently needed brain surgery just to survive.

Jed and Mum were flown by helicopter to Brisbane, while I drove ahead to the children’s hospital, arriving just in time to see them land. Within minutes, everything happened so fast. Mum and I watched helplessly as doctors rushed Jed for more scans. Mum was asked to give permission for surgery — but was told it didn’t really matter what she said. They had to operate immediately. It was life or death. Within 10 minutes of landing, we watched the emergency team run him into surgery.

By the grace of God and the incredible medical team, Jed survived not one but two major brain surgeries — to relieve the pressure and completely remove the tumour. We were told there was a 50/50 chance the tumour could be cancerous. Although we had to wait, incredibly… it was benign (non-cancerous)! Jed could return home! Jed had to relearn how to walk, but he woke up with his movement, speech, and mind intact. Today, he’s back playing basketball, surfing, enjoying school, and living life to the fullest. We truly believe every breath is a gift. Throughout it all, we felt God’s presence. Even in the darkest moments, we felt held, knowing that God had Jed — no matter the outcome. We are so so incredibly grateful to our friends, family, and community for their prayers, love, and support and feel truely blessed that Jed is doing better than ever!

The Support That Made It Possible - Ronald McDonald House and Children's Hospital Foundation

We will never forget the people who helped us: The neurosurgeons waiting for Jed on the tarmac on a Saturday night

Staff who came in on a Sunday to perform urgent scans. The Nurses, doctors, and teams who acted without hesitation. And the Ronald McDonald House. Before this, I never understood how important it was to have

    - A bed close to the hospital

    - A hot shower

    - A prepared meal

    - A place to rest

    - A community that understands and does everything to help 1 minute from the hospital

But now I do. When a child becomes seriously ill, everything changes overnight. You’re overwhelmed with fear, stress, and uncertainty. The Ronald McDonald House isn’t just “helpful” — it can be the difference between coping and completely falling apart. It allowed our family to stay together, support Jed, support each other and have a small sense of stability in chaos. 

So the question became:

How do we say thank you?

How I’m Giving Back

I’ve decided to take part in the “All Night Long” walk this October — walking 42km overnight. Because now I know how vital the support we received is, I want to raise as much money as possible to support:

     - Life-saving treatment for children

     - Support services for families going through what we experienced

How You Can Help

If you feel led, I would love your support:

💛 Make a donation (every dollar truly makes a difference)

🚶 Join our team and walk with us (DM me for details — there is a fundraising commitment)

🙏 Keep these families in your prayers

The more people involved, the greater the impact we can make. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read Jeds and my families story.

God bless 🤍

Becky